Syracuse Basketball: Top 3 scorers in Jim Boeheim-era history

3. John Wallace, 1992-1996.

Wallace, a 6-8 power forward from Rochester, N.Y., in his first three years at Syracuse basketball was a steady, dependable starter, skilled at scoring, rebounding and free-throw shooting. He averaged 11.1, 15 and 16.8 points per game in those first three seasons.

Then as a senior in 1996, he became a legend.

He lead an Orange team with low expectations all the way to the NCAA championship game, and in the process scored a record 845 points (still the most ever for a Syracuse player in a single season). Wallace averaged 22.2 points per game that year.

In his previous three years, he was a total of 4-for-17 from 3-point range, but as an unleashed senior he was 37-88 (42.1%).

Wallace scored 29 points in the 1996 NCAA championship game vs. a loaded Kentucky squad, and he probably would have figured out a way to beat the Wildcats if he hadn’t fouled out with 2 minutes left.

Wallace, who was eventually drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks and played 7 years in the NBA, finished his Syracuse career with 2,119 points (3rd all-time), averaging 16.7 ppg.

Wallace, who wore No. 44, made many big shots in his career, none more memorable than his long-range jumper with 3 seconds left to beat Georgia in the NCAA Elite Eight game.

You can still hear him lead his Final-Four bound team in the chant after the game:

“‘Cuse is in the house, Oh my God, Oh my God! The ‘Cuse is in the house, Oh my God!”

There are many others of note, but the closest to making this list:

– Derrick Coleman (1986-90), is second all-time in Syracuse basketball points scored with 2,143 (15 ppg).

– Sherman Douglas (1985-89) was the first of Boeheim’s players to pass Bing in scoring with 2,060 (most scored his last three years when he averaged 17 ppg for those three seasons). The General is now 6th all-time.

Other players besides Moten, Owens and Wallace who scored more than 19 points per game for a season under Boeheim:

– Dave Johnson (19.8 ppg in 1991-92);

– Preston Shumpert twice (19.5 ppg in 2000-01, 20.7 in 2001-02);

– Carmelo Anthony (22.2 ppg in 2002-03);

– Hakim Warrick twice (19.8 ppg in 2003-04, 21.4 in 2004-05);

– Tyus Battle (19.2 ppg in 2017-18);

– Elijah Hughes (19 ppg in 2019-20).

And these players scored 40 points or more in a game under Boeheim, a rare feat:

– Gene Waldron, 40, 1983 vs. Iona.

– Gerry McNamara, 43, 2004 vs. Brigham Young in the NCAA tournament.

– John Gillon, 43, 2017 vs. North Carolina State.

– Andrew White, 40, 2017 vs. Georgia Tech.

Next time, Part 7: Top 3 Dunkers of the Boeheim era.