With the calendar turning to August, Syracuse athletics season is just around the corner. The football team began their fall camp a week ago with their upcoming week 1 game against Tennessee on August 30th. Syracuse soccer reports to their camp today, prepping before a string of exhibition matches beginning on August 9th. SU basketball is currently in the middle of their summer workouts prepping for the late fall. ON3, one of the largest college sports news platforms in the country, recently updated their player NIL valuations. The valuations take into account the school’s platform and fan/alumni base, social media popularity, and overall skill as a player. They act as a measuring stick for brands and companies looking to partner with college athletes. Syracuse basketball players were featured throughout the list, further solidifying their strong NIL connections. Here are the five highest valued players:
- Kiyan Anthony, $1.1 Million
Anthony, the true freshman forward, comes into Syracuse with immense hype after being the highest rated New York recruit in the class of 2025. Anthony and his Orange teammates are currently practicing in the new Carmelo Anthony Basketball Center, a part of the brand new Lally Complex. However, Kiyan draws excitement much further beyond his last name; he plays a flashy wing game that pops out on the court. He displays a deep one-on-one skills package for getting tough buckets late in the shot clock. He won the prestigious Hoophall Classic tournament for his high school, Long Island Lutheran, capturing an MVP award along the way. His 1 million Instagram followers also contribute towards boosting his valuation. Anthony currently has a sponsored clothing line through One Way Clothing, and a partnership with Doordash. If he does end up in the starting five early this season, be prepared for his NIL stock to shoot through the roof.
- Donnie Freeman, $1 Million
Freeman’s decision to return to the Orange for his sophomore year re-energized Syracuse fans after a rocky 2024/25 season. He returns with a great chance to be a first round NBA draft pick, and with strong guards around him to create more space inside the paint. With Eddie Lampkin hitting the transfer portal, Freeman will be the muscle for Head Coach Adrian Autry this upcoming year. He will be able to crash the glass each possession, in addition to being the primary partner in the pick-and-role game. Freeman will finally have the freedom to actually play as a stretch big; He will seek out favorable matchups and either take the ball himself or set up others by drawing defenders. The former five star commit from IMG is ready for a big sophomore year, with the million-dollar valuation tag showing just how important a healthy Freeman is to this Syracuse team.
- Naithan George, $558K
George, a combo guard from Georgia Tech, arrives at Syracuse for the 2025/26 season after being the top guard in the transfer portal. He was named an All-ACC honorable mention last season with the Yellow Jackets, averaging over 12 points per game despite draw opponents’ best defenders each night. George will benefit from this well rounded Syracuse team; He gains a lot more offensive firepower to keep the defense honest. He will translate well for pick and rolls as a strong shooter off of the dribble. George’s valuation is backed by his portal move to a larger college basketball brand in Syracuse. He will have the opportunity to start big, nationally televised games against top competition such as Kansas and Houston right away.
- Sadiq White, $384K
White was the crown jewel of Syracuse’s 12th ranked recruiting class: A five star forward from factory-school IMG Academy who chose the Orange over top programs such as Alabama and Texas. He gained a lot of social media attention through his various highlight tapes with both IMG and Team United, his EYBL squad. He was also selected for the Team USA U19 Training Camp, but was forced to pull out due to an illness. White brings versatility as a lengthy guard/forward who will most likely begin the season as one of the first options off of the bench. His valuation is already almost at $400k, and a strong freshman season could push this number farther as White’s name gets mentioned more in NBA Draft circles.
- Nate Kingz, $186K
Three-and-d players are essential to every winning basketball team; the Orange brought in Kingz and his 45% three point shooting from Oregon State to help stretch opposing defenses. While this valuation seems small (ON3 only lists NIL valuations above $150k), it possesses extremely high growth potential. Kingz moves from Oregon State’s grab-bag conference-less schedule last year to the bright lights of ACC basketball. Most Beavers’ games begin at 10 or 11 p.m. on the east coast; Kingz, in all likelihood, will possess a starting wing spot for primetime games against Tennessee, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville. Fans love the three ball, and Kingz shoots it at an extremely high-efficiency rate. With Syracuse looking to return to a more balanced offense, he will factor in by finding open space in the defense and setting up shop behind the arc.
The 2025 summer has given Syracuse strong news in the NIL space, with individual players already starting to receive that bump. The summer sessions have begun to indicate just how driven and competitive the 2025/26 SU hoops team is. However, they must start out strong in order to keep the hype and excitement from Orange Nation.
