It has been a long journey for new Syracuse Orange wing Nate Kingz. It’s a journey that includes three different college stops, two different last names, and a knee injury that took an entire season away. But now that he’s arrived in the 315, Kingz is looking to cap off his college career as a key contributor for what he hopes is a strong Syracuse team. Coming to Syracuse is a leap of faith for Kingz, who has spent the rest of his college career much closer to home out west. But it’s a natural fit,
as the Orange badly needed a veteran shooter on the wing who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to balance out the ball-dominant guards.
“I liked the energy the coaches gave me,” Kingz said on Syracuse media day. “As soon as I entered the portal, I got phone calls from all of the coaches on the staff. The things that they expect out of me all lined up with stuff I was looking for.”
From his freshman year at then-NAIA Westmont, when he was known as Nate Meithof, to his season in junior college with Southern Idaho, through his return to his home state with Oregon State, he’s shot 38.8% in his college career. No Syracuse player who attempted more than 40 threes last year hit that number.
The Beavers didn’t run a ton of ball screens last season, with most of the offense generated from post-ups and off-ball actions. So the switch to a more ball-screen-heavy attack with two primary ball handlers will be a different look for Kingz. He also thinks he’s gotten plenty of opportunities in the half-court to get to his favored left hand off of screening actions.
“They’ve been putting me in good positions,” Kingz said. “Coming downhill off of some zoom screens, all of those things have been really good for me.”
Kingz hinted that Syracuse wants to play fast and get him threes in transition.
“Just getting up shots by sprinting the floor,” Kingz said. “That’s what Coach’s main emphasis has been. Sprint the floor in transition and finding the two side, as we call it. Just moving the ball and plenty of plays and different ways to get the ball.”
There will be lineups where Kingz is not just the best shooter on the floor, but perhaps the only reliable shooter on the floor. Because of his importance as a shooter, he has to step up defensively as well.
Syracuse ranked 152nd in defense last season, and any improvement as a program starts on that end. Kingz understands that and laid out the key steps in fueling that.
“Emphasis on communication and sticking to our habits,” he said. “I think we’ve been doing really well through practice with that communication and knowing our rules and knowing our habits.”
Additionally, Kingz’s secret skill is his ability to block three-pointers, which he did nine times last year.
“It’s an effort thing,” he said. “Just trying to save the play no matter what. Even if you’re two steps behind, you can still try to alter a shot or make the extra play.”
While his defensive contributions are extremely important, his shooting remains the skill that will impact Syracuse’s ability to win games the most. Making teams respect the three-point shot is the basketball equivalent to establishing the run. It opens up everything else in your offense, and Kingz has the burden of responsibility for the Orange in that department.
