Syracuse Basketball: What to Expect From the Incoming Freshmen
By David Stone
After the unfortunate loss of Moustapha Diagne to a junior college, Syracuse basketball is left with three members of it’s 2015 class: Malachi Richardson, Franklin Howard, and Tyler Lydon. Although the class did lose some of it’s momentum without Diagne, the three remaining members are all solid players who should be able to contribute early and often.
Malachi Richardson is a 6-foot-6 guard from Trenton Catholic High School in Trenton, New Jersey. As a senior, Malachi averaged over 20 points a game and was named the Gatorade Jersey Player of the Year. Initially known as a three-point shooting ace, Richardson developed his game in high school and now has a dependable set of skills getting to the basket.
For Syracuse, I see Richardson as the first or second man off the bench. Since we are lacking depth in the front court, he will mostly play the small forward position, likely when Gbinije is at point or on the bench. His role will be crucial here, as he will be asked to defend the corner of the zone, as well as rebound and box out on defense. On offense, he will probably prowl the perimeter, but don’t be surprised to see him explode to the hoop a couple of times a game.
I think he’ll have a solid freshmen season for Syracuse basketball, averaging at least 6 or 7 points a game and being a very dependable role player.
Tyler Lydon is a 6-foot-9 forward from Pine Plains, New York. In his senior year at New Hampton high school, he averaged 14 points and nine rebounds a game and was named to the first-team All New England squad. What makes him so special is his versatility. Lydon can shoot the ball from anywhere. He has post moves, a mid-range game, and can hit the three ball consistently well.
He’s been compared favorably to both Chandler Parsons and even Kevin Durant with his ability to space the floor and knock down shots. Although very slim at only 200 pounds, he’s also an adept rebounder and has excellent athleticism. He will obviously need to put on some weight to bang with the bigs of the ACC, but that will come with time.
“He’s a better shooter than I was, has better hands than I did, is as athletic, or more, than I was. Early in my career I could put my arm in the rim. He seems like the type that might do that in a game.”
Lydon has been lauded by former SU players including those who played for Boeheim’s Army this summer in
. Former Syracuse basketball great Terrence Roberts said, “He’s going to be special. They’re throwing him lobs and he’s catching them easily. He’s a better shooter than I was, has better hands than I did, is as athletic, or more, than I was. Early in my career I could put my arm in the rim. He seems like the type that might do that in a game.”
Eric Devendorf was quoted as saying, “He was the first guy I met up here. He was here first session, so I really love him. He’s a 6-foot-9 shooter, can put it on the ground, is athletic. He’s a great player, but I like him as a person. I like his demeanor and personality. He’s a real good kid. He’s going to be great here.”
I expect great things from Lydon. I can see him having success from day one at Syracuse because of his size and ability to stretch the floor and shoot from the perimeter. There aren’t that many guys at 6’9″ that can drain the three and still get to the rim and dunk with authority. Tyler has that ability, and I can see him logging a good amount of minutes this year at the 3, 4, and even the 5 to spell Coleman or Obokoh.
Feb 14, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange fans cheer prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome. Duke defeated Syracuse 80-72. Photo by: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The last of the three freshmen this year is Franklin Howard. Howard hails from Paul VI high school in Fairfax, Virginia. Howard returned strong after missing his junior year with an ACL tear to lead his high school to the state championship game, where they lost by a single point.
Franklin is an adept shooter and passer, with the ability to hit shots from the outside, handle the ball well, and find open players with ease. These skills make him an ideal backup for Gbinije, Cooney, and Joseph should any of them require a breather or get into foul trouble.
I’m not exactly sure how much playing time he will see as a freshman as I think a lot of it will rest on how Kaleb Joseph rebounds from a somewhat lackluster freshmen year. If Joseph steps up this year, Howard could see very limited minutes. However, if Kaleb continues to struggle, look for Howard to become a solid role player off the bench.
These three freshman for Syracuse are going to be a big key to this season’s success or failure. I’m quite confident that all three can be solid contributors to a team that desperately needs some offensive firepower. Though I’m not sure if Howard will get to see much playing time, I fully expect both Lydon and Richardson to play quality minutes and be effective players.