Syracuse native Quincy Ballard chooses Wichita State over Orange as transfer destination

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse native Quincy Ballard announced today he would transfer to Wichita State.

Ballard, the 7-foot, 240-pound center who spent two seasons at Florida State before entering the transfer portal last month, made his decision public in an Instagram post. He visited Syracuse and Wichita State before making his choice.

Ballard averaged 0.9 points and 1.2 rebounds for Florida State last season, a program that stockpiles big bodies. He played one year of varsity basketball at Henninger High School before transferring to Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he spent two seasons. SU recruited him out of high school, when his size, his shot-blocking potential and his ability to run the floor were enticing attributes.

The Orange this time was interested after Frank Anselem, destined to back up starter Jesse Edwards, decided to transfer from SU. Syracuse then dipped into the portal market for a seasoned big man. Ballard has three seasons of college eligibility remaining, one of those because the NCAA allowed an additional year for players impacted by Covid-19.

Syracuse recruited Peter Carey, a 6-11 Class of 2022 center out of Massachusetts, but Carey has not played high school basketball for two seasons. Covid-19 shut down one year for him; knee surgery last fall eliminated a second season, though Carey said last February he was physically fit enough to play at that point. He has acknowledged he needs to add bulk to his slender high school frame.

The Orange added six high school recruits in the Class of 2022: Judah Mintz, a 6-3 combo guard, Chris Bunch, a 6-7 small forward, Justin Taylor, a 6-6 wing, Quadir Copeland, a 6-6 point guard, Maliq Brown, a 6-9 power forward, and Carey.

Syracuse returns scholarship players Edwards, who is coming off wrist surgery, Joe Girard, Symir Torrence, Benny Williams, John Bol Ajak and Chaz Owens.

The Orange has one men’s basketball scholarship available. (The NCAA allows 13.)

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