Syracuse basketball has finally made a splash in the transfer portal, landing Oregon State shooting guard Nate Kingz earlier today. The junior announced his commitment to the ‘Cuse on his Instagram this morning, which is big news for a ‘Cuse squad in dire need of some talent.
Kingz, a 6’5” guard from Salem, Oregon, averaged 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season with the Beavers, who went just 20-12 in the WCC. The most notable part of his game, Kingz connected on 58 of 130 three-point attempts, good for nearly 45% from beyond the arc.
A former JUCO player at the College of Southern Idaho, Kingz missed all of 2023 with a torn ACL, which always raises concerns at the college level. But when healthy, Kingz has shown that he can be a difference-maker on the court.
This is a huge move for Adrian Autry and his squad. The left-handed sharpshooter is a player fans can easily fall in love with, as he plays with a lot of swagger and has a beautiful stroke from a distance. Coupled with the return of JJ Starling and Donnie Freeman, Kingz makes an immediate impact and probably starts with the Orange.
Although SU fans should be celebrating this pickup, there’s still a lot of work to be done this summer. The Orange still desperately need a point guard to bring the ball up the court, as well as some depth in the frontcourt. William Kyle III doesn’t move the needle, this move starts to shake it, but there’s still plenty of time to go in the portal, and a lot of talent searching for homes.
