The Orange's future got a little brighter under head coach Gerry McNamara on Friday.
The future got a little brighter for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball program on Friday as five-star forward Moussa Kamissoko officially committed to Gerry McNamara's group.
The news was reported by On3, which had speculated upon this commitment a few days earlier.
The Orange went just 15-17 a season ago, missing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year. This year's group looks like it will be better, and maybe it can even make an NCAA Tournament run with an expanded field, but things are undoubtedly looking up beyond 2026-27.
About Kamissoko
A 6-foot-7 forward from the Bronx, Kamissoko currently plays at Long Island Lutheran, which is where current SU guard Kiyan Anthony played his high school ball. Rivals has him listed as the No. 7 player in the Class of 2027.
Given his age, there's certainly a chance that Kamissoko could grow more, taking him from the small forward position to a power forward position in the future.
He was at the U18 Team USA training camp in 2026 as well.
It's unclear how much the relationship with Anthony helped, but it certainly couldn't hurt. Anthony can obviously vouch for the program - and McNamara - and there's a chance that the two could play together moving forward, presuming Anthony doesn't leave SU for the NBA after this season.
About the roster moving forward
McNamara has done a good job at bringing in players via the transfer portal who have multiple years of eligibility, so the group we see this season will largely be in tact next season as well. And with the fifth-year of eligibility being given to current athletes through the "age-based eligibility model," there is even more returning firepower for McNamara next year.
What's upcoming for the Syracuse men this year?
The Orange are in the gym right now practicing and they'll be on the floor on Oct. 13 for the first of three exhibition contests. The Orange will take on UConn, their former Big East rivals, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The Syracuse women will play the Huskies the day before (Oct. 12). The Orange lost to UConn in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament last year.
After UConn, the Orange men will take on Siena on Oct. 18 in Albany and they will finish up against Niagara in Buffalo. The regular season begins on Nov. 2 when the Orange host New Haven at the JMA Wireless Dome.
