Syracuse basketball fans are anxious to know who the team's starting center will be in the 2026-27 season.
It's an understandable sentiment. Head coach Gerry McNamara and his staff are building out their 2026-27 roster, and they've added a lot to their back-court. The Orange's front-court, though, needs more reinforcements, especially in the form of a starting center to replace William Kyle III.
Things have been relatively quiet on that front, at least in the public domain. Certainly, behind the scenes, McNamara and his assistants are working to bring more big men to the Hill for the upcoming campaign.
The 'Cuse staff could find power forwards and centers via the transfer portal, which remains open until April 21, or through other recruiting channels, whether the international route, junior college or possibly even the high school senior class (this is the least likely).
This offseason, the Orange has received a commitment Siena transfer Tasman Goodrick, a junior power forward/center. However, it would surprise me if Syracuse basketball coaches are planning for Goodrick to be SU's starting center in 2026-27.
Transfers centers for Syracuse basketball fans to possibly monitor.
A few names to follow include:
South Carolina junior Christ Essandoko (7-foot, 280 pounds)
2025-26 stats: 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game; 31.8 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from 3-point range and 50.0 percent from the free-throw line
Creighton junior Owen Freeman (6-foot-10, 240 pounds)
2025-26 stats: 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game; 60.2 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line
Santa Clara sophomore Bukky Oboye (7-foot-1, 220 pounds)
2025-26 stats: 7.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game; 66.7 percent from the field, 24.2 percent from 3-point range and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line
Seton Hall freshman Najai Hines (6-foot-10, 265 pounds)
2025-26 stats: 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game; 60.2 percent from the field and 69.0 percent from the free-throw line
Pittsburgh sophomore Papa Amadou Kante (6-foot-10, 235 pounds)
2025-26 stats: 2.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game; 45.0 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from the free-throw line
Add us as a preferred source on Google