Syracuse basketball exploring the transfer market for the 2020-21 season
By Neil Adler
Syracuse basketball is heavily exploring the transfer market for the 2020-21 season. Here are all the details and what it all means.
Syracuse basketball apparently isn’t done recruiting for the 2020-21 campaign. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello sent out a tweet on Thursday that Columbia transfer Patrick Tape has scheduled a trip to the Central New York campus on Feb. 28.
The 6-foot-10 power forward, according to Borzello, is also eyeing a Feb. 15 visit to Maryland. Borzello adds in his tweet, “USC, Georgetown, Ohio State, UCLA, Gonzaga, Arizona, Virginia, Notre Dame also in contact.”
Tape suited up for Columbia, out of the Ivy League, for three stanzas. In his junior year, the 2018-19 term, he collected 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per affair for the Lions while connecting on 66.7 percent from the field.
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According to various media reports in early November of 2019, Tape elected to sit out the current season so he could pursue graduate-transfer possibilities in 2020-21.
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Tape competed for the USA East Coast crew during a three-contest tour of Greece last June. Also on that roster? Orange sophomore point guard Jalen Carey. Hmmm.
The ‘Cuse is going up against a bunch of heavyweight programs to secure Tape’s services, and it’s no surprise that he’s supremely coveted. Borzello, earlier this month, published a piece that ranked transfers. In the “new to the transfer portal” category, Tape is slotted at No. 8 nationally.
By the way, in his article, Borzello describes Tape as a “highly efficient offensive player.” Syracuse, undeniably, would prove lucky to land Tape. Even if the Orange gets him, the ‘Cuse coaching staff has some things to figure out with its line-up.
That’s because, as it stands now, Syracuse has 13 scholarship guys, and only graduate student Shaun Belbey is guaranteed to depart after 2019-20. There are no seniors on the Orange roster, and the ‘Cuse also has received commitments from a duo of players in the 2020 recruiting cycle, four-star power forward Woody Newton and four-star combo guard Kadary Richmond.
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I’m no whiz in accounting or math, but it definitely looks like Syracuse will have to free up a scholarship for Tape to come on board. It’s entirely feasible that, following 2019-20, a guy or two could either decide to transfer or turn pro. Tape is an intriguing prospect for the Orange, given his offensive skills around the rim, and we’ll, of course, keep you updated as his recruitment carries on.