Some more portal names Syracuse looks to be expressing interest in.
The transfer portal period for the Syracuse Orange is in full swing and the program is reportedly expressing interest in a trio of guards with some intrigue.
Syracuse just landed its first portal addition on Thursday in hopes of fortifying the center spot, but guard remains as a key need for the team with the departures of Elijah Moore (portal), Kyle Cuffe Jr. (portal), Jaquan Carlos (graduation) and Lucas Taylor (graduation) this offseason.
As the portal period continues, here are the names to keep an eye on:
Del Jones
Former Clemson guard Del Jones took a visit to Vanderbilt on Friday has heard from Syracuse along with Cal, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Seton Hall and San Diego, his agent told League Ready. Recruiting analyst Sam Kayser was the first to report.
Jones played a predominately backup role behind a pretty deep guard rotation for the Tigers. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11.8 minutes per game in 32 games this past season, none of which were as a starter. Jones shot 40.3% from the field, 31.1% from three and over 76% from the foul line.
Clemson transfer Del Jones will take a visit to Vanderbilt tomorrow, his agent Larry Hall of HOF Sports Group told @LeagueRDY.
Jones has also heard from Cal, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Syracuse, Seton Hall and San Diego and is working on setting up a couple more visits.
Averaged… pic.twitter.com/0vUiogtqbw
— Sam Kayser – 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) March 27, 2025
Jones is from Landover, Maryland and measures at six-foot-two and 187 lbs. As a recruit, he was ranked as a four-star by ESPN and as a three-star by 247Sports and On3.
Derrian Ford
Former Arkansas State guard Derrian Ford has received interest from Syracuse and at least 12 other programs, according to The Portal Report.
Ford was a coveted recruit coming out of high school, rated as a four-star by ESPN and 247Sports. He received offers from 18 different schools, almost all of which were P5 programs. He eventually committed to Arkansas, but only averaged 3.8 minutes per game in 21 games.
After entering the transfer portal in 2023, Ford joined Arkansas State and carved out a larger role there. He had a career year in 2023-24, averaging 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists while starting in 31 of 36 games for the Red Wolves. He also shot a career-high 41.1% from the field and 37.6% from three.
Arkansas State G Derrian Ford has received interest from the following programs, per source:
USC
Syracuse
Texas A&M
Missouri
Ole Miss
Memphis
Tulsa
App State
Texas State
Louisiana Tech
Radford
Central Arkansas
South Alabama pic.twitter.com/UJDRbRqhPZ— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) March 27, 2025
This past season, however, the numbers and playing time regressed slightly. Ford dropped from 29.3 minutes per game in 2024 to 21 MPG this year. He started in 14 of Arkansas State’s 34 games and averaged 8.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 0.7 RPG, shooting 37.8% from the floor and 32.1% from three.
Outside of Syracuse, Ford has also reportedly received interest from a laundry list of schools: USC, Texas A&M, Missouri, Ole Miss, Memphis, Tulsa, App State, Texas State, Louisiana Tech, Radford, Central Arkansas and South Alabama.
Ford, who’s a native of Magnolia, Arkansas and stands at six-foot-three and 212 lbs., will be a senior in 2025-26.
Silas Demary Jr.
A bit more of a long-shot possibility here given the teams interested, but Syracuse looks to be showing some interest in former Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr., according to GREENLIGHT MEDIA.
Demary Jr. showed some improvement in a slightly larger role for the Bulldogs this past season and helped to guide Georgia to the NCAA Tournament.
The transfer guard played two seasons and 70 total games at Georgia, all but one of which came as a starter. Demary Jr. committed to the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit according to ESPN and 247Sports.
After emerging as a starter in his first year, Demary Jr. in 2024-25 led the Bulldogs in assists and steals while also finishing second in rebounds and third in scoring. He finished with averages of 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.5 minutes per game, shooting 39.6% from the field, 37.4% from three and 80.4% from the free throw line.
Silas Demary Jr. is officially in the portal and hearing from the following schools, sources tell @greenlightmedia. ☎️
Demary averaged 13.5PTS & 3.1AST as a sophomore— leading UGA to the NCAA Tournament.
UNC and Miami are the latest to reach out, joining a LOADED list of… pic.twitter.com/6h1OblOcju
— GREENLIGHT MEDIA (@greenlightbball) March 28, 2025
Demary Jr. profiles as one one of the top portal targets at the guard spot this offseason. Including Syracuse, the full list of programs interested in him currently sits at over 20 schools and includes names like Gonzaga, St. John’s, UNC, Auburn, Virginia, Texas Tech, BYU, Kentucky, Baylor, Houston, Duke and UConn.
Demary Jr. who stands at six-foot-five and 195 lbs. and is originally from Raleigh, will be a junior next season.
Now it’s your turn: which of these names would you like to see the Orange continue to pursue?