Syracuse Basketball has had a long and rich history full of talent. It’s time to continue the countdown of the top 30 players in Cuse history.
Syracuse Basketball is a storied program and an NCAA powerhouse. A lot of that has to do with Jim Boeheim’s impact since he became coach in 1976. He turned a good program into a great one, and for that, he is considered one of the all-time greatest coaches.
How much do we really know about Syracuse Basketball’s past though? Do we know some of Syracuse’s All-Time Greatest Players?
To gain a deeper respect and knowledge of Syracuse Basketball, Inside the Loud House has done its research and compiled a list of the Top 50 players we believe were the best to ever don an Orange uniform.
Though Boeheim did not coach everyone that is listed in this Top 50 we’ve created, he did coach the majority of them. That just goes to show his ability to bring in and develop boys into men while playing for Syracuse University.
This Top 50 is Inside the Loud House’s best attempt at ranking the Top 50 Basketball players to play for Syracuse University. Some were way before our time, so that does make them hard to rank, but we did our best to rank them based on their stats and what has been written about them. If we missed someone you felt deserved to be on the list, or you think someone should have been ranked higher, make sure to let us know in the comments.
If you missed the other parts of this series you can read them here:
- Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players of All-Time (50-46)
- Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (45-41)
- Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (40-36)
- Syracuse Basketball: Top 50 Players in School History (35-31)
So without further ado, let’s continue the countdown with #30.
Kris Joseph may not have been the most flashy or best shooter Syracuse has ever had, but he deserved a spot in our rankings. He was a player who played well for the Orange for three straight seasons.
After only scoring about three points a game his freshman year, he boosted that number to 11 points a game his sophomore season. He would continue to improve his numbers to about 14 points, five rebounds, and one steal a game for the remainder of his Syracuse career.
As a Junior and Senior, he truly excelled as the leader of the team. Joseph looked like a star, even though he didn’t have the numbers to back that up. He was selected as a 2nd round draft pick in the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately for Joseph and Orange fans, he didn’t last long in the NBA. After two years, he is no longer in the league.
Joseph is a great example of a player who played better than most in college, but couldn’t live up to the hype in the pros. He scored 1,476 points in four years for Syracuse, good for 27th all-time at SU. Staying in school did wonders for Joseph. If he hadn’t stayed and had jumped to the NBA sooner, I expect he wouldn’t be in our rankings or would be much lower.
Eric Devendorf was the kind of player you didn’t want to face on a basketball court. He didn’t care who you were or where you came from. When playing for Syracuse, he would trash-talk opponents and constantly go at them on offense to wear them down. In many ways, he seemed like a dirty player, though in reality, he wasn’t.
Devo, as he’s affectionately called by the Orange faithful, had the game to back up his words. He was a great mid-range shooter and could get to the rim when needed to. He wasn’t flashy per se, but he was productive. That production led to much success while in an Orange uniform.
As of today, Devendorf sits 14th all-time amongst Syracuse scorers. So why is he only 29th on our list? Well, in our book there are just too many talented players and legends ahead of him. Many of them specialized in more than just scoring, while scoring was Devo’s only real calling card.
During his Syracuse Basketball career, he averaged 14.5 points in three years. Technically, he played four years, but he earned a medical redshirt his junior year after suffering a season-ending ACL knee injury 10 games in.
In his senior year, following his knee injury, Devendorf led the Orange to a 28-10 record, a spot in the Big East Tournament Final, and to the Sweet 16. In addition, the most memorable moment of his career came that season in the six overtime victory over Uconn in the Big East Tourney.
Devendorf nailed what looked like a buzzer-beater three to win the game, stood on top of the sideline, and yelled in excitement to the crowd. That moment, pictured above, is a sight Orange fans who saw it will never forget. The shot didn’t count, as the ball was just on his fingertips when time expired. But Orange fans will never forget that moment, as it epitomized everything Eric Devendorf was as a player for Syracuse.
Devendorf may not be a Syracuse legend like Lawrence Moten, Carmelo Anthony, or Derrick Coleman, but he did leave quite a legacy while playing for SU. He continues that legacy to this day serving as an assistant strength coach.
Years from now, people may wonder why Tyler Ennis is so low in our rankings. He may be skilled enough to be in the Syracuse Basketball’s top 20 all-time list, but in twenty years, people who didn’t see him will point out that he only played one year and wonder how good he could’ve possibly been. Unfortunate as it may be, going the one and done route is why he fell so low in our rankings.
Ennis was an amazing athlete at Syracuse. No one will ever forget how he led the team and constantly put them on his back. He was a point guard who was unselfish and shared the ball more than he looked for his own shot. He’s one of the best examples out there of someone who was as good a player as he was a teammate.
His numbers didn’t exactly jump off the page in his one season in Orange, averaging 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. However, for those who saw him in person, his leadership and ability to pass the ball to the guy who needed it made him invaluable.
In addition, not everything shows up on a box score. Tyler Ennis also had an amazing half-court heave for three that defeated Pittsburgh (in Pittsburgh) at the buzzer, led the Orange to 25-0 start, and was the point guard of the team ranked #1 in the nation for three straight weeks during the 2013-2014 season.
Ennis could have accomplished so much more at Syracuse. Perhaps he could have led the Orange to championships in years to come. Instead, he decided to leave SU and pursue a career in the NBA. The fact that he only played one amazing season in Orange is why he ranks so low, not for lack of skill or talent. He is one of the best Syracuse Basketball players of all-time, but his one season in Orange hinders his ability to have a made a true mark on SU the way he could have.
Dennis DuVal played in a time when freshmen were not allowed to play with the varsity team. However, he more than made up for it the other three years he played for the team.
Standing at 6’3, “Sweet D” as he was nicknamed, was a player who
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liked the spotlight. He liked to do trick shots in practice, and because of that, Coach Roy Danforth allowed him to do little shows for Orange fans before each game of his career.
During games, he was also a constant star for the Orangemen. He increased his scoring average each year while at Syracuse. He scored 15.6 ppg as a sophomore, 19.6 as a Junior, and 20.6 as a senior. Along with fellow star Greg Kohls, they made one of the best duos Syracuse Basketball has ever seen.
His senior year, he was named a 3rd team All-American and the Washington Bullets selected him in the second round of that year’s NBA Draft. He would play one year with the Bullets and one year with the Atlanta Hawks before retiring from the NBA.
DuVal left a legacy as a scoring guard at Syracuse, but he’ll also be remembered for how he wasn’t afraid of just having fun out there on the court. Dennis DuVal sits 21st on the all-time scoring list at SU with 1,504 points.
He was inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named to the Syracuse All-Century team in 2000. DuVal would go onto to continue serving Syracuse as a Police officer for 26 years before he retired in 2004.
Brandon Triche may be my favorite player on this list. He was a hometown kid who went to J-D, also known as Jamesville-Dewitt High school, who chose to play at home in front of his biggest fans. When he chose SU to play college ball, Syracuse fans were excited. He didn’t let the Orange down.
Though not a flashy scorer, Triche was a solid combo guard, mostly playing point guard for Syracuse. He started every game he played in and was a calm and patient force for the Orange at the point.
Triche’s career numbers at Syracuse aren’t overly impressive. In fact, most would look at his average of 10.6 points and three assists per game and figure he was just a role player. However, they couldn’t be more wrong. Triche may not have had the numbers, but his leadership and ability to hit free throws led Syracuse to much success.
During his four years at Syracuse, he led the Orange to four NCAA Tournament appearances. He led them to the Sweet 16 as a freshman and the NCAA Second Round as a sophomore. As a junior, Triche and the Orange went 34-3, were the Big East regular-season champions, and reached the Elite Eight. In his final year, the Orange made it all the way to the Final Four. If that’s not success at the highest level, I don’t know what is.
These achievements by Triche and the Syracuse Basketball team just go to show that stats don’t tell the whole story. Without Brandon Triche, there is no guarantee the Orange would have gone as deep as they did most of those years.
Despite not being a high scorer, he managed to climb as high as 17th on the all-time scoring list for SU. But his impact was far more than that. Triche may not be the most remembered player in SU history since he wasn’t a star. However, he made up for it in his leadership that helped guide the Orange to high heights time and time again.
The first time I heard of Jason Hart, he was in my NBA 2K game, and his best skill was stealing the ball. Having been born in the early 1990s, I missed seeing him in action as a kid. Not surprisingly, Hart’s best skill, as I soon found out, was stealing the ball for Syracuse Basketball.
Known as a defensive point guard who was also a good distributor, he was a four-year starter for the Orange. He was turnover-prone but was good at driving to the basket and finding his teammates for good looks. He was quick enough on defense to make it hard for opposing point guards to blow by him. Paired with Etan Thomas and Ryan Blackwell, Hart made Syracuse a stellar defensive unit for years.
For his career, Hart averaged 11.4 points, 2.5 steals, 5.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per contest. He would go on to be drafted in the 2nd round by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft after his senior season. In his NBA career, he would play for nine different teams, in both starting and reserve roles.
Hart sits 22nd on the All-Time SU Scoring list with 1,504 points and is amongst the company of Dennis DuVal and Rudy Hackett, two other SU greats. He also sits 2nd on Syracuse’s all-time assists list, only behind the great Sherman Douglas and ahead of Pearl Washington and Gerry McNamara. But his real legacy is the energy and talent he had on defense.
Wesley Johnson is the epitome of what a transfer can do if given the right opportunity. By joining Syracuse after playing two years at Iowa State, he had the chance to be great. Johnson more than lived up that expectation.
In his one year, Johnson became one of the best small forwards the Orange has ever seen. He could hit the three and mid-range with ease. On defense, his long wingspan constantly disrupted and he blocked multiple shots a game. More importantly, his rebounds led to multiple opportunities to score in the transition game.
In his one season in Orange, he would average 16.5 points, 2.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 8.5 rebounds per game. He would be named Big East Player of the Year, as well as be selected to the All-Big East First Team, and AP All-American First Team. In addition, he helped lead the Orange to a 30-5 record and the Sweet 16.
At the end of the 2009-2010 season, he would declare for the NBA Draft and be selected in the 1st round with the fourth overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He would go onto start for them for two years and be a role player for the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Wes Johnson may have been one of the best Orange players ever had he played for them longer, but fans are more than content with the one year they had him. His legacy is how he was a superstar on both sides of the court and helped lead Syracuse into the next decade of great Syracuse basketball teams.
Preston Shumpert may not be a name that Orange fans will immediately recognize, but it’s one they should come to know. Here’s why: Preston Shumpert sits 8th on SU’s All-Time scoring list. Surprised? So was I.
Shumpert was often overshadowed by a bunch of other SU greats when he played. During his Syracuse basketball days, he played with the likes of Jason Hart, Etan Thomas, Damone Brown, and Allen Griffin. However, he might have had the best career of all of them.
As a freshman, he only scored 5.4 points a game in a sixth man type role. However, he would up his game as a sophomore, a trend that would continue until he graduated. In that sophomore season he earned the Big East Most Improved Player of the Year award and be named to the Big East’s All-Conference First Team, after averaging 10.3 points, 1.2 steals, and three rebounds a game.
As a junior, Shumpert continued to excel on offense. He doubled his scoring average to 19.5, increased his rebound average to 5.9, and dished out 1.6 assists a game. He also averaged almost two steals a game to pair with Hart. As a result, Syracuse became a stellar defensive unit heading into the 21st century.
In his final season, Shumpert would average 20.7 points, 2.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per contest. He would also shoot 37% from three on route to setting the single-season three-point record at SU. That record has broken a few times since then, with Andrew White III setting the record again this past year.
Shumpert should be considered among the all-time greats in SU basketball history because of how efficient and stellar he was at shooting the ball. However, since he was a shabby defender to start his career and was never really a great passer, he sort of fell in our rankings. Yet he will remain among the best scorers SU has ever seen, so that must count for something.
Dion Waiters is probably the best sixth man to ever play for Syracuse Basketball. Highly recruited out of high school, Waiters looked to have a big role once he stepped foot on campus. The one problem for him was the Orange were stacked in their starting five. Hence, Waiters was relegated to a sixth-man role and came off the bench to be a spark-plug for the Orange.
Waiters was capable of running the point as well as the shooting guard position. When on the floor, he demanded the ball in his hands because he knew what he was capable of. He was clearly starter material, but Boeheim and his staff knew if they played him with the starters it might slow down the offense. By coming in with the second team, Waiters thrived and helped the starters get some rest.
In every way imaginable, Waiters was a star for Syracuse. He would show off his skill multiple times a game. That included, but was not limited to, driving the lane for ferocious dunks, hitting the outside shot off the dribble, hitting fadeaway jump-shots from mid-range, and constantly beating his man down the floor in transition.
In his two years with SU he averaged 9.7 points, two assists, and 1.5 steals. Though not stellar numbers, he was a star sixth man for the Orange. As a result, he won the Big East Sixth Man of the Year award in his second as a sophomore and was named to the 3rd Team All-Big East that same year.
He would be drafted in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft with the fourth overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, amazing considering that he never once started a game for Syracuse Basketball. That’s how good of a talent he was, and the nation knew it.
Dion Waiters wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder, even though his time with SU was short. He stayed for two years, more than most Syracuse basketball fans expected from him coming out of high school. For that reason, combined with his stellar play, Waiters ended up higher on this list. Had he stayed longer, he very could have been in the top 10 of our rankings.
To those who know of Andy Rautins who played several years ago, Leo Rautins is his father. Leo played almost 30 years before his son and was even more dominant.
He started his college career in Minnesota and was second in the Big Ten conference in assists by the end of the season. (Magic Johnson, one of the best basketball players of all-time was first, so Leo was in good company.) He would average 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists as a freshman and make the Big 10 All-Rookie team.
Following his freshman year at Minnesota, he transferred to Syracuse University. After sitting out a year due to transfer rules, he would come on strong the following season. He averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists from his forward position. He would also tip in a buzzer-beater over Villanova to clinch Syracuse’s first Big East Tournament Championship.
He raised his averages in his junior year to 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. He would also record a triple-double of 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists versus St. Peters in the NIT Tournament.
As a senior, Leo was made tri-captain with Erich Santifer and Tony Bruin. He would live up to that title, setting Big East history when he recorded the first triple-double in Big East Play with a 12 point, 13 rebound, 10 assist performance against Georgetown. He would have another Big East triple-double later that season against Boston College with a 13 point, 11 rebound, and 13 assist performance. He would average 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists that senior season.
Leo Rautins would be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft with the 17th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, he only played two seasons in the NBA, as an old knee injury he had while at Syracuse kept hurting his play.
Leo’s career statistics aren’t terribly impressive. However, not many Syracuse players can say they’ve ever had a triple-double while in college. The fact that he was both a good distributor and scorer made him special and cemented his legacy among Syracuse’s all-time greatest players. Though he’s only 61st all-time on Syracuse’s scoring list, he more than made up for it with stellar offensive play and being a good teammate. That’s the legacy he left at Syracuse, and it’s a legacy Andy, his son, would continue at Syracuse many years down the line.
Michael Carter-Williams was anything but your traditional guard. While playing for Syracuse, he wowed fans with his ability to use incredible and athletic plays as well as his unselfishness with the basketball. Known as a good distributor coming out of high school, he lived up to that at SU.
He didn’t play much freshman year as veterans Brandon Triche, Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters stole most of the minutes at guard. In his sophomore year, he took over the reins at the point and did not disappoint. Though a bit erratic at times and often turnover-prone, he still was a great distributor and scorer.
Carter-Williams was a great defender and his wingspan was perfect for intercepting passes out of the 2-3 zone. He struggled hitting threes but was very capable at getting to the rim any time he wanted to.
Michael Carter-Williams was a huge reason why Syracuse made it to the Final Four that year. The Orange would lose against Michigan, but his guidance and leadership at the point helped the Orange get there. That season he averaged 11.9 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds.
Carter-Williams may not have been the best point guard Syracuse has ever had, but he’s definitely up there. Though he only made a real impact in one of his two years at SU, his legacy will be how he distributed the ball and his ability as a great on-ball defender.
Jonny Flynn is right up there in terms of the best point guards Syracuse has ever had. He got the nod over Michael Carter Williams in our rankings because of one reason: heart. Jonny Flynn played with passion and for the love of the game. Every-time he took the court you could see it. His smile was contagious as was his unselfishness with the basketball.
Though he was listed at 6’0 he looked a lot smaller than that. His height did not stop him from making a huge impact while at Syracuse. In fact, I like to think he played better because of it.
In his freshman year, he started all 35 games he played in, according to Orangehoops.org. In his first college game, he showed he was someone to be reckoned with by scoring 28 points, breaking the freshman single-game scoring record for points in a game set by the great Carmelo Anthony who had 27. In addition, he would score 15.7 points a game and dish out 5.3 assists.
That season he would also pick up multiple accolades: Co-Rookie of the Year in the Big East, Honorable Mention All-Big East, and the All-Rookie Team. Despite all that, Flynn had an even better sophomore year. He would raise his averages to 17.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game.
In his sophomore campaign, Flynn would really make a name for himself. His most notable moment came against UConn in the six overtime game in the Big East Tournament. In that game, he would play 67 of a possible 70 minutes, score 35 points and go 16-of-16 from the free-throw line. What’s even more impressive is that he played all 30 minutes of overtime, which stretched way longer than that after timeouts, commercials, fouls, and intermissions are considered.
After the season Flynn was drafted 4th overall in the NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. His NBA career was short-lived, but his real legacy was how smoothly he operated at the point for Syracuse and was just so unselfish. He played with so much heart, and there was hardly ever a time he wasn’t having fun out there on the court. It’s for that reason he is so beloved by Orange fans everywhere and will be for years to come.
Orr was special because he was Jim Boeheim’s first recruit as Head coach, according to Orangehoops.org. He would be a prime example of the future of what Boeheim would want a player to be like in his signature 2-3 zone. Along with Roosevelt Bouie, they would form the Bouie ‘N Louie Show which would lead Syracuse to a 100-18 record over the course of four years. The two were a great one-two punch as both were great shooters who could rebound with the nation’s best.
Orr really grabbed the nation’s attention when he posted a 15 point, 20 rebound performance against American University during his sophomore season. His senior year, which coincidentally was also the Big East’s inaugural season was Orr’s best. He led Syracuse to the Big East’s First Regular Season Championship while averaging 16 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, according to Sport-reference.com.
In addition, Orr received All-American honors and was named to the All-Big East First Team. He would go on to be drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft.
Orr is considered among the best players to ever play for Syracuse Basketball. Syracuse honored his achievements by retiring his #55 uniform along with Roosevelt Bouie’s in 2015. He sits 25th on Syracuse’s All-Time Leading scorer’s list. Overall, Orr averaged 12.8 points, and 7.6 rebounds a game. He will be remembered for not only being an excellent rebounder and scorer for SU, but for also being a good teammate who fans would grow to adore.
Hackett would have a bigger role as a junior when he teamed up with Dennis DuVal and Jimmy Lee. With those two playing at guard, that made Hackett the go-to option in the post. As such, he racked rebound after rebound on defense and would lead the team in that regard, according to Orangehoops.org.
Late in that season, he had one of the best shooting performances an Orange player has ever had. Against Holy Cross, Hackett shot 16 of 19 from the field for 35 points. In that same game, he also had 18 rebounds and seven assists. That season he would raise his averages to 16.8 points, and 11.7 rebounds.
His Senior year, he would co-captain with Jimmy Lee. Together they formed a nice 1-2 punch both inside and outside. Hackett would be the better scorer of the two averaging 22.2 points to go with 12.7 rebounds. In that final season, he would guide the Orange to their first Final Four before losing to Kentucky.
Hackett would be drafted after the season by the Utah Jazz but would opt to instead play for the Spirit of St. Louis in the ABA. He would have a better career overseas though in the Italian Professional League after a short stint in the ABA & NBA.
Hackett is probably the best rebounder SU would see until Derrick Coleman and Hakim Warrick came around years later. He currently sits 6th on Syracuse’s all-time rebounding list and 23rd on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list. That’s pretty good company to be in, which is exactly why Hackett is in our top 20.
CJ Fair was the perfect talent for the Syracuse 2-3 zone and exactly the type of talent Jim Boeheim loves in his system. Fair was a tremendous scorer, though it wasn’t always pretty. He would find ways to get the ball into the basket that would make fans shake their heads. He was raw his entire career offensively but was very productive. As a result, he sits 16th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list, according to Orangehoops.org.
In addition to being great on offense, Fair was even better on defense. He was tall and lanky and was able to block multiple shots from the wing of the zone. He was a great on-ball defender and as a result, was a solid fixture in Boeheim’s rotation all four years he played for Syracuse.
For his career, Fair averaged 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.8 blocks a game, according to Sports-reference.com. He would also be named to the AP All-American 3rd Team, USBWA Second Team, and the All-ACC First Team after his senior season
During his Orange tenure, he would help the Orange reach the NCAA 2nd Round, the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and the NCAA Round of 32 in consecutive years. Fair will always be remembered for how he always gave his best effort on both sides of the ball. He may not stack up well compared to other SU greats, but his talent and production while at SU will never be forgotten. It just goes to show you don’t always have to be flashy or be the star to make a big impact.
A Center standing at 6’11, he blocked an average of 2.77 shots per game for his career. He was a physical presence down low on defense for the Orange as well as a tremendous offensive threat. As a freshman, he was a second-team freshman All-American.
Throughout his career, he would be known as a great rebounder and averaged over eight boards a game. In addition, he would score around 10 points a game his first two years at Syracuse before bumping those numbers to almost 16 points a game in his junior and senior seasons.
In his last season, which was coincidentally the Big East’s first, he was 1st team All-Big East. He would also receive All-American honors.
Roosevelt Bouie is among the best Syracuse Basketball players to ever play the game. Syracuse honored his career by retiring his #50 uniform along with Louis Orr’s in 2015. He sits 18th all-time on the Syracuse University scoring list and 7th on their all-time rebounding list. Though those statistics are impressive, what Bouie and Louis brought to Orange fans would energize the Orange fanbase for years to come. It would give future Orange players greatness to strive towards and give fans faith that Jim Boeheim was the right man for the job.
With Louis and Bouie being among his first recruits, it’s just another testament to how amazing of a coaching career Boeheim has really had, and also shows the kinds of incredible talent he has been able to bring in as well.
Bill Smith’s stats while at Syracuse are pretty unbelievable. They almost look like bloated computer numbers from a video game. The crazy thing is is that they really happened and only occurred in a three-year span because freshman couldn’t play for the varsity at that time he played.
In his sophomore year, his first on varsity, he immediately burst on the scene with a 41 point performance against Niagara in his second game, according to Orangehoops.org. He would be good in spurts the rest of the year but still managed to average 19 points, and 11.6 rebounds according to Sports-reference.com.
In his junior year, he averaged 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, he also gained a reputation for being short-tempered when opponents pushed him around which constantly got him into foul trouble. That was a trend that would stick with him throughout the rest of his Orange career. He averaged about 3.68 fouls per game in 70 career games at Syracuse. Considering he was only allowed five fouls before fouling out, that means he must have fouled out many times, probably in costly situations sometimes.
Smith’s temper really got the best of him on Valentine’s day of that season when the Orange visited the Mountaineers of West Virginia. After the lead slipped from their hands in the closing minutes and the Mountaineers were leading by 10 with 1:01 to go in the game, Smith was called for his fifth foul. In anger, Smith punched Hugh Young, the referee.
The fans would storm the court and a brawl would ensue. Smith would be suspended for the rest of the season. As a result, the game would be called, and end 94-84. It was one of the darkest and ugliest moments in Syracuse Sports history. It was a dirty play and one Mountaineer fans would remember for years and decades to come.
Though Smith’s numbers are impressive, even in his senior season when he averaged 22.7 points and 14.5 rebounds per game, it is for his actions that he is ranked as low as this. Smith sits 28th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list and 10th on the all-time SU rebounding list, which is why he is this high in our rankings as it is. Smith’s legacy is probably unfairly marred by his actions, but that’s just how it goes. If he didn’t do what he did, we would probably view his career very differently.
A four-year starter, Rafael Addison was exactly the kind of player SU fans loved to see. He didn’t demand the ball, or turn the ball over much, he just accepted his role and played ball.
At 6’7, Addison played both shooting guard and small forward. Whatever the team needed from him, he provided. In his freshman campaign, he was used as a role player behind the star senior-trio of Leo Rautins, Eric Santifer, and Tony Bruin. He excelled in that role and averaged 8.4 points off the bench to pair with 3.2 rebounds in about 18 minutes of action, according to Sports-reference.com.
When those seniors left, he became a focal point of the offense along with Pearl Washington in his sophomore year. Even with Washington on the team, Addison would lead the team in scoring the next two years. He would score 17.7 points and nab six boards a game in his sophomore season. Those numbers would rise to 18.4 points and 5.8 rebounds respectfully in his junior campaign.
In his senior season, Addison desperately wanted to break Dave Bing’s SU scoring record which had stood for ages. Unfortunately, an injury to his leg early on in the season hindered him all season long. The team was stacked talent with the likes of Pearl, Rony Seikaly, and Addison on it, but it still wasn’t enough to get past an underdog Navy squad in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, according to Orangehoops.org.
The team did win the Big East regular-season title and go 26-6, but it felt like a disappointing season considering what the team was capable of. In addition, the early exit left Addison seven points shy of the Bing’s SU scoring record.
Addison would be drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft following his senior season and would play in the NBA for six years. He was named to the All-Big East First Team his junior year, and second-team All-Big East in his sophomore and senior campaigns. He currently sits 10th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list, and 26th on SU’s all-time rebounding list.
Rafael Addison will be most remembered for his silky jump shot and his ability to thrive in his role despite playing with one of Syracuse’s all-time greatest players in Pearl Washington. His unselfishness and ability to score the ball will never be forgotten by the Orange faithful.
Stephen Thompson, also known as Stevie Thompson, is what most would call a highflyer while in college, as he made his living above the rim. His specialty was being the recipient of alley-oop passes from Sherman Douglas, who would go on to be a Syracuse legend in his own right.
Thompson was a horrible shooter, despite playing at the shooting guard and small forward positions for most of his college career. He instead found success driving to the rim, finishing above the rim, and making shots in the low post. He would shoot almost 56% from that spot from the floor, according to Orangehoops.org.
Thompson was such a bad shooter overall that opposing teams would foul him on purpose in close games. Despite this, Thompson still found ways to make opponents pay for discounting his ability to shoot.
In his freshman campaign, he would be crucial as the sixth man on a team that went within one point of winning the national title. Syracuse would lose on the unforgettable shot by Indiana’s Keith Smart from mid-range with seconds remaining.
His sophomore year he started at small forward, replacing Howard Triche (Brandon Triche’s uncle for you younger Orange fans). As a result, his points jumped from 5.1 points a game to 14.1, according to Sports-reference.com.
As a junior, he would score 18 points a game, nab five rebounds as well as make 64% of his shots from the floor. His senior year, he moved to point guard for a short bit to replace the legendary Sherman Douglas. Unfortunately, the move didn’t turn out very well, and he soon was moved back to shooting guard.
Thompson would receive Honorable Mention All-American honors as well as All-Big East Second team Honors in his Junior and Senior seasons. He currently sits 7th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list and 32nd on the all-time rebounding list.
His legacy will go down as being one of the most impressive driving guards/forwards Syracuse has ever seen. He may not have been a great shooter, but he didn’t need to be. He was just a scorer who did so in a different way than most.
It was a tough call, but Billy Owens slipped one spot outside the Top 10 in our rankings. Billy Owens was an athletic rebounder and scorer and one of the best power forwards Syracuse has ever had.
He sits 12th on Syracuse basketball’s All-time scoring list, 15th in assists, and 9th in rebounding, according to Orangehoops.org. That’s impressive considering he only played three seasons in Orange. It just goes to show how big an impact he made every year he played for the Orangemen.
His first two years he and Derrick Coleman were counted on to man the paint and rebound for the Orange. However, by his junior year, he was the star of the Syracuse offense and defense.
As a freshman, Owens averaged 13 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks a game, according to Sports-reference.com. That season the team would make it all the way to the Elite Eight.
During his sophomore year, he developed a better outside game as well as a decent low-post game. His averages would benefit as a result. He would average 18.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 4.6 assists. The team would go 26-7 on the season as well as be named the Big East Regular Season champions. The Orange would go deep in the NCAA tournament once again making it to the Sweet 16.
In his junior season, Owens’s last season at Syracuse, he would be the focal point on both ends of the court. He averaged 23.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. That’s one of the best college stat lines you’ll ever see. He would be named to the All-Big East First team as well as an All-American that season.
Despite an amazing season, Owens and the Orange were stunned as a 2-seed by the 15-seeded Richmond Spiders in the NCAA Tournament 1st round. It was one of the biggest upsets ever in NCAA tournament history. It was also the first time a 15 seed had ever beaten a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the disappointment, Owens opted not to come back to Syracuse to set multiple SU records. He was rewarded after his amazing season though with the 3rd overall pick in 1991 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings. Syracuse retired his #30 uniform, making him one of the select few in Syracuse Basketball history to receive the honor.
Owens will go down as one of the most gifted players in Syracuse history. He could rebound, score inside, pass to teammates, block shots, and steal. To add to all that, he was a talented shooter, a terrific on-ball defender, and stood only 6’8. There aren’t many who can play like Billy Owens, and there are even fewer who will have a three-year career quite like his.
Rony Seikaly was not your average center, and that was a good thing for Syracuse Basketball. He did not fit the traditional mold Jim Boeheim liked in his low post players, but he still developed into quite an amazing player.
Seikaly was born in Lebanon, but grew up in Greece, according to Orangehoops.org. He came to the United States for high school where he learned to play multiple sports. Boeheim picked him up as a raw prospect and hoped he would mold into something great. He redshirted him his first year on campus because he wasn’t quite ready to be part of the rotation quite yet.
By the time next season came around, he would jump right in as a starter. In that freshman campaign, he would have his struggles, but average 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, according to Sports-reference.com His one flaw was that he would constantly get in foul trouble and often foul out.
His sophomore year was similar to his first with similar results. he would average 10.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, three blocks, and 3.6 fouls per game. Following that season, Seikaly would finally make the jump from an average shot blocker and low post presence to a great one.
In his junior season, he would get in less foul trouble, only averaging 2.9 per game, and that resulted in more points and more rebounds. Seikaly would average 15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. He along with Coleman and Billy Owens would excel at manning the post and block shot after shot.
Though not your typical low-post combination, Coleman, Seikaly, and Owens each did there part to lead Syracuse to the national championship game against Indiana. As mentioned before in our Billy Owens segment, the Orange lost that game by one point on Keith Smart’s shot.
Seikaly returned for his senior season and led the Orange in scoring en route to being the Big East Tournament Champions. The Orange though would lose in the second round of the NCAA tournament that season. He would average a pretty solid 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He would be named to the All-Big East 2nd team in his Junior and Senior seasons.
Rony Seikaly will go down as probably the best center Syracuse ever had behind only Derrick Coleman. His ability to block shots, make moves in the low post and make tomahawk jams will never be forgotten. He sits 2nd behind only Derrick Coleman on Syracuse’s all-time rebounders list, and 13th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list. In addition, he is one of the twelve Syracuse Basketball greats to have his uniform retired. For these reasons, he makes the Top 10 in our rankings.
Hakim Warrick will always be remembered as one of the main reasons Syracuse was able to pull it all together in 2003 and win the National championship. Yeah, there were a lot of other factors that led to that team being really special, but Warrick was the consistent threat down low on defense and offense that made it all possible.
Known by TV analysts back then as “The Ballet Dancer”, Hakim Warrick was a master of the spin move which would lead to an easy layup or ferocious dunk. Over the course of his SU career, he also developed a nice mid-range game which was perfect for Syracuse’s offense at that time. On defense, Warrick was a shot blocker whose height and long wingspan made it hard for opponents to get to the rim.
Warrick’s best play, which is also coincidentally the most memorable play in Syracuse Basketball history, was his blocked shot at the end of the National Championship game in 2003. With seconds remaining and Kansas down three, the Jayhawks would pass it to Michael Lee for an open three.
Warrick who was still down low had to rush out to meet Lee in hopes of blocking the shot. Just after the ball was released by Lee, Warrick’s long wingspan would go out to reach it and swat it away. The block all but sealed the victory for the Syracuse Orangemen.
During his Syracuse Baksetball career, Warrick got better each year he played. As a Freshman, he only averaged 6.1 points, and 4.8 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks a game, according to Sports-reference.com. His Sophomore year, he made a big jump and that year was coincidentally the one Syracuse won the national championship. That year he averaged 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks a game.
As a Junior, he would average 19.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks. His best year though he saved for last. That last season he played like an all-star averaging 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal, and 0.8 blocks a game. He would be named an All-American, All-Big East Player of the Year, Big East Tournament MVP, as well as to the All-Big East First Team, according to Orangehoops.org. He would also help the Orange capture the Big East Tournament title as well.
In addition, Warrick’s legacy is cemented among the best all-time in Syracuse’s record books. All-Time at Syracuse he sits 5th in scoring, 4th in rebounds, 46th in assists, 60th in three-point field goals, according to Orangehoops.org. Though his highlight dunks and amazing prowess on offense and defense will never be forgotten, his legacy is secured in how he was pivotal to bringing Syracuse their first Basketball National Championship.
Many Syracuse Basketball fans think that G-Mac, as he’s affectionately called is overrated, but I heartily disagree. He may not have been the flashiest point guard, or the most athletic player Syracuse has ever had, but he was clutch, consistent, and one of the best of all-time in multiple categories.
Gerry McNamara, a native of Scranton, PA, came to Syracuse hungry to play and ready to make a difference. In his freshman year, he was immediately forced into the starting point guard position as a result of Billy Edelin’s suspension to start the season, according to Orangehoops.org. He would start every game that year and lead Syracuse, along with Hakim Warrick and Carmelo Anthony, to the 2003 national title; Syracuse’s first. He would also average 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 steals, according to Sports-reference.com.
His best shot, as we would all very quickly find out, was his three-point shot. However, over the course of his career, he became a fantastic passer as well as a solid finisher at the rim. He became the class act of the Big East quickly, and as a sophomore was named to the All-Big East Third Team. He would go on to average 17.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals a game.
As good as McNamara was his first two years, he kicked it up a notch in his Junior and Senior seasons. By his third year in Orange, he was already Syracuse’s star and most popular player. Fans loved and admired his passion for the game, as well as how he gave everything out on the court for the Orange.
He was a scrappy defender who constantly made plays to help pull his team through. G-Mac would sometimes take it upon himself to win games, when his teammates were struggling to score, and oftentimes his hard work paid off. As a Junior, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals a game. He would garner All-Big East First team honors as a result.
In true fairy tale fashion, Gerry McNamara’s last season in Orange would be his best, even topping his national championship freshman campaign. Most of that lies in the fact that McNamara led Syracuse to a Big East Tournament Championship at the end of the season.
Going into the Big East Tournament that year, Syracuse had not played well and needed multiple victories or a Big East Tournament automatic bid to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. The problem: Syracuse was up against one of the hardest fields ever in that regard. In fact, every team in the Big East Tourney in Syracuse ‘s path was ranked in the Top 25, while Syracuse was unranked and struggling. That didn’t matter to McNamara though as he took over and made it his personal show.
In his first game against Cincinnati, he would hit a three-point game-winner between two defenders that was hoisted like a floater in the lane. After the game, Jim Boeheim would take McNamara’s back in one of his most famous press conferences ever by declaring Syracuse “would not have won ten ******* games” without McNamara, according to Syracuse.com. Against #1 ranked UConn in the next game, he would hit a game-tying three after breaking a double team to send the game to overtime, which Syracuse would go on to win.
In his next game, McNamara and Syracuse would make history by beating #23 Georgetown after trailing most of the game. Syracuse would also set Big East Tournament history by being the first team to win after winning in overtime the night before. A lot of that was because of McNamara’s contributions.
In the Big East Tournament Championship, Syracuse would go in front early and never look back. Syracuse and McNamara were on a roll and #16 Pitt had no chance. The Orangemen would go on to win that Big East Championship and clinch the automatic bid. Unfortunately, Syracuse and McNamara’s NCAA appearance after that was short-lived. Hampered by a groin injury he did not play the last eight minutes of their loss to Texas A&M.
McNamara will always be remembered for his incredible run of heroics in the 2006 Big East Tournament, but he’ll also be remembered for how he made a mark on the SU record books. Check out where he places on SU’s all-time lists: 4th in scoring, 3rd in assists, 1st in three-point field goals made, 6th in career free throws made, 1st in free throw percentage, and 1st in career minutes played, according to Cuse.com and Orangehoops.org.
In addition, he led Syracuse to four NCAA Tournament appearances, a national championship, and two Big East Tournament Championships. He also gained accolades such as Big East Tournament MVP, All-Big East First Team (twice), All-Big East Third Team (once), NCAA All-Tournament team (2003). To Syracuse fans though he’ll always mean so much more than these accolades and records could ever represent. He continues his legacy to his day at SU by being an assistant head coach to Jim Boeheim. Fairy tale endings don’t get much better than that.
John Wallace was the kind of player any college program would want when he joined Syracuse in 1992. He was a 6’8 forward with lots of potential and a nice mid-range game. While at Syracuse he would also develop a nice 3-point game as well as a low-post scoring arsenal to match.
His freshman year he was immediately put into the starting lineup and would go on to average 11.1 points, and 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, according to Sports-reference.com. He would garner All-Big East Rookie team honors that year, according to Orangehoops.org.
His second season in Orange, Wallace found a way to get to the rim more often and drew more fouls. This led to an increase in his free throw numbers and points per game. He would average 15 points, nine rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game and shoot 76% from the line. That increase in production earned him a spot on the All-Big East Second Team.
In his junior season, he would show off the three-point shot he had been working so hard on developing as well as the ability to pass more accurately. Along with Lawrence Moten and Luke Jackson down low, Wallace would have a much better season. Wallace would make the First Team All-Big East while averaging 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks a game.
After that fantastic junior season, he would be a projected high first-round pick, but would instead opt to come back to Syracuse to star as a senior. As a result, his senior season was his best in Orange.
Wallace would lead the team in scoring in 30 of the 38 games they played, make the All-Big East First Team, and rise up the Syracuse record books in multiple categories. He would average an outstanding 22.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks a game and shoot 42% from three.
In addition, he would lead Syracuse to the national title game against Kentucky. Wallace would keep the game close until the final minutes before fouling out with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Syracuse would go to lose, but it still didn’t take away from how much Wallace contributed to Syracuse’s success that season. His tremendous performance in the NCAA Tournament also garnered him NCAA All-Tournament Team honors.
Wallace would go onto have a decent NBA career, but his play while at Syracuse would be his crowning achievement. He sits high on multiple all-time lists for Syracuse Basketball: 3rd in scoring, 3rd in rebounds, 4th in career field goals made, 3rd in career free throws made, and 4th in three-point percentage, 4th in minutes played, and 7th in blocked shots, according to Orangehoops.org and Cuse.com.
John Wallace will be long remembered as a player who had great scoring ability but also was a tremendous teammate. The fact that he stayed four years really helps his legacy as well as cements him as one of the greatest of all-time at Syracuse University.
In a lot of ways, Sherman Douglas was the second coming of the great Pearl Washington. He was a fast, athletic guard who really knew how to pass the ball. The only reason he’s below Pearl in our rankings is because Pearl was the master who taught the apprentice everything he knew.
Douglas’s best play was the alley-oop pass to Stevie Thompson, Derrick Coleman, and Rony Seikaly. A master at sharing the ball, he remains (and will so for a long time) the leader in assists at Syracuse University.
As a freshman, Douglas didn’t get to play very much because Pearl was the starting point guard at SU. In addition, Douglas wasn’t highly recruited. In fact, Syracuse was the only Division One school that offered him a scholarship, according to Orangehoops.org. However, Douglas wanted to prove himself so he fought hard and learned a lot from Pearl in practice every day.
His hard work in practice would pay off the following year when Pearl decided to leave school early (after junior year) for the NBA. He would turn out to be a great floor general and would be a perfect replacement for Pearl at the point position.
As only a sophomore he would lead the team in scoring, and lead Syracuse to be crowned Big East Regular season champions. Douglas would also guide them to the Big East Tournament Finals but would lose to Georgetown despite a 20-point, eight assist performance.
The spectacular year would continue in the NCAA Tournament as Douglas would help the Orangemen reach the National Championship game against Indiana only to lose by Keith Smart’s incredible shot from the wing. That sophomore year he would average 17.3 points and 7.6 assists, according to Sports-reference.com.
Douglas’s leadership the year before led the Orange to be ranked #1 to start his junior year. No longer considered a hidden treasure, fans and analysts would take him seriously and he would not let them down. The team would be highly ranked all year long, and win the Big East Tournament. In addition, he averaged 16.1 points and 8.2 assists.
Unfortunately, a chance at a deep run with a great team was spoiled when Douglas became ill to start the NCAA Tournament. The Orangemen would lose against Rhode Island, but it wasn’t a wasted year for Douglas as he went into his senior year brimming with confidence.
In his last year, Douglas would average 18.2 points and 8.6 assists. His best performance would be against Providence when he would dish 22 assists. That is an NCAA single-game record (tied with two other players) that remains to this day according to NCAA Website.
Douglas would be selected to the All-Big East First team, and be named the Big East Tournament MVP despite Syracuse losing in the final. He would guide the Orange to the Elite Eight that year in his final season in Orange.
Douglas sits high on many all-time lists at SU: 6th in scoring, 1st in assists (6th all-time in NCAA history), 3rd in field goals made, 9th in free throws made, and 7th in minutes played, according to Orangehoops.org and Cuse.com. Additionally, these numbers reinforce why Syracuse retired his #20 uniform.
Douglas’s real legacy though is that he will go down as probably one of the best point guards in the history of college basketball. He was always so much better than the numbers he posted on the court. Douglas was so unselfish and did what it took to win and with a good attitude. That is what makes sports and the game of basketball so special. If we can remember him like that then we’ll remember Douglas and his career the way he’d want us to.
Lawrence Moten is known by most Syracuse Basketball fans for one thing: being SU’s all-time leading scorer with 2,334 points in his career. Moten though should be remembered for so much more than that.
Standing at 6’5, Moten could play the shooting guard or small forward position and was great at rebounding out of the 2-3 zone. He was as skilled offensively as anyone who ever played for Syracuse University, and that showed right away starting freshman year.
As a freshman, he came right in and contributed heavily averaging 18.2 points, six rebounds, two assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.4 steals a game according to Sports-reference.com. If anyone averaged those numbers today that individual would probably be a one-and-done and jump to the NBA following the season. Moten though was special and averaged those types of numbers his whole career at Syracuse which lasted all four years.
Following his freshman year, he would be named the Big East Rookie of the Year as well as to the All-Big East Third Team according to Orangehoops.org. The rest of his career he would garner First Team All-Big East honors as well as become the Big East’s All-Time Leading scorer. (He currently sits 6th all-time in Big East history, according to Sports-Reference.com.) These accomplishments put Moten in rare company as not many college athletes finish with First-team all-conference honors three times, are the school’s all-time leading scorer, and finish top ten in their conference all-time.
For his entire Syracuse Basketball career Moten would average 19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, and shoot 71% from the line. He would lead the Orangemen to three NCAA berths (including a Sweet 16), a Big East Regular Season Championship as a freshman, and a Big East Tournament Championship as a Sophomore.
Although Moten is most recognized for being Syracuse Basketball’s all-time leading scorer, he also sits highly on other all-time lists at SU. He currently sits 1st in field goals, 4th in free throws made, 6th in minutes played, 7th in three-point field goals made, 26th in assists, and 34th in rebounds, according to Orangehoops.org and Cuse.com.
As much as I’d love to crown Lawrence Moten as the best Syracuse Basketball player of all-time because of his amazing scoring ability and consistency across his SU career, I can’t do so because there were four other athletes whose all-around resumes were just that much better. Moten’s legacy though is secure in that he is probably the best scoring threat Syracuse has ever had, and that’s saying quite a bit.
Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington is one of college basketball’s all-time great players. The fact that he sits third on our list goes to show how deep and talented a pool of players Syracuse basketball has had in its history.
In my opinion, it is Pearl who is responsible for making Syracuse Basketball the perennial powerhouse it is today. Boeheim may have been the coach who led Pearl and many others since he was named coach at Syracuse University, but it is Pearl’s success at SU which attracted other elite players to the program and made Syracuse Basketball what it is today.
Coming out of high school, Pearl was a highly recruited player and did not disappoint in his first season. He was known for being an excellent ball-handler, even though his speed was less than ideal. In his freshman year, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 steals, according to Sport-reference.com.
On the way to earning Big East Rookie of the Year honors, Pearl led Syracuse to the Big East Tournament finals against Georgetown. Even though the Orange lost in overtime, it only further proved how important Washington was to the team and how big a star he was becoming. In addition to leading the team to the Conference finals, he also had one of the most memorable shots in Syracuse basketball history.
On January 21st, 1984, Pearl Washington and Syracuse were facing Boston College and it had been a close game all game long. In the final second, BC hit the first free throw to tie the game. Luckily for Syracuse, the Eagles missed the second. Washington would receive the pass after Syracuse rebounded the miss. He would rush a few steps down the court before heaving a half-court shot for the win. It would go in and Syracuse would win the game. It is, to this day, one of the all-time greatest shots in Syracuse basketball history.
As a sophomore, he really showed off his signature move which was to shake and bake and drive to the basket which almost always resulted in an easy layup or score. He would once again show he was unselfish while also being a good teammate by sharing the basketball constantly. He would average 15.4 points, 6.1 assists, two steals, and 2.9 rebounds per game.
By the time his junior year came around, Pearl had become a Harlem Globetrotter-type legend in how he handled the basketball in transition. If the other team put up a full-court press, Washington would beat it every time. The way he handled the basketball was amazing and fans would turn up in droves to watch him play.
Pearl’s last season was his best season in Orange as he led Syracuse once again to the Big East Tournament finals. The Orange would once again lose, but this time to St John’s by only one point. It would be the only one-point game of Pearl’s career that Syracuse lost. Even though Syracuse lost, he would be named the Tournament’s MVP in honor of his tremendous play as well as his 20 point, 14 assist performance in the Tournament’s championship game.
Pearl would finish his Junior season averaging 17.3 points, 7.8 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.5 rebounds. He would choose to forgo his senior season though and enter the NBA Draft. Even so, he sits among the best all-time at Syracuse University. Currently, he sits 4th in assists, and 26th in points, according to Orangehoops.org.
Though Washington’s numbers aren’t greater than Sherman Douglas, Pearl set the stage for Douglas and many other future SU players to shine. He helped bring the national spotlight to Syracuse and helped develop Douglas into the legendary player we know he became.
In honor of his contributions to Syracuse Basketball, Pearl Washington’s uniform (31) was retired. Sadly, Pearl Washington passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer in April 2016. Syracuse University honored him in many ways throughout the 2016 season. For these reasons and many more Pearl lives on as one of the most beloved players ever in Syracuse basketball history.
Derrick Coleman was a beast for Syracuse Basketball and definitely belongs among the best SU players of All-Time. Standing at 6’10, Coleman was recruited by Syracuse Basketball legend Dave Bing to play at Syracuse University. Luckily for the Orange, he committed, and the rest is history.
“DC”, as he was affectionately called by the Orange faithful, according to Orangehoops.org, was a tremendous rebounder and inside scorer, especially when he dunked the ball. By the end of his career, he was also able to hit the three-point shot, which made him a stretch-four which the NBA didn’t have a ton of yet.
As a freshman, Coleman made an immediate impact. He received around 30 minutes a game from coach Boeheim and did not waste them. He would average 11.9 points, shoot 56% from the field, grab 8.8 rebounds, and block 1.8 shots, according to Sports-reference.com.
To start out that rookie season, Coleman and the Orangemen were not expected to do much or be major contenders. However, the team had lots of talent with the likes of Sherman Douglas, Rony Seikaly, Howard Triche, Greg Monroe, and Stevie Thompson, along with Coleman on board. As a result, the team started the season 15-0. The Orangemen would finish 31-7 overall and 12-4 in the Big East and be the Big East Regular Season Champions, according to Orangehoops.org. In addition, Coleman would garner Big East Rookie of the Year and NCAA All-Tournament Team honors for his play.
In the Big East Tournament, The Orangemen would make it to the Big East Championship game only to lose to Georgetown. Syracuse and Coleman would regroup though and run through the NCAA Tournament and make it to the Championship Game against Indiana.
With 28 seconds to go and Syracuse up 73-72, Coleman was fouled and would go to the line for and 1-and-1 with a chance to seal the game. Up to that point, Coleman had gone 2 of 3 from the line. Unfortunately, Coleman would miss the first free throw, and Indiana would rebound. As the shot clock expired on that next possession Keith Smart of Indiana would hit “the shot” which would give Indiana the national title, 74-73. That free throw would be the biggest miss of Coleman’s career and a costly one at that. Despite a disappointing ending, Coleman would finish with an incredible 19 rebounds to pair with three blocks and eight points, according to Cuse.com.
To open his sophomore season, Syracuse was ranked the Preseason #1 team. The Orangemen would go 26-9 overall and 11-5 in the Big East but fall one game short of the Big East Regular Season Championship. They would, however, win the Big East Tournament Title. The Orange would enter the NCAA tournament as a 3-seed but would lose in the second round to 11th-seeded Rhode Island, which was a tremendous upset at that time. Coleman would finish his sophomore campaign averaging 13.5 points, 11 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 2.2 assists.
As a Junior, Coleman’s numbers rose once again because he was moved to the center position to replace Rony Seikaly. At his new position, he averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 2.9 assists. He would guide the Orangemen to a 30-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
In his last season with Syracuse basketball, Coleman made sure to leave on a high note. Against CW Post, Coleman achieved a triple-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, according to Orangehoops.org. Syracuse would go 26-7 overall and win the Big East Regular Season title as well as advance to the Sweet 16. Coleman would average 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, two blocks, and 2.9 assists in that senior season. As a result, he would be named a First Team All-American as well as the Big East Player of the Year.
His stellar college career led Derrick Coleman to be selected as the 1st overall pick of the 1990 NBA Draft. To this day he is the only Syracuse player ever to be drafted first in the NBA Draft, according to Basketball.RealGM.com. Coleman finished his SU career leading the Orange to 114 wins and only 30 losses, which is a Syracuse Basketball record for an individual’s career.
Coleman also finished with multiple other achievements. He led the Orange to four NCAA appearances, one national title appearance, two Big East Regular Season Championships, one Big East Tournament Championship, and four 26+ win seasons. In addition, he garnered First Team Big East honors his sophomore, junior, and senior season, as well as Third Team Big East Honors as a freshman.
Coleman would go onto to have a great NBA career, playing 15 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia ’76ers, Charlotte Hornets, and Detroit Pistons. He would average 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, according to Basketball-reference.com.
In addition to an outstanding four-year career with Syracuse Basketball, Coleman sits highly on multiple all-time lists at SU: 2nd in scoring, 1st in rebounds (1,537), 3rd in blocks, 1st in free throws made, 6th in field goals made, 5th in field goal percentage, 2nd in minutes played, and 21st in assists, according to Orangehoops.org and Cuse.com.
He also is among the greatest of all-time in college basketball: 22nd in career rebounds (but 3rd in career rebounds post-1973), and 3rd in career double-doubles, according to the NCAA’s website. Additionally, his #44 uniform was retired, making him one of twelve players in Syracuse Basketball history to receive that honor.
Coleman is considered by many to be right up there next to the All-Time greats in college basketball which is why he sits in our Top 3. Any player who can average a double-double for his college career as well as lead a team to multiple conference championships deserves to be recognized for those achievements.
Coleman is an icon in Syracuse and will be for a long time. Many Syracuse Basketball fans consider him the best big man the Orangemen have ever had and might ever have again. If that’s not an outstanding legacy, I don’t know what it is. fact is: Derrick Coleman was a superstar while playing for Syracuse University, and as such he will never be forgotten.
Carmelo Anthony may be the most talented, most gifted, and most athletic player on this entire list. The only reason he sits one spot out from the top spot is because the player that owns that spot was one in a million and even Boeheim considers him the best player ever to play for Syracuse Basketball. To be second on this list is an honor in and of itself.
Carmelo Anthony played only one year at Syracuse and usually in our minds as we look over all these great and legendary players that would be detrimental in his ability to be high on this list. However, in that one year, he was a star like no other and led Syracuse to its one and only national championship under Boeheim in the modern era.
Melo, as he’s affectionately called by many Syracuse Basketball fans, came into SU highly touted as the next Lebron James. Considered a once in a generation type player coming in, he lived up to the hype and the expectations.
He wasn’t cocky, arrogant, or demanding, he just slipped into his role and excelled at it. Normally a player with as much talent as he had would want the ball in his hands every time down the floor, but Anthony was different. He always was mature and unselfish while on the floor. The ultimate teammate, Carmelo made those around him better and always wore a big smile on his face.
As a freshman, Anthony had one of the best seasons ever for a college freshman. In his first three games, he scored more than 27 points a game, according to Orangehoops.org. and showed that he and Syracuse were going to be a force to be reckoned with. That one season in Orange he averaged 22.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocks, and shot 70% from the free-throw line, according to Sports-reference.com.
Anthony would lead Syracuse to a 30-5 record (13-3 in the Big East), be ranked 11th in the Final AP Poll, be named the Big East Regular season Champion, and earn a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. In addition, he would put Syracuse on his back and lead them past multiple #1 seeds in Oklahoma and Texas according to Fox.Sports.com.
In the deep NCAA tournament run, Carmelo would average 20.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and scored 53 points to go with 24 rebounds in the Final Four according to CBSSports.com. In the National Title game versus #2 seed Kansas, Anthony would lead the team in scoring with 20 points on 7 for 16 shooting, to pair with 10 rebounds and seven assists. That performance along with stellar play from Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara led Syracuse to win the National title.
After the season, Anthony was named Big East Rookie of the Year, USBWA Freshman of the Year, and NCAA Tournament MVP. In addition, he was named to the First Team All-Big East, NCAA All-Tournament Team, and Second Team All-American. He would declare for the NBA Draft following the season and was selected 3rd overall by the Denver Nuggets.
Since then, Anthony has constantly returned to Syracuse to help the community and the University. His most notable contribution was his $3 million donation to help create the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center which Syracuse Basketball uses to practice. It is a state of the art facility for multiple aspects of training and preparation for games among other things.
Among other achievements, he has served on four medal-winning teams in the Olympic games; three gold and one bronze. After the Rio Olympics in 2016, Carmelo Anthony retired from International basketball as the sole owner of multiple USA Basketball records: most points, rebounds, wins, games, and medals. Though he has never been to the NBA Finals, he has been to the Playoffs 10 times in 14 seasons, and he has averaged 24.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on the way to 10 NBA All-Star appearances, according to LandofBasketball.com.
Though his professional and international career has been fantastic, Carmelo Anthony’s true legacy lies in his accomplishments at Syracuse. Not many players have had, or ever will have, a season quite like the one season Carmelo had while playing for the Orangemen. It’s one thing to be a star athlete and a good teammate, but its another to be talented enough to put the team on your back and bring them a national championship.
To this day, Anthony is considered one of the most memorable college players ever in its rich history. Even the number one player on our list can’t boast that. That’s why it makes sense that only years after he played ball with the Orangemen that his #15 uniform was retired. It’s for that reason and many more that Carmelo Anthony is considered by many to be one of the top two players to ever play for Syracuse Basketball.
Surprise, Surprise! Dave Bing sits first overall on our Top 30 Syracuse Basketball Players of All- Time list. Though not everyone who follows Syracuse Basketball knows his name, we’ll give you multiple reasons why you should.
First off, Jim Boeheim, who has coached the Orange for 40+ years, had this to say about Dave Bing in Mike Water’s book, “Legends of Syracuse Basketball (2004)“:
"“He was one of the NBA’s top 50 players, but he’s done even more in the business world and for his community in Detroit. He’s the gold standard as far as any athlete I’ve ever known in terms of athlete, role model, businessman, community leader. He started the whole thing. There’s no better college player. He took Syracuse from the worst program in the country to one of the top 10 programs in the country.”"
Pearl Washington, another Top Five player on this list, may have been the one who drew people to watch Syracuse Basketball, but Dave Bing was the one who turned the Orangemen from cellar dwellers to a national powerhouse. Don’t take my word for it though, let’s look at the numbers.
Coming out of high school, Bing was considered a highly touted prospect from Washington D.C. Standing at only 6’3, he was a tremendous scorer both off the drive and with his pull-up shot. In addition, he was an excellent rebounder for his height, mostly because he could jump higher than most guards his size.
Bing had his pick of the best schools, and even John’s Wooden’s UCLA was an option. Bing though felt he could make a bigger impact though if he went to a lesser-known school (which Syracuse was at that time). In addition, Ernie Davis, who would be a future Syracuse Football legend, urged him to come to SU, and that was the clincher.
As a freshman, his team was separate from the varsity team because that’s how it was at that time. If he had played on varsity he would have easily been its best player, as the team went 8-13 that year. On that freshman team, he averaged 25.7 points and 11.3 rebounds, according to Orangehoops.org.
As a sophomore, his first on varsity, he would excel immediately and earn the green light to score early and often from Head Coach Fred Lewis. That team would improve to 17-8 and make the NIT Tournament at the end of the season. He would average 22.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and probably about six assists a game (if assists were accounted for), according to Sports-reference.com.
His junior year, the team struggled mightily, going 13-10 and missed the postseason. Bing though had an excellent season averaging 23.2 points, and 12 rebounds, and probably around six assists a game once again.
His senior year was his best though. Bing would lead the team to become the nation’s best scoring team, a 22-6 record, and a run to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. As for Bing himself, he scored 28.4 points per game to pair with 10.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists. Bing’s 28.4 points per game still stand as the highest single-season scoring average for any Syracuse basketball player, according to SUAthletics.com. As a result of these accomplishments, he was named a First Team All-American at the end of the season and was drafted second overall in the NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons.
In addition, Bing led the Orangemen in scoring for three straight years after he joined varsity. He also set the SU all-time scoring record as well which held for almost two decades when Sherman Douglas finally broke it. Although that record was broken, Bing still holds the record for most points per game for an SU career at 24.8.
Though those are the only records Bing broke during his career, he still sits highly on multiple SU all-time lists. He currently sits 9th in scoring, 9th in field goals made, 18th in rebounding, and 5th in free throws made, according to Orangehoops.org and Cuse.com.
After his time with Syracuse Basketball, he would go to have an excellent NBA career spanning 12 years with the Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, and Boston Celtics. He is to this day the only Syracuse Basketball player post-1925 (Vic Hanson) to be selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, according to the Basketball Hall of Fame website. Bing became the first player at Syracuse University to have his (#22) uniform retired.
The fact that Dave Bing averaged a double-double of 25 points a game and over 10 rebounds a game for his career, and probably about six assists a game tells just part of the story of a truly incredible player. Off the court and on, Dave Bing was a professional and a great teammate.
At Syracuse, he was a mentor, a leader, a scorer, a fan favorite, and a game-changer. He became a legend and the All-Time Greatest Player to play for Syracuse basketball by just being himself. Most of all, if Jim Boeheim, the ultimate Orangeman of all-time, says Dave Bing is the best Syracuse Player ever, then it must be true. Dave Bing was one of a kind and way ahead of his time, and for that reason, he sits on top of our list of the Top 50 Syracuse Basketball Players of All-Time.