Sources have revealed that Syracuse guard Judah Mintz will not be returning to the Orange and will instead enter the upcoming NBA draft. This decision comes after a standout sophomore season in which Mintz led the team in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game. He was also recognized as a second-team All-ACC player for his remarkable output over the course of the season.
This is not the first time Mintz has considered entering the NBA draft. Last year, he went through the draft process and even participated in the NBA Combine after his freshman campaign. However, he ultimately decided to return to Syracuse for his sophomore year. This time around, it appears he has made up his mind to pursue a career in the pros.
The guard told reporters he was planning to discuss his future with his parents after the Orange lost to NC State in the ACC Tournament, a game sports betting apps in North Carolina had likely received an overwhelming number of bets on following the recent arrival of legal betting in the state.
Mintz’s departure is a significant loss for Syracuse as he had been a key player for the program over the past two seasons. In addition to leading the team in scoring, he also ranked third in the ACC in assists and second in steals.
It remains to be seen whether Mintz will also enter the NCAA’s transfer portal. This is a possibility, as many college basketball players have been taking advantage of the transfer portal in recent years as a means of keeping their options open. One notable player to have done so this year is Bronny James, who is looking to join his dad in the NBA after one season with USC
Syracuse has already lost several players from its 2023-24 roster, including Justin Taylor, Maliq Brown, Quadir Copeland, Peter Carey, and Benny Williams. This means that the team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by these departures.
Despite these challenges, Syracuse still has a strong foundation to build upon heading into the next season. The team has a talented roster, and head coach Jim Boeheim has a proven track record of success in developing players and leading his team to victory.
Syracuse has been active in the transfer portal, as several players have entered while the team has expressed interest in many potential replacements. With the offseason in full swing, the Orange coaches have been searching for players to fill the gaps left by the players who have left the program.
The program’s needs are clear. It requires a point guard or combo guard, a wing with 3-point shooting abilities, and a big man to replace outgoing players. With this in mind, the coaches have reportedly shown interest in a variety of players in the transfer portal.
Eddie Lampkin Jr., from Colorado, is a big man who could help provide Syracuse with some much-needed size. Lampkin averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season while leading Colorado with nine double-doubles.
BJ Freeman is one player who has drawn interest from the Syracuse coaches. The 6-foot-6 guard from Milwaukee averaged 21.1 points per game last season and has attracted interest from several other schools, including Kentucky, Arkansas, and Kansas.
Mikeal Brown-Jones, a senior from UNC-Greensboro, is another player who has caught the attention of the Syracuse coaches. Brown-Jones averaged 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season and has shown the ability to shoot from outside as well.
Darlinston Dubar, a wing/forward from Hofstra, is a player who could provide Syracuse with some much-needed shooting. Dubar averaged 17.8 points per game last season while making 39.9% of his 3-point attempts.
Pharrel Payne is a big man from Minnesota who could help fill the void left by outgoing players. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound center averaged 10.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season while shooting 60% from the field.
Dakota Leffew, from Mount St. Mary’s, is a 6-foot-5 guard who could be paired with JJ Starling in the backcourt. Leffew averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game last season while making 36.5% of his 3-point attempts.
Jaquan Carlos, also from Hofstra, is a playmaker who could help fill the void left by outgoing players. The 6-foot guard ranked 13th in the country in assists last season with 6.3 per game.
Jyare Davis is a wing from Delaware who could provide Syracuse with some much-needed scoring. Davis averaged 17.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season while being named the CAA Rookie of the Year.
While it remains to be seen which players Syracuse will ultimately sign, the team’s coaches are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of talent. With several key players leaving the program, the Orange will need to find quality replacements to compete at a high level next season.
