The former Penn State assistant was reported to be joining the Orange over the weekend, but the school made the hiring official on Wednesday.
A busy April continued for the Syracuse men's basketball program on Wednesday afternoon, as the school announced another new addition to the coaching staff. Jamal Brunt, formerly of Penn State, has joined the Orange staff under new head coach Gerry McNamara. This hiring is in addition to the other multiple hirings that Syracuse announced last week.
In addition to just being a good coach, there is a hope that Brunt's addition could bring about some more options for Syracuse in the transfer portal, which opened on Tuesday following the national championship game.
Who is Jamal Brunt?
The 45-year-old Brunt started his collegiate basketball playing career at Division III Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets earned NCAA Tournament berths in Brunt's junior and senior years.
Following his playing career, Brunt joined the coaching staff at Randolph-Macon for the next two seasons. In 2005, Brunt moved to the Division I ranks, joining the Richmond program. In a decade with the Spiders, he served in a variety of roles, including director of basketball operations, assistant head coach and associate head coach.
Brunt's coaching resume also includes stints at VCU, Miami (FL) and most recently Penn State.
Penn State transfer to follow Brunt?
Some Syracuse fans on social media are optimistic that a standout player from Brunt's previous school could be joining the Orange with him:
Sam wrote on X "It's Mingo Time"
Isaac Schade of 'Locked on College Basketball,' then Cuse Sports Talk and mentioned the possibility of Kayden and Dylan Mingo signing with Syracuse.
Schade said: "I think it would be foolish to NOT think of Syracuse as a landing spot for at LEAST Kayden [Mingo], if not both of them."
Kayden Mingo
Freshman guard Kayden Mingo is already in the transfer portal. Mingo averaged 13.7 points and 4.3 assists per game last season. The 6'3' guard signed with Penn State as a four-star prospect. The Long Island Lutheran alum could provide a spark to the Orange offense, especially after losing guard JJ Starling to graduation. The Orange are also likely to lose Naithan George, as he entered the portal as well.
Dylan Mingo
Dylan is the younger brother of Kayden and is a five-star prospect in the class of 2026. The 6'5 Mingo committed to North Carolina this past February, but after the coaching change at UNC, it's possible he revisits his plans. Syracuse fired Hubert Davis and just hired former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Syracuse portal signings
Despite all the likely losses of their own through the portal, the Orange do continue to bring in talent to the roster. As our own Brady Farkas covered, Syracuse has added former Siena Saints big man Tasman Goodrick, and that's in addition to former Saints forward Gavin Doty.
Goodrick averaged 9.7 ppg and 7.3 rebounds before having his season cut short after nine games due to injury. Doty was a first-team All-MAAC selection.
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