Syracuse basketball first-year head coach Gerry McNamara retained two key freshmen from last season's roster. One of them is sophomore forward Sadiq White Jr., a top-30 national prospect in the 2025 class from Charlotte, N.C.
College basketball insider Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and 247Sports recently noted 10 under-the-radar breakout players for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. One player on his list is the 6-foot-8, 207-pound White.
Rothstein wrote: "Gerry McNamara's ability to retain White was a major coup. A freak athlete, the 6-foot-9 White is built physically like some of the elite players who have thrived for the Orange in the past."
In 2025-26, the 'Cuse went 15-17 overall, its second straight losing season. SU officials parted ways with third-year head coach Adrian Autry and hired another former Syracuse basketball standout guard, McNamara, as the team's next head coach.
Syracuse basketball forward Sadiq White Jr. is poised for a breakout sophomore term.
As a freshman in 2025-26, White averaged 15.1 minutes, 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while making 54.7 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and 51.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Given his athleticism and ability to drive the line, White could be positioned to score a good amount of points from the charity stripe if opposing defenders are often fouling him in the act of shooting. But he's got to up his free-throw shooting percentage from last season.
White came to college with a reputation for being a high-energy player and an excellent defensive prospect, according to analysts and scouts. That, hopefully, should fit in well within McNamara's system. The Orange first-year head coach is preaching defense, energy, grit and toughness, among other things.
While not known as an amazing 3-point shooter, White did end up hitting nearly 37 percent from long range last season. If he can be relatively consistent with his shots from deep, that adds another important facet to his offensive skill set.
Defenders will also have to play up on him, and that could create opportunities for White to get by opponents and score around the rim. Additionally, having a credible 3-point shot could help space the floor better for Syracuse's offense, providing other players with open looks, whether on the perimeter or in the paint.
In SU's first exhibition earlier this month, a 72-52 setback to mighty UConn, White led the Orange with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and that included a pair of 3-pointers.
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