Just when it seemed like the 2024-25 roster was finalized for Syracuse Men’s Basketball, the Orange made a change yesterday. Petar Majstrovic, a Serbian-born center who has played in France the past few year, signed his NLI with Syracuse.
A Syracuse press release has Majstrovic listed as a center, but with a 6-9 frame, a stretch role between the four and five positions seem more likely.
While the committment was dropped without any notice and is by a player who doesn’t garner much name recognition, Majstrovic may be a perfect depth piece for Syracuse in the 2024-25 season.
The guard positions have been stacked for the Orange, but as you move to the front court, a lot was in the air past the starters. Majstorovic may be able to help answer these.
This past season with the ASVEL Basket Lyon-Villeurbanne U-21 team, Majstorovic was productive with 9.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was the third year of U-21 french action for Majstorvic, and as had been shown the past few years, French basketball competition is getting higher and higher quality. (Victor Wemenyama, anyone?)
Depending on the rotation that Adrian Autry puts out, Majstorovic is likely to be in the mix of six players for playing time. Delaware transfer Jyare Davis and freshman Donnie Freeman are likely to split most of the power forward playing time, with Chris Bell as another option for a smaller lineup. At center, Colorado transfer Eddie Lampkin and Naheem McLeod both figure to be ahead of Majstorovic on the depth chart.
But the Serbian is young (19 years old and entering a freshman), meaning he has time to grow with this Syracuse squad. The biggest adjustment may come where he plays on the court.
Highlights show Majstorovic has played in the paint a lot in France as one of the tallest players. But this won’t necessarily be the case at the Divison I level.
If Autry and the rest of the coaching staff can build off the raw talent of Majstorovic, the Orange may have hit the international lottery jackpot.
