Syracuse basketball showing interest in 4-star transfer guard from CNY neighbor

Syracuse basketball is among various schools that are showing some level of interest in Colgate junior guard Jalen Cox, a four-star transfer prospect.

That's according to a post on X from national analyst Sam Kayser on Thursday. Others displaying an interest in the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Cox include Indiana, Kentucky, UCLA, Virginia Tech, SMU, Villanova, Texas and West Virginia, among many others.

In national transfer ratings from the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, Cox checks in as four stars, No. 147 overall and No. 15 at combo guard. He hails from Los Angeles.

In the recently completed 2025-26 season, Patriot League member Colgate finished at 18-15 overall. Cox averaged 34.1 minutes, 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per contest while making 52.1 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from beyond the arc and 85.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Cox finished the 2025-26 stanza as the No. 3 scorer in the Patriot League. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Patriot League first team and the conference's All-Defensive team.

Syracuse basketball will need guards for its 2026-27 roster.

The transfer portal opened on April 7 and will run through April 21. New Orange head coach Gerry McNamara and his assistants are currently constructing their roster for the upcoming campaign.

Here is the latest. Freshman shooting guard Kiyan Anthony and freshman big man Sadiq White Jr. are returning in 2026-27. It's not clear what the status is of redshirt senior small forward Nate Kingz, who would need a waiver from the NCAA to play another season of Division I basketball.

To date, McNamara and his staff have secured commitments from two transfers. They are Siena sophomore guard Gavin Doty, a four-star transfer prospect, and Siena junior power forward/center Tasman Goodrick.

The Orange also has a pledge from Slovenian wing Mark Morano Mahmutovič, a four-star player in the 2026 class. The 'Cuse coaching staff needs to find a quality starting center in the transfer portal, although McNamara & Co. will also be adding more guards, whether through the portal or other recruiting avenues.