Syracuse Basketball: Tyler Lydon Officially Signs with an Agent Ending SU Career
By Josh Peelman
Tyler Lydon officially ended his Syracuse Basketball career today by signing with an agent. Inside the Loud House looks at his decision, and his potential for the future in the NBA.
Tyler Lydon was special the first moment he took the floor for Syracuse Basketball. We had this feeling right away he was going to contribute way more than a bench player. His numbers may not show it, but the truth is clear. We can all say that without Lydon two years ago, we don’t make it to the Final Four.
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To reach the top of college basketball’s best postseason tournament, you need stars to shine. Lydon did just did that in more ways than one. He was not a Carmelo Anthony type of star, but he didn’t need to be. He did the dirty work and did his best to contribute in any way he could. It’s for that reason his block at the end of the game against Gonzaga will go down as one of the best blocks in SU History. I can see it now, up there right next to Hakim Warrick’s block, securing Syracuse’s first national championship.
In his Syracuse Basketball career, Lydon finished with 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.1 steals per game, according to Sports-Reference.com. He also shot 39.8%, from three, 80.9% from the free throw line, and 47.5% from the field. He also scored 823 points in his career, which if updated, according to Orangehoops.com, would rank 79th All-Time for Syracuse Basketball. That’s one spot ahead of newly hired assistant coach Allen Griffin.
Lydon, after a saying so awhile ago, finally signed with an agent at Priority Sports, according to Syracuse.com. He is currently projected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. According to DraftExpress, it will probably be to a contender as his projected spot, 24th, is at the back end of the first round.
His agent, Andy Shiffman has spent quite a deal of time with the Lydon family, according to Syracuse.com. During that time, he has learned a lot about Lydon and feels he has made the right decision. This is what he had to say about Lydon’s decision to leave school for the NBA, according to Syracuse.com:
"“When Tyler made his decision to leave, we talked to him. Knowing who he is and the family he comes from made him that much more attractive. He’s someone we believed in early on. We were cognizant that he was at a great university and we are unique, I believe, in that we strongly encourage players to go back to school if we don’t feel they’re ready. And we feel that Tyler is ready.”"
Personally, I think Shiffman is right. Tyler Lydon is a unique player with extraordinary gifts. He may never be a star on an NBA team in my opinion. However, his ability to hit the long ball, rebound, and block shots at only 6’9 as an energy guy make him a good commodity for any team to have. You want a guy who can score off the bench and do the dirty work that wins games. That’s Tyler Lydon in a nutshell.
I think that Lydon made the right decision to leave when he did. As a diehard Syracuse Basketball fan, my heart screams, “No, don’t leave! We still need you,” but in reality we really don’t. We can still win without him, and the team next year will have more opportunities as a result. Plus, with another year to be scrutinized by NBA scouts, he might fall further down the draft, much like Grayson Allen did this year.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: What’s Next for Seniors, Grad-Transfers, and Tyler Lydon
Lydon deserves to be a first round selection, that much we know. If he doesn’t leave now, there’s no guarantee he’ll be in the NBA draft lottery next year, or in the first round even. He made the right decision to leave for both his family and himself. I wish him the best of luck in the NBA and beyond and I think he’ll have a great career. As they say in Star Wars the Phantom Menace (McCallum & George Lucas, 1999 ), “We will watch your career with great interest.”
What’s Next: In addition to working out, Lydon will most likely attend the NBA combine to showcase his talents and skills to NBA scouts and coaching staffs. That takes place May 9th-14th, according to Syracuse.com. After that he will selected in the 2017 NBA Draft which takes place June 22 at the Barclays Center. Best of Luck Lydon, we will miss you!