Naheem McLeod Commits to Syracuse Basketball

Florida State transfer center Naheem McLeod has committed to Syracuse basketball following an official visit last weekend. McLeod is the third transfer to pick the Orange this offseason, joining guards JJ Starling and Chance Westry.

During the recruiting process, McLeod said he spoke with "a bunch" of schools and was looking to take multiple visits. However, the official visit to Syracuse changed those plans. The Orange put the full court press on as soon as he entered the portal.

"The first day I entered the portal, Syracuse was the second school to call me," McLeod said before his visit. "The coaches there have been there already. They know the system and they said they've been watching me since I was a freshman in high school. They just reached out too late, to the point where I already chose Florida State coming out of high school. They're all coming at me at once, I can't say it's just one coach. When I pick up the phone, it's all of the coaches there. They say they can't wait to get me on campus. Very welcoming there."

During the visit, the message from the Syracuse coaches was simple. That he could be the missing piece they need.

"The goal is to come in, work right away, be that dominant piece in the middle," McLeod said. "They have exceptional guards coming in, like Chance Westry and JJ Starling. Those guys are high level players. They also have guys that are still there now like Benny Williams and everybody else. I think our athleticism and the speed that Syracuse wants to play at would be right for me."

At Florida State last season, McLeod appeared in 28 games, starting 11. He averaged 3.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13 minutes per game.

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