Last month, per a report in Sports Illustrated, the NCAA distributed new eligibility requirement guidelines to its member schools that could affect international prospects who are trying to play Division I men's college basketball.
Since then, various experts have said that the new guidelines may result in some international players being ruled ineligible to play in college by the NCAA. Syracuse basketball has two international signees: 2026 center Abdramane Siby from Mali and 2026 four-star wing Mark Morano Mahmutovic from Slovenia.
One top international hoops expert, though, isn't concerned about the eligibility of these two Orange commits. In a message exchange on X, Jonathan Givony, who is the founder of the New York-based Draft Express, told me that he doesn't "expect either to have issues," which is obviously great to hear.
This offseason, as college basketball programs are constructing their rosters for the 2026-27 campaign, teams have, of course, relied on the transfer portal and high school recruiting. However, squads are tapping heavily into the international market, too.
Just look at what Big Ten Conference member Illinois did this past season. The Fighting Illini advanced to the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and Illinois had several international players on its 2025-26 roster.
Syracuse basketball, like its peers, has gone overseas for players.
The new eligibility requirements center on international prospects, and what their compensation is. If that compensation exceeds what is known as "actual and necessary expenses," then the NCAA would not be expected to grant eligibility. But as some experts note, this all boils down to how aggressively the NCAA will enforce these eligibility guidelines.
In the 2025-26 season, Siby has played for Mega Superbet, a pro club in Belgrade, Serbia, and Mahmutovic has played for the Helios Suns, a professional team in Domzale, Slovenia.
The Orange's 14-player roster for 2026-27 includes four returnees, six college transfers and four incoming freshmen. Besides Siby and Mahmutovic, SU's two other 2026 prep signees are four-star point guard Ryan Moesch from Central New York and center Iker Martinez, who is originally from Mexico.
First-year head coach Gerry McNamara and his staff have assembled a 2026-27 roster that includes multiple four-star commits among both high school signees and college transfers.
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