Gavin Doty Joins Former Coach at Syracuse

Doty reunites with McNamara after transfer from Washington

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:24pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with sharp geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the dynamic nature of the sport and the player's transfer to a new team.Gavin Doty's transfer to Syracuse reunites the talented guard with his former coach, signaling a growing trend in college basketball.Syracuse Today

Gavin Doty, a standout college basketball player, has decided to transfer from the University of Washington to Syracuse University, where he will be reunited with his former head coach Gerry McNamara. The move comes as part of the ongoing college basketball transfer portal activity.

Why it matters

Doty's transfer to Syracuse is noteworthy as it represents a high-profile player switching schools to rejoin a coach he previously had success with. This type of player-coach reunion is becoming more common in the modern transfer landscape of college basketball.

The details

Doty, a 6'3" guard, played two seasons at the University of Washington under head coach Mike Hopkins. During his time with the Huskies, Doty averaged 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Now, he will head to Syracuse to play for McNamara, who was an assistant coach at Washington when Doty first committed there.

  • Doty played the last two seasons at the University of Washington.
  • Doty has announced his transfer to Syracuse University for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The players

Gavin Doty

A 6'3" guard who played the last two seasons at the University of Washington.

Gerry McNamara

The head coach at Syracuse University, who previously coached Doty as an assistant at Washington.

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What they’re saying

“Gavin is a talented player who I'm excited to coach again. His skill set and experience will be a great addition to our program.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Syracuse University

What’s next

Doty will have two years of eligibility remaining when he joins the Syracuse Orange for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Doty's transfer to reunite with his former coach McNamara at Syracuse highlights the growing trend of players seeking out familiar coaching relationships when entering the transfer portal. This move could pay dividends for both Doty and the Syracuse program as they look to build on their recent success.