The Red Storm will now have two former Orange players on their roster this season
For the second time in less than three months, a former Syracuse Orange basketball player has committed to play for the St. John's Red Storm in 2026-27.
Former Syracuse guard Kyle Cuffe Jr will play for Rick Pitino after spending last season as a member of the Mercer Bears. In 14 starts for the Bears, Cuffe averaged 7.3 points points per game.
The 6'2 Harlem, N.Y. native is now on his fourth school in his collegiate career.
Who is Kyle Cuffe?
A former top 100 high school recruit in the country, Cuffe was a standout player at Blair Academy in New Jersey. Cuffe originally committed to Kansas out of high school but redshirted for two seasons in Lawrence. The second season was impacted because of a season-ending injury that limited him to just two games.
After leaving Kansas for Syracuse, Cuffe spent two seasons in Central New York, logging a total of 59 games. Under then-head coach Adrian Autry, Cuffe averaged 4.2 points per game and the Orange never reached the NCAA tournament.
Cuffe family connections to St. John's
Cuffe will now his follow his father, Kyle Cuffe Sr, as a member of the St. John's basketball program. The elder Cuffe played for the Red Storm from 2001-2004 under then-coach Mike Jarvis.
Second former Orange to join the Red Storm
Cuffe is not the only former Orange player who will suit up for the Red Storm this season. As our own Brady Farkas covered last month, Donnie Freeman committed to St. John's out of the transfer portal.
Freeman, a top 10 recruit in the country in the class of 2024 by ESPN, left Central New York after just two seasons. In two seasons, the 6'9' Freeman averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, Freeman only played in 37 total games as he battled through lower body injuries in both campaigns.
Facing off against his former school later this season
CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reported last week that a deal was being finalized for a St. John's vs Syracuse matchup in 2026. St. John's is coming off a Sweet 16 berth in the most recent NCAA Tournament while the Orange are looking to get back to the Big Dance for the first time since 2021.
The last time Syracuse played St. John's in Madison Square Garden was in December 2015. Although St. John's grabbed the win 84-72, some fans may remember the game because of Jim Boeheim not being on the sidelines as he served a suspension from the NCAA.
No date or time has been confirmed for the matchup, however the venue will be Madison Square Garden, which is something that Gerry McNamara has wanted.
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