William Kyle III, the former Syracuse basketball center and a fan favorite for his athleticism, energy and rim protection, will get his shot in the NBA.
Per a post on X from ESPN's Dave McMenamin (an SU alum), the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Kyle has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the storied Los Angeles Lakers. According to Yahoo Sports, an "Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary agreement that isn't guaranteed. ... This makes the Exhibit 10 contract a helpful tool to bring in players to compete during Summer League for a roster spot on an NBA team or its G League affiliate."
Former Syracuse center William Kyle III is signing with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 deal, sources told ESPN. The 6-9, 230-pound big man averaged 8.4 points on 66.1% with 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in his senior season with the Orange
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 25, 2026
The Lakers, led by superstars such as LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, went 53-29 during the 2025-26 regular season. Los Angeles, as the No. 4 seed, knocked off Houston in the NBA playoffs' opening round before falling in the Western Conference semifinals to the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City.
A huge congrats to William!
Former Syracuse basketball big man William Kyle III is going to the West Coast.
The 2026 NBA Draft concluded on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., with the completion of the second round. Kyle was hoping to be the first Orange player selected in the NBA Draft since wing Elijah Hughes in 2020.
Some scouts thought Kyle had a decent chance to hear his name called in the second round; regardless, he now has the opportunity to play for an iconic NBA franchise that has claimed 17 world titles, with the most recent one arriving in 2020.
Kyle, a native of Bellevue, Neb., was a bright spot on a 'Cuse team that went just 15-17 in the 2025-26 campaign. After playing at UCLA and South Dakota State, Kyle came to the Hill for his senior year, and he made it count.
In 2025-26, he averaged 28.1 minutes, 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while connecting on 66.1 percent from the field and 49.1 percent from the free-throw line. His blocks per contest were No. 2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and No. 8 around the country.
Several former Syracuse basketball players are also headed to the pro ranks. Defensive guru Maliq Brown from Duke, a power forward, was picked in the 2026 NBA Draft's second round at No. 44 overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
The New Orleans Pelicans are signing Cal’s Chris Bell to an Exhibit-10 contract, source told @Stockrisers.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) June 25, 2026
Wing Chris Bell, who spent his senior season at fellow ACC school California, is signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to recruiting analyst Jake Weingarten. Guard Quadir Copeland, who played for another ACC member, N.C. State, this past season, has signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets, per 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London.
NC State guard Quadir Copeland has signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets, source tells @247Sports pic.twitter.com/6iFS31kxFb
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) June 25, 2026
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