Syracuse big man William Kyle III draws interest from 11 NBA teams

William Kyle III has put himself in front of 11 NBA teams, and the interest has centered on the same calling card that made him matter at Syracuse: size, rim protection and rebound work. The Lakers, Knicks, Thunder, Celtics and Atlanta Hawks are among the clubs that have taken a close look as the 2026 NBA Draft approaches June 23-24 in Brooklyn, giving Onondaga County another real draft storyline to watch.

Kyle, listed by NBA.com at 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, was born March 1, 2004 and arrived at Syracuse after a college route that started at South Dakota State and included a stop at UCLA. At South Dakota State, he earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Summit League Tournament MVP honors while averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, production that helped establish him as more than a depth piece inside.

Syracuse saw that carry over in its own uniform. The Orange list Kyle as a communications and rhetorical studies major, and his first game for Syracuse produced 16 points against Binghamton. He later posted a career-best six blocked shots, 13 rebounds and eight points against Delaware State, numbers that fit the defensive profile NBA teams are now evaluating. His 2025-26 Syracuse averages, 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, explain why front offices are viewing him as a potential rotation big who can protect the rim and finish around the basket.

Kyle’s workout circuit has already reached Atlanta, which became the 10th team to host him for a pre-draft session. A Knicks workout tracker also placed him in New York’s first pre-draft group on April 12, a sign that his name is circulating well beyond the usual second-round conversation. For Syracuse, that matters because the program has not had a player drafted since Elijah Hughes went No. 39 overall to the Utah Jazz in 2020.

That drought has lingered long enough to make Kyle’s rise feel bigger than one prospect. For local coaches and younger players around Syracuse, the message is blunt: a player can come through South Dakota State, UCLA and Syracuse, build a defense-first reputation, and still work his way into legitimate NBA consideration.