ACC Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for all 18 programs

Syracuse Orange - Grade: C

The first season for Coach Adrian Autry went well, tying for 5th in the standings and winning 20 games total. This was a team without any seniors so they could’ve returned its entire roster. However, several key pieces left, including leading scorer Judah Mintz to the NBA, along with Justin Taylor, Benny Williams, and Maliq Brown to the transfer portal.

Among those who did stay are JJ Starling and Chris Bell, who’ll become the new go-to options on the team. Syracuse also upgraded at center, adding former Colorado starter, Eddie Lampkin Jr. Jyare Davis is a 6’7 forward from Delaware, who averaged over 17 ppg and 7.0 rpg as a possible impact transfer.

Replacing Mintz in the backcourt will be Jaquan Carlos, a transfer from Hofstra who isn’t the same kind of scorer as Mintz but did average over six assists a game and was an All-CAA defender. He and Lucas Taylor (14.5 ppg at Georgia State) makes up the revamped backcourt.

The hope is that top-50 freshmen prospects, Elijah Moore and Donnie Freeman will have a big impact, or else the Orange will lack depth next season. While other teams in the ACC had to lose players, Syracuse gets dinged for losing guys they didn’t technically have to.