Class of 2023 PG Garwey Dual (TX) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (4/11/26)

[MikeSU02]

When you factor in he probably is getting half of what George got, yes. Defensive versatility and valuing the ball are crucial PG skills. Based on who were linked to I get the sense he’ll be closer to 20-25 mpg across multiple positions than averaging 35-37 mpg.

I don’t think he’s better than George on paper. Or that close with innate talent.

However:

1) George cannot blow by his guy coming off a pick which for someone making millions is unacceptable.

2) There were multiple games last year where I wondered if George was on the take and throwing games.

 

[boog7]

The skepticism is over what you mentioned, ascending players. We don't have a sure thing.

Of the returning guys, Sadiq feels like he should be ascending. I'm a bigger Kiyan fan than most, but his best basketball needs to be ahead of him, and he's going to have to work like crazy to get to where we need him as a fully realized basketball player.

On the new guys...

Goodrick is pretty likely to be better than Souare, who is not good at basketball, and that's about it, and hopefully about all we need him to be.

Our Euro is intriguing but is no sure thing. So we do hope he ascends.

Doty had a strong year at Siena but is making a huge leap going to the ACC. We have to hope he's ascending in a huge way since GMAC has suggested he's a big part of the plans.

Dual I like more than most but his biggest plus is his experience and he has the kind of measurables and defensive advance stats the analytics nerds get horny over. But this is another case where we're hoping he's ascending.

The appeal to bringing in GMAC was he would have the best donor support, ie best NIL, ie get the best talent we can.

What we've seen manifest SO FAR, and could change, is a lottery ticket approach hoping enough guys ascend. We don't have a single sure thing RIGHT NOW.

You make it seem like "ascending" means "can't already play" but it doesn't. Even at 41, it could be argued that LeBron James is still an ascending player, in that as Father Time takes his physical gifts away - though it's still not all that noticeable - he's still adjusting his game and still somehow improving @ 41?

SGA, Luka, Wemby, Flagg, Cunningham, etc.., etc.. are still ascending players.

In my book, an ascending player just means he's already a good player who demonstrates steady growth and the potential to get even better.

The Syracuse job is what Gerry wanted more than anything. Well, he's got it now. And I don't think for one second he and his very talented staff - who know what the hell they're doing despite the constant expressions of doubt that maybe they don't - are going to blow this opportunity by putting together a bad team in Year One. GMac and his staff know exactly where they're going and what they're building.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don’t think he’s better than George on paper. Or that close with innate talent.

However:

1) George cannot blow by his guy coming off a pick which for someone making millions is unacceptable.

2) There were multiple games last year where I wondered if George was on the take and throwing games.

I don't think George was on the take.

I do think his priority was getting paid and he didn't really care about game results. You can't have that from a point guard.

 

[MikeSU02]

I don't think George was on the take.

I do think his priority was getting paid and he didn't really care about game results. You can't have that from a point guard.

Yeah. Sorry. That point was snark, should have used the “/s” there.

But agree with your post here, 100%

 

[OttoinGrotto]

You make it seem like "ascending" means "can't already play" but it doesn't. Even at 41, it could be argued that LeBron James is still an ascending player, in that as Father Time takes his physical gifts away - though it's still not all that noticeable - he's still adjusting his game and still somehow improving @ 41?

SGA, Luka, Wemby, Flagg, Cunningham, etc.., etc.. are still ascending players.

In my book, an ascending player just means he's already a good player who demonstrates steady growth and the potential to get even better.

The Syracuse job is what Gerry wanted more than anything. Well, he's got it now. And I don't think for one second he and his very talented staff - who know what the hell they're doing despite the constant expressions of doubt that maybe they don't - are going to blow this opportunity by putting together a bad team in Year One. GMac and his staff know exactly where they're going and what they're building.

Yeah, I'm just not that confident in them. I'm just not.

I'm way more confident in talent that projects to be NBA 1st round draft picks.

Edited to add: I can't assess whether the new staff "knows what they're doing." I'm more interested in if they can get the level of talent we need to win consistently and compete in our conference and in the tournament. As of right now, I'm skeptical.

 

[007]

I don’t mind Dual as a player I actually think he could bring value to a team on the defensive side of the ball. My issue with Dual comes in team construction we have too many players slated to play major roles on the team that all have the same weaknesses. Tobiason if he ends up coming here is a start in correcting the issue. 3MM looks nice as well but Euro scares me after everyone told me to love Fennell last year. I felt a different type of PG was needed around the trio of Doty Anthony and White.

I hear you and agree with a lot of that. I'm reluctant to buy in to certain players are "locked" into starting or major roles part until I see the rest of the roster. But, the trend here is concerning.

I think we need to add a player with an above average to elite offensive skill set - the type of player other teams need to game plan for. Ideally, for the way this roster is shaping up, that would be a skilled 5 or a stretch 4.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I like this pickup. Having someone that can make the opposing PG’s life miserable is a very valuable skill set.

100%. Always. It can wear guys out on opposing teams. It’s a lot to handle for most of the game

 

[007]

I like this pickup. Having someone that can make the opposing PG’s life miserable is a very valuable skill set.

And is an undervalued skill set. Disrupting the other team's offense, either by pressuring the PG/disrupting the flow, or having a player like Dual guard the best offensive player 1-4 doesn't show up in the stat sheet. It does show up in the scouting report and it forces teams to adapt/game plan for the impact that defender could have.

Dual is an important piece for the way Gerry prefers to defend.

 

[Cusefan69]

I'm with you, I like the Dual pick up.

I think I'm more concerned about missing on Buljan as a big.

Hard to categorize that as a miss. Given how quickly the decision was made it seemed like he already knew where he was going. It's not like the guy visited 4 schools and Syracuse was one of them.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Hard to categorize that as a miss. Given how quickly the decision was made it seemed like he already knew where he was going. It's not like the guy visited 4 schools and Syracuse was one of them.

That's fair.

Buljan was just the first guy that had a little buzz where you didn't have to talk yourself in to anything. So I'm definitely at risk of over indexing on what he meant.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Even were that true, which it's not as we'll see, what a terrible comment good grief.

Yeah, we'll see. Judah wound up in Turkiye instead of the NBA or even the G League. "Winner"?

 

[Cusefan69]

That's fair.

Buljan was just the first guy that had a little buzz where you didn't have to talk yourself in to anything. So I'm definitely at risk of over indexing on what he meant.

All good it's just when one person online says it, it suddenly goes like wildfire and next thing half the board is saying GMac missed on this guy and most of his targets. So was doing more for the record. I am sure there will be things to blame on the new coaches, no need to add artificially. (Not implying that was your intention, I know it wasn't).

 

[IthacaMatt]

The skepticism is over what you mentioned, ascending players. We don't have a sure thing.

Of the returning guys, Sadiq feels like he should be ascending. I'm a bigger Kiyan fan than most, but his best basketball needs to be ahead of him, and he's going to have to work like crazy to get to where we need him as a fully realized basketball player.

On the new guys...

Goodrick is pretty likely to be better than Souare, who is not good at basketball, and that's about it, and hopefully about all we need him to be.

Our Euro is intriguing but is no sure thing. So we do hope he ascends.

Doty had a strong year at Siena but is making a huge leap going to the ACC. We have to hope he's ascending in a huge way since GMAC has suggested he's a big part of the plans.

Dual I like more than most but his biggest plus is his experience and he has the kind of measurables and defensive advance stats the analytics nerds get horny over. But this is another case where we're hoping he's ascending.

The appeal to bringing in GMAC was he would have the best donor support, ie best NIL, ie get the best talent we can.

What we've seen manifest SO FAR, and could change, is a lottery ticket approach hoping enough guys ascend. We don't have a single sure thing RIGHT NOW.

Bringing in Dual feels a bit like picking up Symir Torrence.

I like Dual's size. He has about a 2.5 to 1 assist to TO ratio, which is promising. But he's not a good 3 point shooter, and he's not a very good foul shooter for a PG, which is a big shortcoming.

To me, he's the kind of player Bryce Zephir was supposed to be last year. As a starter, I don't think he's a top half of the ACC talent.

 

[CuseCO]

Bringing in Dual feels a bit like picking up Symir Torrence.

I like Dual's size. He has about a 2.5 to 1 assist to TO ratio, which is promising. But he's not a good 3 point shooter, and he's not a very good foul shooter for a PG, which is a big shortcoming.

To me, he's the kind of player Bryce Zephir was supposed to be last year. As a starter, I don't think he's a top half of the ACC talent.

The Torrence and Zephir comps are wild in here. I am not expecting him to be the next great Cuse guard, but he may very well be the best defensive guard in the portal.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

That's fair.

Buljan was just the first guy that had a little buzz where you didn't have to talk yourself in to anything. So I'm definitely at risk of over indexing on what he meant.

I really liked Buljan too but it looks like he may have had a deal in place with Maryland before entering the portal.

 

[IthacaMatt]

The Torrence and Zephir comps are wild in here. I am not expecting him to be the next great Cuse guard, but he may very well be the best defensive guard in the portal.

Yes. Tell us, who is your comp for a 6-5 PG who, in nearly 100 college games, has shot 68% from the foul line and 29% from three against G5 competition?

Who cares how good his defense is if he's the starter? That's playing 4 on 5.

 

[Wrinkle]

Bringing in Dual feels a bit like picking up Symir Torrence.

I like Dual's size. He has about a 2.5 to 1 assist to TO ratio, which is promising. But he's not a good 3 point shooter, and he's not a very good foul shooter for a PG, which is a big shortcoming.

To me, he's the kind of player Bryce Zephir was supposed to be last year. As a starter, I don't think he's a top half of the ACC talent.

Matt I'm sorry but your takes are so consistently terrible. I don't know what you're doing

 

[CuseCO]

Yes. Tell us, who is your comp for a 6-5 PG who, in nearly 100 college games, has shot 68% from the foul line and 29% from three against G5 competition?

Who cares how good his defense is if he's the starter? That's playing 4 on 5.

Gerry DEFINITELY cares about his defense.

I don't throw out comps for fun. Idk who he reminds me of. I see his offensive numbers steadily progress each year. Had great offensive numbers in the tourney.

Find the Zephir and Torrence comps laughable, but that's my opinion.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Are we sure he is a better option than George?

George isn’t an option, so yes

 

[721Comstock]

Yes. Tell us, who is your comp for a 6-5 PG who, in nearly 100 college games, has shot 68% from the foul line and 29% from three against G5 competition?

Who cares how good his defense is if he's the starter? That's playing 4 on 5.

Uh - just using Cuse guys:

Kadary?

MCW?

Frank Howard? was only slightly better shooting from 3.

Silent G - much better from 3, but worse FT’s.

I think every one of these guys turned it over more than Dual.

 

[Sherman20]

Dual is 79 in the On3 Rankings, that’s pretty good. Kory Mincy from GW, who some posters really liked, is actually below him. So is Malik Mack and Jaland Lowe. Nait George was a similar rating last season, I think. Gavin Doty is 89, fwiw.

College Basketball Top Transfer Portal Players

The best 2026 college basketball players that have entered the transfer portal.

www.on3.com

 

[Zelda Zonk]

We're signing 30% 3 point shooters in 2026.

We’re gonna play like Arizona and not shoot threes?

 

[Scooch]

Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 31 years ago we lost Moten, Lucious Jackson and Michael Lloyd but followed it up with a national championship game appearance. Then 17 years ago we lost Flynn, Harris and Devo yet bounced back with one of the best teams we ever had. You just never know.

In each of those cases we had teams loaded with talent.

1996 was senior year Wallace, Otis Hill, sophomore year Todd Burgan, Jason Cippola and senior year Z Sims.

2010 was Wes Johnson (who everyone said was the best player in practice the year prior), Rautins, Onauku, Joseph, Scoop, etc.

In each case we knew we had a LOT of talent, we just didn’t know how they’d come together. That’s a far cry from a team that doesn’t have elite talent from the jump. Hopefully that’s not the case next season.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Significantly better. On both ends of the floor. There's this thing called the Eye Test and Dual passes it.

Don't believe me? Then just ask HCGM and his promising new staff who've seen all the film, read all the scouting reports, talked to their contacts and scoured through all the analytics, and then decided to allocate a portion of their very "precious resource" aka NIL money, on the talented Mr. Dual.

I can't understand all the whining and complaining over signing a very skilled, ascending player with acknowledged, legit NBA traits who GMac obviously believes in.

I'm intrigued by what seems to be the deliberative and strategic roster-building process that GMac & his staff are going through. I think the end result will be a well-constructed tournament worthy roster, with each player bringing different things and having a specific role.

I imagine Dual is being brought in to be the Senior leader on a team of mostly underclassmen - be it as a starter or key rotation piece. I'm sure GMac will also add his underclassman "PG of the Future." Once that player is signed, he and Dual can battle it out in training camp for who starts and plays the most.

I'm of the belief that HCGM & his staff totally get the current day roster-building process and it's starting to play out nicely. Dual is a solid pick up. Looking forward to see who he ends up being paired with @ PG.

This is a sports discussion forum. If we’re all supposed to just ‘trust and believe in whatever the current HC thinks and does,’ what are we all doing here? JB made mistakes, misevaluated. Red made mistakes. And now GMac will make mistakes. Either way, even when they aren’t empirical ‘errors,’ they’re all still just opinions and assessments and we shouldn’t just blindly assume they’re all the right moves. That’s religion and we’re not allowed to discuss that.

GMac hasn’t even been a HC at our level. And he was on our staff when we were bad. We don’t even know who he wanted and tried to recruit who might have been disasters.

 

[Cuse1055]

In each of those cases we had teams loaded with talent.

1996 was senior year Wallace, Otis Hill, sophomore year Todd Burgan, Jason Cippola and senior year Z Sims.

2010 was Wes Johnson (who everyone said was the best player in practice the year prior), Rautins, Onauku, Joseph, Scoop, etc.

In each case we knew we had a LOT of talent, we just didn’t know how they’d come together. That’s a far cry from a team that doesn’t have elite talent from the jump. Hopefully that’s not the case next season.

I disagree regarding 2010. If you go back, we were very worried about the talent that season and were hoping that the practice reports of Wes would translate over to games. We were also hoping for a jump by Kris Jo, that Scoop would return ready to play after a year off redshirt and an underrated freshman named Brandon Triche would be able to contribute. It was a lot of unproven talent. Rautins’ leadership was invaluable.