Syracuse Basketball: Ranking best Orange transfers from the last decade
Michael Gbinije
Coming out of high school Michael Gbinije was a top 30 ranked prospect according to 247sports and chose to play for Duke. But after one season, he got minimal playing time and limited numbers. After only appearing in 19 games averaging six minutes, Gbinije decided it was time for a change. He was forced to sit a season to become eligible, and then his time on the hill began.
In his first season donning Orange, he did not start in any games but did average nearly 15 minutes a game, which was a drastic increase from his time with the Blue Devils.
In 2014 his collegiate career took off as he started 24 games and was a significant factor for the team. His senior season shows how important getting him to Syracuse was, and he shined in the regular season and the NCAA tourney.
Michael Gbinije 2015-2016 stats:
- 17.5 points per game
- 4.3 assists per game
- 4.1 rebounds per game
- 1.9 steals per game
He secured the statistic trifecta by leading the team in points, assists, and steals. Gbinije served as a leader on the court, and his production shown in the box score.
In 2016 his squad went all the way to the Final Four until eventually being knocked off by UNC. But Gbinije was a productive player averaging over 15 points in five games. Syracuse had many great scorers and athletes on their Final Four team, but who knows how far they could have gone without snagging Gbinije from the transfer portal a few years before.