The Orange are looking to add the impact player to the roster, but there are complications here.
The battle continues on for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team to try to get Amarri Monroe a fifth-year of eligibility.
It's a complex situation that centers on the NCAA's new "age-based eligibility model." Let's examine the layers to this, where we're at now, and what to look for moving forward.
About Monroe
After one year at Wofford, the New York native starred at Quinnipiac for the last three years, earning MAAC Player of the Year honors in 2024-25. While he wasn't the Player of the Year in 2025-26, he was a first-team All-MAAC selection after leading the Bobcats in scoring at 15.6 ppg, rebounding at 8.3 and steals at 2.3.
He's listed at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds and will be a welcome force at the small forward or power forward position, depending on how the Orange want to run their rotations.
Remember, because he played at Qunnipiac, he's someone that new Syracuse head coach Gerry McNamara has seen in person several times. McNamara previously coached against Monroe while he spent the last two years at Siena.
McNamara led the Saints to the NCAA Tournament last season before accepting the Syracuse job.
About the "age-based eligibility model"
The NCAA adopted a new rule this summer that gives athletes five years to play seasons, with a few exceptions.
As a result, there are no more redshirt years and no more medical redshirts. If a player sits out a year, for any reason, they will just have four years of eligibility as they did before.
This rule also applies to student-athletes that were freshman through juniors during the last academic year.
For instance, Kiyan Anthony just played his freshman season with SU. Under the new system, he'll have four more years of eligibility if he wants to use them all.
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 ImageFor athletes who were seniors last year, and who were also part of the high school Class of 2022, they were NOT given a fifth-year of eligibility.
That is the case with Monroe, who played four seasons in four years, and now believes that he should be given the right to get a fifth year, similar to how Anthony is getting one, for instance.
Where the situation is at right now
The battle has gone on all summer between these athletes and the NCAA, who does not want athletes like Monroe to gain that year of eligibility.
Monroe and his team were in court last week, as outlined by Syracuse.com. For the moment, Monroe is ineligible, but he's argued for a preliminary injunction that would keep him eligible as the legal court case proceeds.
If the judge denies him the injunction, he likely won't be able to play for Syracuse this season because an actual court case won't be ruled upon in time.
A ruling on the injunction should come soon.
As for the Orange
For now, Syracuse just keeps practicing in preparation for their first exhibition game, which is Oct. 13 at UConn.
