Syracuse basketball NBA Draft pipeline is back on track after brief hiatus

Other current and future Syracuse basketball players will follow Elijah Hughes to the NBA in the near term.

There is a contingent of Syracuse basketball fans who are frustrated by the team’s recent recruiting efforts, performance on the court and track record in the professional ranks.

Without question, some validity exists in all of these themes, however, I also believe that the Orange is faring better in the NBA Draft than for which some people give the ‘Cuse credit.

From 2007 to 2017, Syracuse basketball had a player taken in the NBA Draft in 10 out of 11 years, which is tremendous. And, during that stretch of time, 10 Orange guys heard their names called in the first round of the NBA Draft, per basketball.realgm.com.

Since 2010, the ‘Cuse rates in the top-10 nationally as far as NBA Draft selections by collegiate squads are concerned.

But, as you’ll hear some Orange fans point out, no Syracuse basketball player got picked in the NBA Draft in 2018 or 2019, and apparently that meant the sky was falling.

However, all is now right again. Former ‘Cuse star Elijah Hughes, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring during his redshirt-junior campaign in 2019-20, broke that mini-slump for the Orange, as Hughes got chosen No. 39 overall, or No. 9 in the second round, on Wednesday night at the 2020 NBA Draft.

The New Orleans Pelicans officially selected Hughes, but the Utah Jazz acquired the draft rights to him “in exchange for cash considerations and a future second round pick,” according to an announcement from Utah.

After two years outside of the NBA Draft, Syracuse basketball is back in business.

Hughes, in my estimation, is just the tip of the iceberg as it relates to Orange players potentially making it to the NBA over the next few years.

We’ll have to see how things play out in the upcoming campaign and beyond, but there’s certainly the possibility that guys such as sophomore forward Quincy Guerrier, junior small forward Alan Griffin, freshman combo guard Kadary Richmond and freshman center Frank Anselem could get chosen in future NBA Drafts.

Others on the present roster may end up with pro potential as well. And let’s not forget about 2021 small forward Benny Williams, a five-star prospect and top-25 player in his class per Rivals.com.

Williams could absolutely find his way to the NBA, and Syracuse basketball may prove in store to land several elite 2022 targets who themselves likely will continue the success that the ‘Cuse has possessed on draft night in recent seasons.