Nate Kingz is on a roll these days.
The redshirt senior small forward who transferred to Syracuse basketball from Oregon State this past off-season came to the Hill with a reputation as a sharpshooter from deep. In the 2024-25 campaign, he connected on an impressive 44.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound native of Salem, Ore., started off the 2025-26 season relatively slowly from long range, but things have picked up lately for Kingz. And, I might add, he's also showcasing his ability to score in the paint while also playing solid defense and rebounding at a good clip for a wing (Kingz is third on the SU roster in boards per game).
On Saturday night, the Orange recorded a much-needed 86-72 victory over Notre Dame at the JMA Wireless Dome to snap a four-game losing streak. The 'Cuse (13-9 overall, 4-5 in ACC) will travel to No. 16 North Carolina on Monday evening.
Nate Kingz scored a career-high 28 points to earn Premium Mortgage Player of the Game in the Orange's win vs. Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/UwP4rx5s60
— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) February 1, 2026
Against the Fighting Irish, to use a cheesy line, Nate was great. He tallied a team-high 28 points, which is also the most for him in an Orange uniform. Kingz added two rebounds, three assists and three steals while going 11-of-17 from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point land.
Syracuse basketball small forward Nate Kingz has been hot in recent games.
Through the team's 22 games in 2025-26, Kingz is averaging 30.2 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while connecting on 47.6 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from the perimeter and 63.2 percent from the free-throw line. Yes, he needs to improve from the charity stripe (Kingz made 81.8 percent from there last season).
Based on his number of 3-point attempts so far this campaign, Kingz doesn't quite qualify for recognition among Atlantic Coast Conference leaders, but if he did, Kingz is eyeing a top-five percentage from downtown. He's No. 2 in 3-point shooting percentage on the Orange roster, behind sophomore forward Tyler Betsey.
In mid-January, when Syracuse basketball fell at Boston College by eight points in overtime, Kingz scored 27 points on 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Over SU's last five encounters, he is averaging 16.6 points per contest while hitting on 57.1 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from 3-point land.
That's darn good. And imperative for a 'Cuse team that has needed a jolt to help turn its 2025-26 term around.