McNamara Aims to Build 'Strategic' Syracuse Roster

New coach focuses on retaining top players and leveraging transfer portal to assemble competitive team.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:09pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes and planes representing the various elements of a college basketball game or practice, conveying the strategic and analytical nature of McNamara's roster-building process.McNamara's strategic roster-building approach aims to quickly restore Syracuse basketball's competitive edge.Syracuse Today

Newly appointed Syracuse men's basketball head coach Gerry McNamara is working to build out his roster for the upcoming season. McNamara says he will be strategic in his approach, focusing on retaining key players from last year's squad like sophomore forward Donnie Freeman and freshman guard Kiyan Anthony. He also plans to utilize the NCAA transfer portal, eyeing players like Siena's Gavin Doty and Francis Folefac who were crucial to the Saints' success this past season. Additionally, McNamara indicated he will likely add some freshmen to the inaugural roster.

Why it matters

As a new head coach, McNamara faces the challenge of quickly assembling a competitive roster that can compete in the highly competitive ACC. Retaining top talent from the previous team while also strategically adding transfers and freshmen will be crucial to his success in rebuilding the Syracuse program.

The details

McNamara says he wants players who can provide offensive rebounds, shooting ability, and size to complement the existing talent on the roster. He has already begun conversations with key returning players like Donnie Freeman and Kiyan Anthony to gauge their fit in his vision. The coach will also be active in the NCAA transfer portal, which opens on Tuesday, eyeing players like Siena's Gavin Doty and Francis Folefac who excelled this past season. McNamara has also indicated he will likely add some freshmen to the roster, including a potential target in Chittenango's Ryan Moesch.

  • The NCAA transfer portal opens on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The 2026-27 college basketball season will begin in the fall of 2026.

The players

Gerry McNamara

The newly appointed head coach of the Syracuse men's basketball team, tasked with rebuilding the program.

Donnie Freeman

Sophomore forward who led Syracuse in scoring last season, averaging 16.5 points per game.

Kiyan Anthony

Freshman guard who is the son of former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony, averaged 8 points per game last season.

Gavin Doty

Sophomore guard from Siena who was crucial to the Saints' success this past season.

Francis Folefac

Freshman forward from Siena who was a key contributor to the team's strong performance.

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What they’re saying

“We'll be very strategic, the best we can here over the next few weeks of having some athletes and some size being able to get offensive rebounds, still be able to shoot.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Syracuse Men's Basketball

“The cover ain't bare here, guys. I watched this group. There's some talent with this roster.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Syracuse Men's Basketball

“I had a group that allowed me to coach them every day. No nonsense. So when we put in a scout, because of their professionalism and maturity, they didn't miss a beat.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Syracuse Men's Basketball

“Obviously, I've got a criteria, but I'm never going to turn down good. And when I say 'good,' I'm going to go after it and figure it out later.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Syracuse Men's Basketball

What’s next

McNamara will continue evaluating the current roster and recruiting potential transfers and freshmen as the NCAA transfer portal opens on April 8, 2026. He hopes to assemble a competitive team in time for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

McNamara's strategic approach to building Syracuse's roster, focusing on retaining key players while also actively pursuing transfers and freshmen, demonstrates his commitment to quickly rebuilding the program into a competitive force in the ACC.