Former New York Knicks scout Alex Kline ’16 has been named Syracuse University Men’s Basketball General Manager, according to head coach Adrian Autry ’94.
“As we look to compete at the highest levels, bringing in Alex as our General Manager position is critical,” said Autry. “This move aligns with our goal of being at the forefront of player evaluation, development and retention, recruiting, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college basketball. It will help Syracuse compete at the national level.
Kline joins the Syracuse staff after four years as a scout with the Knicks. Kline was a talent evaluator who helped the organization with the NBA Draft, the trade deadline and free agency, as well as special projects for the team president, vice president and assistant general manager.
“With the rapidly changing landscape that is college basketball, I felt this was the perfect time to re-join my Syracuse family,” said Kline. “Coach Autry, the staff and I are in lockstep on a process-driven vision that is linear to how NBA front offices construct winning rosters. Simply put, this was a life-changing opportunity to impact both a university and community that has poured so much into me.”
SYRACUSE GENERAL MANAGER POSITION
A new position, the general manager will support Coach Autry in managing various aspects of the men’s basketball program at Syracuse. The primary responsibilities will include scouting and recruiting, former student-athlete engagement, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, transfer portal management, and institutional fundraising in collaboration with University Advancement.
JOINING THE LEAGUE
In 2016, Kline became a basketball operations assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. During four-plus years with the Pelicans, Kline assisted with college scouting and player evaluation. He provided information used for the NBA Draft and free agency.
Kline was hired as a scout by the Knicks in 2020.
FOUNDING THE RECRUIT SCOOP
He gave birth to The Recruit Scoop in 2010, an on-line site devoted to publicizing high school basketball players. Rapidly growing interest in the site led to affiliation with Yahoo! Sports and Rivals in 2012, while Kline was still in high school.
DIRECTING THE KLINE CLASSIC
Kline created the Mary Kline Classic, named to honor his mother, as a scholastic charity basketball event designed to raise awareness for cancer research. He oversaw the Classic from 2010-2015 before transitioning to co-director in 2017. Proceeds from the contest have exceeded $131,000 and have been donated to the National Brain Tumor Society and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
KLINE HONORS
Kline was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 in 2013 and 2014, while an undergraduate at Syracuse. He was presented an award recognizing Outstanding Youth In Philanthropy in November 2016 by the Association for Fundraising Professionals: Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
A SYRACUSE GRADUATE
Kline earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse in Broadcast and Digital Journalism in 2016. He minored in Sports Management.
https://cuse.com/news/2024/6/28/kline-named-general-manager-to-reimagine-recruiting
