Syracuse basketball may have its top center target, as 4-star defensive specialist visits

Luke Wilson, a four-star transfer center and an excellent defensive player, is on a visit to Syracuse basketball, or at least he was on Monday, according to an Instagram story post.

The transfer portal opened on April 7 and runs through April 21. Players don't have to commit to a new school by Tuesday, April 21, but they do have to be in the portal by then.

It would appear that perhaps Wilson, a redshirt sophomore at Sun Belt Conference member Appalachian State, could be the Orange's top center target at this juncture.

Another four-star transfer center, Creighton junior Owen Freeman, visited the 'Cuse last week and has committed to Auburn. I'd also keep an eye on four-star transfer center Chol Machot, a redshirt junior at the College of Charleston who is reportedly receiving interest from the Syracuse basketball staff.

Syracuse basketball has hosted 4-star transfer center Luke Wilson on a visit to the Hill.

The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Wilson, who is from Augusta, Ga., has visited UCLA. Other teams that may be in the mix for him, per national analysts, include Georgia, Mississippi State, Saint Louis, Cincinnati, Purdue, Seton Hall and Georgetown, among others.

In the 2025-26 season, as Appalachian State went 19-13 overall, Wilson averaged 28.1 minutes, 10.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while making 64.2 percent from the field and 56.7 percent from the free-throw line. He was named the Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the year in 2025-26.

So far this offseason, the 'Cuse has 11 players for its 2026-27 roster. They are:
•Ryan Moesch, a 2026 four-star point guard from Central New York
•Mark Morano Mahmutovic, a 2026 four-star wing from Slovenia
•Center Abdramane Siby, a 2026 prospect from Mali
•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 transfer from Siena

With four scholarships left, the Orange staff is certainly looking for additional depth both at center and forward. Wilson would be a solid pick-up, and he would fit well into head coach Gerry McNamara's system, given his defensive prowess.

On Tuesday morning, in national transfer ratings from the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, Wilson checks in as four stars, No. 206 overall and No. 24 at center.

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