Here's How The ‘One-and-Done’ Has Affected Syracuse Basketball History

Believe it or not, the “one and done” effect has drastically changed the course of history as it pertains to the Syracuse basketball program.

Recently, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared that the League is considering ridding the ‘One-and-Done’ rule. There have been multiple reports suggesting that one side wants the minimum NBA entry age to be lowered from 19 to 18, while Silver is pushing for an increase from 19 to 20.

While there have been many rookie classes that have entered the league, and dominated from the get go, Silver’s proposal has come at the right time. This season, the NBA saw the No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons sit out due to injury. The second overall pick, Brandon Ingram, under-performed. Only six rookies averaged 10 or more points this year. One of them was potential Rookie of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, who spent four years at Virginia, and will turn 25 next season.

Aside from the natural superstars that either skipped college, or took the league by storm after one year of college, there have been many cases where top players spend just one year at college, and become busts, or not be given a fair chance to succeed at the NBA level. Syracuse basketball has players that thrived after one year, under-performed after one year, succeeded after lengthy college careers, and have become busts after lengthy careers with the Orange. You can’t help but think that some of these bust/under performers would have turned out differently had they spent more time with the Orange. However, there have also been a handful of players that spent perhaps too much time at Syracuse, and didn’t live up to their potential because of that.

Let’s take a look at examples of players that fit into these four scenarios.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (40-36)

Syracuse Player That Thrived After One Year:

Carmelo Anthony:

Carmelo Anthony averaged over 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists during his freshman year with the Orange, per ESPN. Anthony led Jim Boeheim’s squad to Syracuse’s only National Championship.

The Forward, in just one year of college, took home four awards:

All-America 2nd Team
NCAA All-Tournament
NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player
Freshman of the Year

Carmelo Anthony gave Syracuse by far the most national exposure they have ever had, and was rewarded for that, getting selected third overall in the 2003 draft by the Denver Nuggets.

While Carmelo Anthony hasn’t won a championship in the NBA, he’s had an illustrious career nonetheless. Had there been a rule against leaving after a players first year, Syracuse may have more championships under their belt.

Many believe that Carmelo Anthony has been the lone success story after a ‘One-and-Done’ with the Orange.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (35-31)

Syracuse Player That Thrived After Multiple Years:

Dave Bing:

Dave Bing was a 6-foot-3 guard that was as good at rebounding as any big man that college basketball had to offer at the time. At Syracuse, Bing averaged more than 12 rebounds for Syracuse, and almost 25 points, per ESPN. Unlike most Syracuse players that made it to the NBA, Bing lived up to his potential. Averaging over 20 points and six assists over his 12-year career, the Hall of Fame guard benefited from staying three years at Syracuse.

Some other successful Syracuse alumni that played more than one year include: Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Rony Seikaly, and current Miami Heat star Dion Waiters.

Syracuse Player That Was a Bust after a ‘One-and-Done’:

Instead of choosing one player for this section, I decided to choose two.

Those two are: Donte Green and current point guard Tyler Ennis

Donte Greene made a huge mistake when he decided to leave Syracuse after his only season there. At Syracuse, he averaged almost 18 points, and over 7 rebounds, per ESPN.

After being selected towards the end of the first round by Memphis, many expected Greene to

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continue his dominance at the NBA level. He didn’t.

Donte Greene averaged just 6 points over his first three years in the NBA, and is considered by many as one of Syracuse’s biggest busts.

The other player, Tyler Ennis, has shown flashes of his potential during garbage time for the Lakers this season, but it doesn’t appear as if the Syracuse product will ever get a starting role in the NBA.

Ennis averaged almost 13 points and nearly 6 rebounds in his lone year with Syracuse, and after was selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2014 Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Ever since, Ennis has played for the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and now Los Angeles Lakers. You can’t help but think about the difference a year or two extra at Syracuse would have made on his success at the next level.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (45-41)

Syracuse Player That Was a Bust after Multiple Years:

Pearl Washington:

Most Syracuse fans are quick to say that Roosevelt Bouie and Louis Orr shaped the program. Those fans may be correct, but in my opinion, Pearl Washington was the lead contributor to Syracuse’s national identity today.

The former 6-foot-2 guard had an illustrious career with the Orange, and is most remembered for his buzzer-beating half-court shot to beat beat Boston College at the Carrier Dome.

Easily one of the most popular players ahead of the draft, Pearl Washington under-performed greatly at the NBA level, and never lived up to his potential. Washington only played three seasons in the NBA, but his college dominance left an everlasting imprint on Syracuse and the world, when the school and city raised a ton of money both during his battle with cancer, and even after he passed away last year.

Some other notable alumni that heavily under-performed after dominating for multiple years with the Orange include both Louis Orr, Roosevelt Bouie, Lawrence Moten, Michael Carter-Williams, Jason Hart, and of course former No. 3 overall pick Billy Owens.

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Here’s How The ‘One-and-Done’ Has Affected Syracuse Basketball History

By Zachary Weisleder | Jun 2, 2017