The Orange landed Amarri Monroe from the transfer portal on Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, news broke that the Syracuse men's basketball program had signed transfer forward Amarri Monroe, who previously played at Qunnipiac.
Monroe is an excellent player who won the MAAC's Player of the Year in 2024-25 and was a first-team All-League selection in 2025-26. At 6-foot-7, he averaged more than 15 points a game and eight rebounds last season. He's an impact player who comes in with plenty of experience, having played four seasons between Wofford and Quinnipiac.
He's the first player that Syracuse is getting via a fifth year of eligibility from the new "5-in-5" rule. It's unclear if the NCAA will win its appeal against this rule, but for now, Monroe is set to play in Central New York in 2026-27.
What is crystal clear in this
Monroe is an excellent basketball player who will bring a lot to a Syracuse program that needs as much talent as it can amass after a 15-17 season a year ago. The Orange have missed the NCAA Tournament for five straight years, and if they can add good players to the roster, they should be doing that.
And furthermore, if they aren't doing it, the opponents they face will be. If Syracuse is going to contend in a talented ACC, they need to be prepared to do things just like this.
What's unclear
A) How will Monroe impact the team's lineup and rotation? The Orange have Garwey Dual, Gavin Doty, Kiyan Anthony and Aiden Tobiason all listed at 6-foot-5. If you throw in Monroe, who is of similar height, you have to imagine that someone just lost some playing time.
B) How will the already-established members of the team feel about a late entrant? Will they be excited because Monroe is a good player who can help? Or will they be upset that someone who hasn't been with them building the program back up, is now being brought in from the outside to take minutes away from those who have been there all along?
Quinnipiac Bobcats forward Amarri Monroe (2) brings the ball up court on a fast break against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesMy conclusion
While I'd certainly understand if some current players were upset or resentful about this, we are in a different world now. College sports has become big business, and has moved very close to a professional model.
On the positive side of this? Guys are making really big money through NIL. On the negative side? This is what happens in pro sports. Guys get signed late, guys get traded for late, and you have to re-earn your spot around those personnel moves. It might stink, but it's the reality of pro sports, which is basically what this has become now.
The SU hoop team begins its season at home against New Haven on Nov. 2. Here's the latest update on the schedule.
