Syracuse basketball should have pretty good shot with FSU center transfer

Syracuse basketball has hosted a former big-man recruit on the Orange campus, and assuming that the trip went well, I would assume that the ‘Cuse will be a serious contender here.

The Orange coaching staff is likely looking to add another center to the 2022-23 roster, given that sophomore Frank Anselem recently entered into the NCAA’s transfer portal.

As it currently stands, the only centers on the roster for next season are junior Jesse Edwards, who is coming off an injury this past February, and incoming 2022 three-star commit Peter Carey, who most recently suited up for the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Mount Hermon, Mass.

Quincy Ballard, a 7-foot sophomore center who has competed for Florida State over the past two campaigns, entered into the transfer portal not too long ago, and SU coaches are showing interest in him.

Syracuse basketball might be a viable alternative for an FSU big-man transfer.

Ballard, a Central New York native and a three-star prospect in the 2020 class, was recruited by the ‘Cuse out of high school, and he played for Henninger High School in Syracuse and then the Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C.

According to media reports, Ballard just made an official visit to the Hill. Based on a variety of comments that I’ve read on social media and in chat rooms, I do get the sense that the visit went well, although I’m not in Ballard’s inner circle and am merely speculating here.

Per reports, Ballard has taken an official visit to Wichita State as well. We’ll have to see if other trips to college campuses are on the horizon for him.

A recent report by Taylor Eldridge on kansas.com said that Maryland may also be displaying interest in Ballard, in addition to Wichita State and Syracuse basketball.

A late riser in the 2020 recruiting cycle, Ballard ultimately chose the Seminoles over other finalists the ‘Cuse and Maryland in the spring of 2020. Cincinnati and N.C. State had been in his top five as well.

Ballard, an athletic big man with a proficiency for blocking shots, could be a solid back-up to Edwards. The Florida State transfer played sparingly for FSU, averaging 4.7 minutes a game in 2021-22 and 3.3 minutes per contest in 2020-21, according to ESPN.

However, Ballard does have some experience playing for a fellow Atlantic Coast Conference squad. I think it could come down to what kind of expectations he has in terms of playing time in 2022-23 and beyond, and if those expectations align with what Syracuse basketball coaches can offer Ballard as a back-up center to Edwards.