Syracuse Point Guard Nait George Enters Transfer Portal

Syracuse University men’s basketball starting point guard Naithan George plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, which opened on April 7, 2026. George, a 6-foot-3 Canadian junior, is the first starter from the 2025-26 roster to announce his intention to transfer to another college program.

The move follows a season in which Syracuse finished with a 15-17 record. George, who originally transferred to Syracuse after two seasons at Georgia Tech, averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game during his junior year, playing 32.1 minutes per contest across 32 games.

Roster Turnover and Portal Departures

George is one of at least four players from the 2025-26 men’s basketball roster planning to enter the transfer portal. The other players identified as intending to transfer include:

• Tyler Betsey, a sophomore forward
• Tiefing Diawara, a freshman center
• Aaron Womack III, a freshman wing who redshirted during the 2025-26 term

The departure of these players coincides with the loss of outgoing seniors William Kyle III and JJ Starling, who are out of NCAA eligibility. This creates a significant roster vacuum for head coach Gerry McNamara as he enters his first season at the helm of the program.

Performance Metrics and Player Profile

George entered the transfer portal as a highly rated prospect. According to 247Sports’ national transfer rankings, he is rated as a four-star recruit, ranking No. 50 overall and No. 13 at the point guard position.

Statistically, George maintained a high ranking in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), finishing in the top five for assists in each of the past two seasons. However, his 2025-26 campaign was described as up-and-down, characterized by multiple games with at least 20 points or double-digit assists, while also being turnover prone. He led Syracuse with 98 turnovers during the season.

His shooting percentages for the junior season included 40.5 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Womens Basketball Departures

The roster turnover extends to the Syracuse women’s basketball program. Shy Hawkins and Camdyn Nelson have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal.

Hawkins, a former four-star wing who committed to the program in October 2023, finished the 2025-26 season averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest, appearing in 32 games and starting in 17. Over her total tenure with Syracuse, she averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game.

Camdyn Nelson, a 5-foot-8 point guard and four-star recruit from the 2025 class, also opted for the portal after appearing in 19 games and making three starts. Nelson averaged 1.4 points in just over 9 minutes per game.

The transfer portal for these athletes remains open through April 21, 2026.