Reactions and grades from Syracuse basketball mock draft

Five Syracuse celebrity alumni competed in an Orange themed mock draft. Here’s a look at which Syracuse basketball stars they chose, and some reactions.

Coach Jim Boeheim has had a storied history as head coach of Syracuse basketball. His significance to the Orange has been documented by five final fours and one national championship, as well as many other accomplishments. Is 44 seasons at the helm of the ‘Cuse also holds some significance in it’s own. That number resonates with Syracuse Athletics more than any other digit, as the Orange football team has had numerous pro football and Hall of Fame running backs don it.

So it perfect quarantine media style – where any idea is a good one – our friends at Syracuse.com decided to run with it. They came up with a Syracuse basketball mock draft that featured three former Syracuse basketball greats (Brittney Sykes, Dave Bing, and Eric Devendorf), and fittingly, Syracuse broadcasting alumni (Beth Mowins and Sean McDonough). The event was hosted by Syracuse.com’s very own Mike Waters.

The ground-rules consisted of a snake style draft, where the order reverses each round to create balance. Each Orange celeb was tasked with filling a roster of two guards, two forwards, a center, and a sixth-man. At the end of the draft – and quite often in the midst of it as well – competition ensued between the self-proclaimed GMs, with a poll created for Syracuse basketball fans to pick who they believed to have drafted the best team.

Syracuse.com gave more on the order of the draft and exact picks, but the teams built are as follows. For an extra measure, I gave each team a grade:

• BING (A-): 
  • PG: Jonny Flynn
  • SG: Dion Waiters
  • SF: Wes Johnson
  • PF: Derrick Coleman
  • C: Etan Thomas
  • 6: Preston Shumpert
• DEVENDORF (A):
  • PG: Pearl Washington
  • SG: Andy Rautins
  • SF: Demetris Nichols
  • PF: John Wallace
  • C: Fab Melo
  • 6: Tyus Battle
• MCDONOUGH (B+):
  • PG: Sherman Douglas
  • SG: Lawrence Moten
  • SF: Billy Owens
  • PF: Hakim Warrick
  • C: Roosevelt Bouie
  • 6: Leo Rautins
• MOWINS (B+):
  • PG: Jason Hart
  • SG: Gerry McNamara
  • SF: Carmelo Anthony
  • PF: Stephen Thompson
  • C: Rony Seikaly
  • 6: Dave Johnson
• SYKES (B):
  • PG: Tyler Ennis
  • SG: Eric Devendorf
  • SF: Jerami Grant
  • PF: Tyler Lydon
  • C: Rakeem Christmas
  • 6: Michael Carter-Williams

For all intensive purposes, it was clear that each celebrity drafter had their own ideas for choosing their rosters. Sykes, a Syracuse women’s guard who played from the 2012-13 season to 2016-17, decided to go with players who, with the exception of Devendorf, all wore Orange while she was on campus.

McDonough on the other hand, a 1984 Syracuse University graduate, picked a more historical roster. Five of his six selections all played collegiate ball before the 2000s.

As with any historical basketball argument, it’s tough to really compare teams and come to a correct conclusion. From one standpoint, Sykes’ team has the length and quickness to compete with anyone, given how recent of players they are. However, when you look at Bing’s team, you can’t do anything but wonder how amazing the Flynn to Coleman connection might have been.

Taking all of this with a grain of salt, I personally would side with Devendorf’s club. To me, the guard combo of Pearl and the younger Rautins has speed, shooting, and toughness. At forward, Nichols provides another excellent threat from deep, while Wallace gives Pearl an excellent big man to feed down low. With Fab Melo at the five position, his length and shot blocking ability could have altered any shot thrown his way. Finally, Battle seems like a solid sixth man, given his knack to create and make big shots and ability to play positions one through three on the court.

However, taking it a step further, I decided to create my own team, choosing one player from each round that they were selected in during the Syracuse.com mock draft. Here’s how my team looked:

• MLODZINSKI:
  • PG: Jonny Flynn
  • SG: Tyus Battle
  • SF: Carmelo Anthony
  • PF: Hakim Warrick
  • C: Rony Seikaly
  • 6: Demetris Nichols

Make sure to let us know who YOU thought had the best mock draft of Syracuse basketball legends and even reply with your own on our Twitter and Facebook feeds!