Syracuse Basketball: Jesse Edwards hearing from a ton of top-notch teams

Potential suitors are already lining up for Syracuse basketball senior center Jesse Edwards, who said on Tuesday via social media that he is entering the NCAA’s transfer portal to explore other opportunities for his fifth and final year of collegiate eligibility.

The 6-foot-11 Edwards, who hails from Amsterdam, Netherlands, blossomed into one of the best centers in the Atlantic Coast Conference over the past two seasons, so it’s no surprise that he’s already garnering interest from numerous impressive squads.

Per a tweet from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, teams that have contacted Jesse Edwards include Georgia, LSU, Arkansas, West Virginia, BYU, Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Florida.

A tweet from 24/7 High School Hoops says those groups that have reached out to Edwards include Kansas State, Florida, Memphis, N.C. State, Georgia, LSU, Arkansas, West Virginia, BYU, Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Senior center Jesse Edwards is entering the transfer portal, a tough blow for Syracuse basketball.

According to a tweet from college basketball insider Adam Zagoria, Jesse Edwards has heard from squads such as Georgia, LSU, Arkansas, West Virginia, BYU, Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Florida, N.C. State and Memphis.

These are certainly an interesting mix of schools making contact with Edwards. Gonzaga certainly sticks out, as it has proven one of the country’s best teams in recent years, making the NCAA Tournament title game in 2017 and 2021.

N.C. State is a fellow ACC member, and I could see other ACC teams pursuing Jesse Edwards. Arkansas, over the past three NCAA Tournaments, has gone to the Elite Eight twice and the Sweet 16.

In 2022-23, Kansas State was one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference as well as around the country. The Wildcats, in the 2023 Big Dance, went to the Elite Eight, falling to eventual Final Four participant Florida Atlantic.

I’ll continue to monitor what other suitors emerge for Jesse Edwards. His decision to hit the portal is a huge blow to Syracuse basketball ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, because the team’s other centers are inexperienced.

I definitely could envision the ‘Cuse coaching staff mining the portal to pick up a more veteran center for 2023-24.

As a senior, Jesse Edwards averaged 14.5 points, 10.3 boards, 2.7 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals a game, while connecting on 59.2 percent from the field and 72.9 percent from the charity stripe.

He was named to the All-ACC third team as well as the league’s All-Defensive unit in 2022-23.

In updated national transfer rankings from CBS Sports’ David Cobb on Tuesday, Jesse Edwards resided at No. 8 around the country. He is one of the top big men presently in the portal.