With the commitment of 7-foot-2 Providence transfer Paschal Chukwu, Syracuse’s scholarship situation is a bit more complicated since the NCAA has yet to rule on the Orange’s appeal. As part of the sanctions, SU lost three scholarships a year for four years, which means SU can only have 10 scholarship players on the roster each season instead of the standard 13 scholarship players.

Chukwu’s commitment brings SU’s total number of scholarship players on the 2015-16 roster to 11, but since the NCAA has yet to rule on Syracuse’s appeal of the scholarship reductions, SU is allowed to begin carrying only 10 scholarship players in the 2016-17 season if the appeal does in fact fail.

In the scenario that Syracuse wins the appeal and gets one scholarship back, the sanctions will begin in the 2015-16 season since 11 scholarship players won’t be over the limit.

And yes, this means Syracuse doesn’t have an open scholarship for the likes of Class of 2016 prospects Tyus Battle or Alterique Gilbert. However, offseason movement such as an early NBA Draft entry or a transfer — SU had both this year — could open up a spot.

Here’s a breakdown of the complicated scenarios:

2015-16 scholarship players (11):

Michael Gbinije, senior
Trevor Cooney, senior
DaJuan Coleman, junior
Tyler Roberson, junior
Chinonso Obokoh, junior
Kaleb Joseph, sophomore
Paschal Chukwu, sophomore
Malachi Richardson, freshman
Frank Howard, freshman
Moustapha Diagne, freshman
Tyler Lydon, freshman

Once again, if Syracuse is at 11 – one over the limit – when the NCAA hypothetically denies the appeal, the sanctions will begin in 2016-17 and not next season.

2016-17 scholarship players, assuming no transfers or early departures (10):

DaJuan Coleman, senior
Tyler Roberson, senior
Chinonso Obokoh, senior
Kaleb Joseph, junior
Paschal Chukwu, junior
Malachi Richardson, sophomore
Frank Howard, sophomore
Moustapha Diagne, sophomore
Tyler Lydon, sophomore
Matthew Moyer, freshman

If either A) a player transfers, B) someone leaves early for the draft or C) Syracuse gets a scholarship back in the appeal, a spot will open up for another Class of 2016 prospect.

But unless one of those happens, Moyer will be the lone freshman on scholarship for the 2016-17 season.

Published on June 28, 2015 at 3:12 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman