Syracuse, N.Y. — With 23 days separating us from Syracuse’s first basketball scrimmage of the 2024-25 season, how about an early evaluation of Petar Majstorovic, Syracuse’s international man of mystery?
Majstorovic was a late add to the Syracuse basketball roster, mostly because it took so long for the paperwork to be finalized after his decision to stop playing in France and sign up for a season of college basketball.
Syracuse players and coaches have had more than a month to see what Majstorovic, a 6-foot-9 forward/center can do on the court.
His position coach, Dan Engelstad, was quick to summarize his thoughts when asked about Majstorovic.
“Love him,” he said.
“He plays hard, gives you everything he’s got every single day. Has jelled very well,” Engelstad said. “Very skilled. Can make plays for other people. He really can initiate offense. Just knows how to play basketball. He’s been coached and has trained at a very high level. He’s worked on his jump shot a lot since he’s been here and that still continues to be a work in progress, but he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve coached ever.”
Naheem McLeod, Syracuse’s 7-foot-4 center, described Majstorovic as an intense competitor. Majstorovic has been working with the center group.
“He can play,” McLeod said. “He can do everything – defend, shoot, pass. Me guarding him sometimes really helps me out. A lot of guys like to face the basket and he likes to step out and shoot jump shots so that’s helping me.”
Engelstad said Majstorovic has “fit in seamlessly” with his new teammates. McLeod described Majstorovic as “a cool guy.”
Majstorovic is one of McLeod’s roommates. There are moments, McLeod said, when the conversation is flowing and McLeod isn’t exactly sure what Majstorovic is talking about. Majstorovic was born in Serbia but moved as an infant with his parents to France, where he has lived ever since.
“Sometimes when he talks to me I tell him to slow down, like ‘Bro, I don’t understand you, just slow down and I’m gonna try my best to understand you,’” McLeod said with a laugh. “He said English is my third language and I’m like ‘I get you Bro, just slow down.’”
