This past season, as Syracuse basketball went 15-17 overall, the Orange didn't shoot well from deep, going just 32.9 percent collectively as a unit.
The most reliable 3-point threats for the 'Cuse during the 2025-26 campaign were sophomore forward Tyler Betsey, who is entering the transfer portal, and redshirt senior Nate Kingz, whose status for 2026-27 isn't yet clear.
However, new head coach Gerry McNamara landed a big-time get on Monday when European wing Mark Morano Mahmutovič committed to the Orange. Experts say that the 6-foot-7 Mahmutovic, rated four stars by 247Sports in the 2026 class, is both a top-flight scorer and terrific from beyond the arc.
That is encouraging for SU's prospects during the 2026-27 season, because Syracuse basketball this past term was sub-par with its perimeter shooting and also sometimes struggled to score in its half-court offensive sets.
Syracuse basketball scored a "great pickup" in 4-star wing Mark Morano Mahmutovič.
NBA Draft and recruiting analyst Jonathan Givony, who founded and co-owns the DraftExpress media outlet, told Syracuse.com that the 19-year-old Mahmutovič is a "great pickup" for the Orange. "He’s an elite, elite scorer. He’s basically like a five-star caliber recruit as an American high school guy," Givony said.
He added in a post on X: "Think McDonald's All-American-caliber high school recruit - from Europe. Big-time start to the G-Mac era at Syracuse." Givony noted that Mahmutovič has to work on his defense and rebounding, but the new 'Cuse pledge is a versatile scorer and playmaker who has great size and length for a wing.
The Mark Morano Mahmutovič DX scouting file. Think McDonald's All-American-caliber high school recruit -- from Europe. Big-time start to the G-Mac era at Syracuse https://t.co/dUWFx1Oqpk pic.twitter.com/vecNfypPDA
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 6, 2026
During the 2025-26 campaign for the Helios Suns, a professional team in Domzale, Slovenia, Mahmutovic averaged 13.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while making 50 percent from 3-point range.
Last summer, at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket event in Belgrade, Serbia, Mahmutovic was excellent for Slovenia. He averaged 20.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest while connecting on 60.0 percent from the field, 48.9 percent from downtown and 78.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Besides Mahmutovic, McNamara and his staff have secured a transfer pledge from Siena sophomore guard Gavin Doty, a Central New York native who is following GMac to Syracuse basketball. The 6-foot-5 Doty is a four-star transfer prospect. The portal opened on Tuesday and runs through April 21.