:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63915983/usa_today_9222635.0.jpg)
Apparently this week’s news around Boeheim’s Army roster additions isn’t done just yet. Following announcements that (coach) Ryan Blackwell, Eric Devendorf and Brandon Triche would return, and former Syracuse Orange forward Chris McCullough would make his first appearance for the team, Wednesday afternoon saw yet another name added to the list:
Former Orange guard Michael Gbinije will join Boeheim’s Army this summer, becoming the fourth announced player on the roster for The Basketball Tournament (TBT) — or in this case, The GBasketball Tournament. With three guards already today, it seems the squad is focusing a bit more on shooters. Last year’s roster had a lot of size, but found itself outrun a bit as they got deeper into the field by smaller lineups. This year, it appears they’ll be fighting fire with fire, bringing an impressive (so far) arsenal of shooters.
“He’ll be able to stretch the floor on the perimeter and make plays getting to the basket for himself and others,” Blackwell said of Gbinije’s abilities. “On defense he’ll bring size at the top of the zone or the wing and be able to guard multiple positions when we play man to man.”
In three years at SU, Gbinije averaged 11.3 points, three assists and 3.6 rebounds per game, though as a senior those numbers were all a bit higher: 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 4.1 boards. “Silent G” was major part of the 2016 Final Four team, and his strong senior campaign led to him being selected in the second round by the Detroit Pistons.
Since getting drafted, he’s only played in nine NBA games (all in 2016-17), but 90 G League contests for both Grand Rapids and Santa Cruz. In 46 games for the Santa Cruz Warriors this past season, he averaged 7.2 points, 1.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Obviously it’s great to see the Boeheim’s Army stalwarts like Devendorf return. But the lasting abilities for this team to compete in TBT every year also comes from bringing in new and younger players each time. With Gbinije and McCullough, they’re certainly doing just that.
Boeheim’s Army will be in Syracuse for the first two games of TBT on July 26-28, so if you’re local, this is your chance to see a lot of your favorite Orange alums in action again.