Elijah Hughes had a Syracuse basketball career for the ages

Syracuse basketball star Elijah Hughes will not return to the Hill for his final year of eligibility, and that’s the smart move for him.

Syracuse basketball redshirt junior forward Elijah Hughes is officially done competing in Central New York.

The 6-foot-6 Hughes, who a month ago announced that he would test the NBA Draft waters but left open the possibility to come back for his last term with the Orange, told analyst Jeff Goodman that he will remain in the draft and not return to the ‘Cuse.

Once Goodman revealed this development via Twitter, Hughes responded with his own tweet, saying, “thank you orange nation from the bottom of my heart.”

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has halted individual team workouts and likely the NBA Draft Combine as well, a sliver of hope emerged among Syracuse fanatics that Hughes might entertain one additional stanza with the squad.

However, it’s hard to imagine what this fine young man, who is 22 years old, could have achieved for the ‘Cuse next season that he hasn’t already accomplished.

During 2019-20, even as the Orange struggled to an 18-14 overall record, Hughes led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring, at 19.0 points per contest, to go along with 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while averaging 36.7 minutes a game, good for No. 2 in the league.

Hughes appropriately received a multitude of accolades for putting forth one of the finest performances in recent Syracuse hoops memory. Among these honors are an All-ACC first-crew selection, as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I Player of the Year award.

A transfer from East Carolina, Hughes accumulated 1,075 points in his two campaigns with the ‘Cuse, according to orangehoops.org. Of the guys who suited up for Syracuse for two or fewer seasons, only former ‘Cuse sensation Jonny Flynn scored more points than Hughes.

Whether emphatic dunks, ridiculously deep 3-pointers, a nearly full-court shot at No. 1 Duke, quiet leadership and a completely modest attitude, Hughes registered a tremendous Orange tenure.

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In short, he’s got nothing left to prove on the Hill. Hughes is projected by numerous NBA Draft experts as a second-round pick, but, given these uncertain times, maybe he can slide into the first round.

Regardless of where he ends up, Hughes is doing the sensible thing to stay in the draft. He’s possessed a remarkable Syracuse career. And for that, ‘Cuse Nation owes Elijah a huge amount of gratitude.