Garwey Dual is exactly the kind of player Syracuse Orange men’s basketball fans have been begging for, and he is headlining an incoming transfer class ranked in the top 10.
Dual is an elite, game-changing defender. And according to analytics, possibly a better player than anyone who was on the team last year.
According to respected college basketball analyst Evan Miyakawa, Dual isn’t just a solid pickup. He’s a program-altering addition.
“Dual has a better projected rating than any player Syracuse had last season.”
Wow. Better than anyone from a year ago. He brings a grit and grind that the team sorely lacks, and hopefully a team that can have an identity built in the mode of its coach.
There’s real momentum building under Gerry McNamara. Dual broke out at McNeese State Cowboys men’s basketball, helping guide them to the NCAA Tournament while establishing himself as one of the most disruptive defenders in the country. He’s also played for Providence and Seton Hall, so he’s a hired gun who has experience in the rough and tumble Big East (making it even sweeter to grab him as Friars fans have become extremely annoying).
Dual is:
- Projected top-5 defensive guard in the portal
- Elite steal rate
- Massive defensive impact whenever he’s on the floor
That’s the kind of presence Syracuse didn’t have last season.
Miyakawa currently ranks Syracuse’s incoming transfer class No. 8 in the country — the top three are Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball (#1), Texas Longhorns men’s basketball (#2), and Xavier Musketeers men’s basketball (#3).
McNamara has already brought in a 5-star, 4-star, and 3-star transfer, including Siena star Gavin Doty, giving Syracuse something it’s lacked: balance, depth, and identity.
But make no mistake — Dual is the tone-setter.
And for the first time in a while, Syracuse has a player who can take over games on that end of the floor.
This isn’t just a good start for McNamara.
It’s the kind of start that makes people believe the optimism and high hopes are warranted.
