Analyzing Syracuse basketball's depth chart at the center position for 2026-27 season

With a new coach and (hopefully) a new direction, the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team is going to look a lot different during the 2026-27 season than it did this past season. Of course, that’s become par for the course for much of college basketball. Nevertheless, with the current recruiting cycle for the 2026-27 campaign mostly wrapped up, it’s time to start looking at what the Orange’s depth chart will look like next season.

Let’s start at the center position, which is undergoing a complete makeover. William Kyle gave Syracuse some stability last season. However, he’s out of eligibility, while Ibrahim Souare, Tiefing Diawara and Donnie Freeman have all transferred (or at least entered the portal), meaning it’ll be mostly new faces manning the middle for the Orange. Here is an early look at the depth chart at the center position.

Starter: Luke Wilson

This might not be set in stone, but Wilson is the most likely starting center for the Orange. He’s certainly the most experienced center on the roster after playing two seasons at Appalachian State before transferring to Syracuse. Wilson immediately brings rebounding and defense to the Orange, averaging 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this past season, helping him take home Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Sun Belt. He should be able to replicate some of Kyle’s productivity in those areas. Offensively, Wilson averaged 10.7 points per game for App State this past season, with some of his best games coming late in the season. Whether that offensive production translates to the ACC remains to be seen. But Wilson is the most obvious choice to open next season as the starting center.

Backup: Tasman Goodrick

Goodrick is one of three players Gerry McNamara is bringing with him from Siena. The biggest caveat with Goodrick is that he played just 18 games over two seasons with the Saints because of injury. However, in the nine games he played this past season, he averaged 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The 6’10’’ Australian native provides good size and double-double potential. Of course, the games he played for Siena this past season all came against small-conference opponents. There could be a learning curve for Goodrick in the ACC, which is why it’s hard to project him as anything more than a backup right away.

Third String: Abdramane Siby

Siby is undoubtedly the wild card at the center position and potentially Syracuse’s biggest wild card at any position next season. The seven-footer hails from Mali and most recently played for a team in Serbia. The highlight footage on Siby shows an athletic big man who can be a menace defensively, blocking and altering shots at the rim. He also flashes good hands and an ability to finish his chances when he’s open close to the basket. The long-term upside with Siby is undeniable. But whether he’ll be ready to make an impact in the ACC as a freshman, especially offensively, is another question. Nevertheless, he’s athletic enough to get a chance to play as a freshman. But how much he plays and what impact he has will depend on how polished his game is when Siby steps on campus.

Emergency Option: Sadiq White Jr.

With three centers on the roster, Syracuse theoretically has 15 fouls to give at that position every game. That should eliminate the need for anyone else to play center. But in case of an emergency, the Orange will break the glass and play White, as he’s the next tallest player on the roster. In all likelihood, White will be an impact player this season. However, if he ends up playing significant minutes at center, something has gone terribly wrong.

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