Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier will enter his name into the transfer portal while still testing the pre-NBA draft process, he announced on Twitter Friday night. The Daily Orange confirmed on March 29 that Guerrier had planned to test the pre-draft waters, but at the time he still hadn’t constructed a concrete plan because of the uncertain timeline surrounding events like the NBA Combine.
“This decision has definitely not been an easy one,” Guerrier said in a graphic he tweeted, “and I cannot thank my family at Syracuse enough for their support the past two years.”
❤️? pic.twitter.com/OACWvBGsVa
— Quincy Guerrier “Candyman” ? (@quincyguerrier) April 30, 2021
In his sophomore season at Syracuse, Guerrier averaged 13.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while starting at the power forward spot with Bourama Sidibe injured for most of the year. He finished with a 49.3 field goal percentage and shot 31.1% from beyond the arc after making just 3-of-24 3-pointers the previous year — a rise fueled by offseason shot adjustments.
That allowed him to transition from the Orange’s sixth-man to a regular in their starting lineup, helping lead their run to the Sweet 16. He had seven double-doubles by the end of January and scored a career-high 27 points against Buffalo on Dec. 19. During that time, he started to appear in various mock drafts, but fell out of most after scoring single-digits in five of Syracuse’s final 10 games.
“I want to thank Quincy Guerrier for all he has done for our program in the time he has been at Syracuse University,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement. “I wish him the best.”
Guerrier is one of seven players Syracuse will lose from its 2020-21 roster that finished 18-10 overall and 9-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Woody Newton (Oklahoma State), Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall), Robert Braswell (Charlotte) and John Bol Ajak (unannounced) all entered the transfer portal, while Alan Griffin declared for the draft and signed with an agent. Marek Dolezaj also announced he wouldn’t use his extra year of eligibility and return for a fifth season.
When asked on March 29 if there was a possibility Guerrier could enter the portal if he didn’t continue with the draft, Ibrahim Appiah, Guerrier’s high school coach at Thetford Academy, said that they hadn’t even discussed that route yet. Guerrier had just landed after Syracuse’s season-ending loss to Houston in the NCAA Tournament. He didn’t want to make a decision based on emotions, or based on what other players did.
“We’re gonna assess what needs to be assessed,” Appiah said, “but as far as even going anywhere else, it’s not even our thought process right now. The thought process right now is (to) focus on testing the waters.”
Over the last month, that’s changed. Guerrier said in his Twitter graphic that he’s “spent time reflecting.” And it’s led him to the transfer portal — where two of his three possible replacements on SU’s current roster emerged from, too — in search of a possible destination to help him take final steps toward the NBA draft if he doesn’t sign with an agent this year.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].