Syracuse players talk personal futures after season-ending ACC Tournament loss
With Adrian Autry’s future uncertain after Syracuse's ACC Tournament loss, SU players spoke on their futures with the Orange and beyond postgame. Courtesy of The Atlantic Coast Conference
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Each offseason comes with uncertainty about what comes next. But with Adrian Autry’s future as Syracuse’s head coach up in the air, SU players face even more uncertainty than usual.
The Orange retained just two players from their 2023-24 season — J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman. The rest were brought in through the recruiting trail or the transfer portal. Now, Syracuse is likely to face similar turnover.
The transfer portal opens on April 7, the day after the national championship, and will stay open for two weeks. Following Syracuse’s season-ending loss to SMU in the ACC Tournament First Round Tuesday, here’s what SU’s roster had to say about what comes next:
J.J. Starling
Starling entered Autry’s third season as the guy. He averaged 17.8 points per game, and the Orange built around him and Freeman. Starling even made calls to players in the transfer portal to recruit them to the Orange.
His role deteriorated down the stretch as his offense became nonexistent. In the ACC Tournament, he played just 13 minutes and none of the final 15. Starling is out of eligibility, but it’s unknown if he’ll pursue a professional career. Postgame, Starling sat at his locker during the allotted locker room time, but he declined to take any questions.
Donnie Freeman
Freeman rarely played in his freshman campaign, but could’ve sought opportunities elsewhere or at the professional level. Ultimately, he returned to the Orange to play under Autry, who recruited him when he was the No. 6 player in the class of 2024. Freeman faced injury troubles again and isn’t sure what comes next with two years of eligibility left.
“Not even a little bit,” Freeman said when asked if he’s thought about his future. “I’ve brainstormed some ideas, but I don’t know. I’m just, right now, gonna take some time to decompress and kind of get my thoughts aligned, to see what’s in store for me.”
Naithan George
Naithan George was a sought-after piece in the transfer portal, choosing the Orange over North Carolina. The point guard came to SU as the reigning ACC assists leader, averaging 5.3 assists per game with Syracuse but failed to find shooting consistency. He’ll have plenty of options away from SU if he plans to change course again for his final college season.
“I haven’t thought about any of that yet,” George said. “I just finished this game.”
William Kyle III
William Kyle III rarely played in his first three seasons of college at South Dakota State and then at UCLA. He came to Syracuse for an opportunity as a starter, capitalized on it and became a fan favorite along the way with his high-flying ability. Kyle is out of eligibility, but could get some looks at the professional level due to his pure athleticism and defensive capabilities. .
“I definitely cherish every moment that I had this year, just to go out there and be able to play,” Kyle said. “Being able to go out there, and showcase the different things I’ve been working on over the past year and just throughout my whole college career, has been the biggest thing. Just kind of setting me up for whatever’s next with the next chapter.”
Nate Kingz
Nate Kingz became SU’s glue after transferring over from Oregon State. His success in ACC play trickled into the conference tournament, as he dropped 25 points to keep Syracuse in reach for the first half. Kingz now faces a unique challenge, as he submitted a waiver for another year of eligibility.
He played a season of NAIA and JUCO ball, and with the precedent of players like Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Kingz could earn another year. After the Pitt game on March 7, Kingz said he’d definitely want to stay at Syracuse if “the people here wanted him to.” He doubled down on that statement postgame in Charlotte.
“I was just trying to leave it all out down the court, and go as hard as I could (in) my last game. I don’t know what the future holds for me, so I just wanted to leave it all out there and do whatever I could,” Kingz said at the podium.
“It really depends on the uncertainty with Coach (Autry). I came here to play for Coach (Autry) and this staff, so it just depends on all of that,” Kingz added in the locker room. “Definitely a lot higher (chance) if the rest of the things are intact and handled.”
Sadiq White
In his freshman campaign, Sadiq White energized the Orange with his electrifying playstyle. White improved his offensive game throughout the season and fought through a shoulder injury to play versus SMU. With three years of eligibility, he’s a piece Syracuse would certainly be wise to retain for the future.
“As of now, go with the flow,” White said. “Yes, I want to come back to Syracuse. But (I’ll) see what my future holds for me.”
Tyler Betsey
Tyler Betsey had his moments in his first year with the Orange. As a sharpshooter, he made four 3s against Houston to nearly give Syracuse a marquee win. Against Florida State, he made six shots from beyond the arc. And against SMU on Tuesday, Betsey made five more. He came to SU after playing a small role at Cincinnati and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“I don’t know what I’m doing next,” Betsey said. “Honestly, I’m just thinking about what just happened.”
Akir Souare
Akir Souare followed George to Syracuse from Georgia Tech. He played sparingly for SU, occasionally giving Kyle rest at the center position. Souare has two years of eligibility left.
“Yeah, why not?” Souare said of returning to Syracuse. “The season is over, so we just stick together, and then I try to see what the opportunity is to come for next year.”
Bryce Zephir
Bryce Zephir took a long road to Syracuse. He played at Chipola Junior College before two years at North Texas. Then, he played at Salt Lake Community College before transferring to Montana State and averaging 10.4 points per game. Zephir moved on to Syracuse for his final year of eligibility, and he filled in at times as a veteran presence on the defensive end.
“(I’ll most remember) the relationships and connections I formed with my teammates and coaches,” Zephir said. “We built a brotherhood here.”
Kiyan Anthony, Luke Fennell, Tiefing Diawara, Calvin Russell III, Aaron Womack
Kiyan Anthony, Luke Fennell, Tiefing Diawara and Calvin Russell III were not available to the media, as they didn’t appear in Tuesday’s game and weren’t required to be available.
Anthony missed the final two games of his freshman season and averaged 8.0 points per game. The son of SU legend Carmelo Anthony will have three years of eligibility remaining. Luke Fennell and Tiefing Diawara — who appeared in 10 and four games, respectively — will also have three years of eligibility remaining.
Calvin Russell III appeared against NC State after joining the team midseason, and will now look toward the football season as Syracuse’s top prospect. Aaron Womack redshirted and has four years left.
