The chatter proved accurate, as Oregon State redshirt junior guard Nate Kingz announced his commitment to Syracuse basketball via his Instagram page in recent days.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Kingz, who hails from Salem, Ore., had taken a visit to the Orange, according to reports, and 'Cuse fans on social media and in chat rooms were speculating that Kingz might be the next transfer prospect to head to the Hill.
First and foremost, a huge congrats and welcome from Orange Nation to Nate!
Kingz is an excellent long-range shooter, and that's something the 'Cuse coaching staff has made a priority so far this off-season, from my perspective.
In the 2024-25 season, Syracuse basketball made only 32.8 percent from 3-point land. Several of its better 3-point shooters this past term, including junior small forward Chris Bell, have either exhausted their college eligibility or entered the transfer portal.
Landing a pledge from Kingz is a big-time get for the Orange coaching staff as it constructs its roster for the upcoming 2025-26 stanza.
Syracuse basketball has improved its 3-point shooting for the next season.
In 2024-25, per ESPN statistics, Kingz averaged 27.6 minutes, 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest while making 50.4 percent from the field, 44.6 percent from beyond the arc on a sizable volume of attempts, and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Here's the current situation on the Orange's 2025-26 roster. With a commitment by Kingz, the 'Cuse has eight players for the upcoming term, including one other transfer, UCLA power forward/center William Kyle lll, a junior.
Guards
J.J. Starling
Kiyan Anthony
Luke Fennell
Wings/Forwards
Donnie Freeman
Sadiq White Jr.
Aaron Womack
Nate Kingz
Power Forwards/Centers
William Kyle lll
In 2025-26, college basketball programs can have up to 15 scholarship players, so this means the Orange has seven scholarships left. I wouldn't necessarily expect the Syracuse basketball coaching staff to use all 15 scholarships, but clearly, the 'Cuse will add more players via the portal this off-season.
Even with the 'Cuse bringing Kingz on board, I still believe that adding more 3-point specialists is a big need for Syracuse basketball in 2025-26, along with landing a true point guard out of the portal and at least one more center.