Syracuse basketball adds to front-court with 2026 center from Mexico who averaged 23 PPG

Iker Martinez, a promising 2026 center who hails from Mexico and has been playing high school hoops on the West Coast, announced his commitment to Syracuse basketball on Tuesday night.

First and foremost, a huge congrats to Iker!

The 7-foot Martinez, during the 2025-26 season, suited up for the California-based ELEV8 Academy, which this past term was in its inaugural campaign as a prep-school academy. Cory DeSanti, the head coach of the ELEV8 Academy, tells me that in 2025-26, Martinez averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game.

In grassroots basketball, Martinez has played for DeSanti's Elev8 Elite program as well as the Los Angeles-based California Stars, which is run by Julius Von Hanzlik. Martinez also has experience competing for the Mexican U17 national team.

Syracuse basketball has another big man for its 2026-27 roster.

Martinez has yet to visit the Orange program, but he is signed with the team, according to DeSanti. Martinez has picked up scholarship offers from other schools such as High Point, California State University, Northridge, Sacramento State, Long Beach State, Arkansas State and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, DeSanti told me on Tuesday evening.

DeSanti said of his center: "He asked me for advice, and he said there were other schools with more money or more minutes, but this kid is a competitor. I told him this is Syracuse, and there may not be a better place on the planet to play college basketball. I believe he has NBA talent, he has an elite motor and attitude, and all he does is put his head down and work."

This offseason, new Orange head coach Gerry McNamara and his assistants have been busy constructing their roster for the 2026-27 season. At this juncture, the team's roster includes 14 players, with one scholarship still open. If I had to venture a guess, should SU fill that last slot, it will likely be with a point guard for additional back-court depth.

Here is the Syracuse basketball 2026-27 roster:
•Ryan Moesch, a 2026 four-star point guard from Central New York
•Mark Morano Mahmutovic, a 2026 four-star wing from Slovenia
•Abdramane Siby, a 2026 center from Mali
•Iker Martinez, a 2026 center from Mexico
•Freshman guard Kiyan Anthony
•Freshman forward Sadiq White Jr.
•Freshman wing Calvin Russell III
•Sophomore guard Noah Lobdell
•Sophomore guard Aiden Tobiason, a four-star transfer from Temple
•Junior guard Garwey Dual, a four-star transfer from McNeese State
•Sophomore guard Gavin Doty, a four-star transfer from Siena
•Junior power forward/center Tasman Goodrick, a three-star transfer from Siena
•Redshirt sophomore center Luke Wilson, a four-star transfer from Appalachian State
•Freshman forward Francis Folefac, a four-star transfer from Siena

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