Syracuse basketball ended the 2024/25 season posting a 14–19 overall record and a 7-13 mark in ACC play, which represents a season of challenges and development under the stewardship of head coach Adrian Autry. Despite the sub-.500 record, the Orange showed some grit, winning five in a row, including against Georgetown and Oregon. Going forward, a lot of things point towards the SU using that momentum gained in this season and carrying it forward into the 2025–26 season.
Returning Core Players
J.J. Starling, the junior guard who led the Orange in scoring, and Donnie Freeman, the freshman forward who was second on the team, will be back in the fold, and that will certainly help the Orange to a large degree next season. Starling put up a team-high 17.8 points per game, and toughness will endear him to fans and bettors alike in preseason player props, especially since he played through a hand injury. Freeman flashed breakout potential in limited action at 13.4 points per game and could prove to be a solid sleeper option in early futures markets. Their return presents both stability and leadership for a team looking to climb the ACC standings, making Syracuse an intriguing watch on top basketball betting sites ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Promising Recruiting Class
Syracuse’s recruiting efforts have yielded a top-10 national class for 2025, featuring four notable signees:
Kiyan Anthony: A four-star shooting guard and son of Syracuse legend Carmelo, Kiyan packs a serious scoring punch and a strong tie to the program.
Sadiq White Jr.: 6’8″ Power forward for Charlotte, NC, and ranked No. 31 nationally — can step in and contribute in the frontcourt right away.
Aaron Womack: A versatile winger signed from Milwaukee, WI, Womack helps round out the team with perimeter depth and athleticism.
Luke Fennell: A 6’5″ playmaking point guard who comes out of the NBA Global Academy in Australia.
These players fill some very important gaps and, with the others returning, make for a much improved team.
Using the Transfer Portal Wisely
Syracuse has also been busy in the transfer portal, where it has earned four commitments from college transfers, two of which are rated four-stars. It is a strategy intended to strengthen the roster with veteran talent ready to perform.
Coaching and Development
The style of play that Coach Adrian Autry wants — a modern, flexible game — is already reflected in the recruiting and developing to this point. His insistence on shooting, dribbling, and passing players fits with how the game has changed at the college level. With several returning key players and a few promising newcomers, Autry has the resources at his disposal to more easily execute his vision next season.
Although the 2024–25 season brings its own complexities, Syracuse basketball should be primed for a resurgence, with returning players, a talented recruiting class, and timely additions by the transfer portal. That foundation set last season, plus the groundwork Syracuse built in the offseason days, means the Orange is poised to take the momentum and translate it into a much more successful campaign in 2025–26.
