McNamara lands first five-star as Kamissoko commits to Syracuse — SkimNews
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- Moussa Kamissoko chose Syracuse over Florida State, Illinois, Virginia and Oklahoma State, telling ESPN he picked the Orange because "it felt like home" and praising McNamara as "a players' coach."
- He's the first five-star recruit of Gerry McNamara's head-coaching tenure and only the second Syracuse five-star commit in the past decade, following Donnie Freeman in 2024 and Chris McCullough in 2014.
- The 6-7 forward from New York, who plays at Spire Academy in Ohio, is ranked No. 15 overall in the SC Next 100 and the No. 2 power forward in his class.
- On the Nike EYBL circuit with the PSA Cardinals, Kamissoko averaged 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds over 18 games and shot better than 35% from three.
- McNamara was hired in March after two seasons at Siena; he spent the prior 15 seasons as a Syracuse assistant under Jim Boeheim and Adrian Autry, won a 2003 national title as a player, and had his No. 3 jersey retired in 2023.
- Kamissoko posted 16.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game at the Nike Peach Jam, ranking sixth overall in rebounds; he has a 6-11 wingspan and a playing style compared to Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason.
- He is Syracuse's second 2027-class commit, joining three-star forward Jack Donohue.
- Kamissoko shot 56.3% on two-point attempts in EYBL play, with most of his offensive value coming inside the arc and in transition, while his perimeter shooting remains a work in progress.
Why it matters: Landing a top-15 national prospect gives McNamara, seven months into his first head-coaching stint at his alma mater, the recruiting credibility to re-establish Syracuse's talent pipeline after the program's second five-star commit in a decade. The 6-7 athletic wing with a 6-11 wingspan fills a clear defensive and transition need for a coach who played at Syracuse and has already been on the staff for 15 seasons.
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