Syracuse basketball coaches landed a verbal commitment on Wednesday from a talented 2025 combo guard who holds a lot of future promise at the collegiate level, according to national analysts and scouts.
Luke Fennell, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound point guard/shooting guard from Melbourne, Australia, verbally pledged to the Orange over scholarship offers from several other college squads, per articles from top On3 national reporter Joe Tipton and others.
NEWS: Syracuse has landed a commitment from 2025 Luke Fennell, a 6-foot-5 Point Guard out of the NBL, source told @On3Recruits.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) October 23, 2024
The Australian chose the Orange over programs like Louisville, Florida, Cal, and St. Bonaventure. https://t.co/DnAOduLhPC pic.twitter.com/dsRBopwOyf
According to Tipton and top 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister, Fennell picked the 'Cuse over programs such as California, Florida, Louisville and St. Bonaventure, among others. First and foremost, a huge congrats and welcome from Orange Nation to Luke!
In the Syracuse basketball 2025 cycle, Fennell joins five-star forward and top-15 national prospect Sadiq White Jr. from Charlotte, N.C., as well as three-star wing and top-300 overall player Aaron Womack from the Milwaukee area.
What is Syracuse basketball getting in new 2025 commit Luke Fennell?
For the 2024-25 season, Fennell is suiting up for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, which is a member of the National Basketball League ("NBL"), a professional league with teams in Australia and New Zealand.
When Fennell signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix this past May, the team's general manager of basketball operations, Simon Mitchell, said: "It’s great to have Luke officially join us at the Phoenix. We know a number of teams were after his services and it's great that one of Australia’s brightest talents has chosen to stay in the Heartland. Luke gets to stay in the South East of Melbourne and develop within the world class facilities we now have at the State Basketball Centre. Additionally, Luke will bring a great amount of skill and energy to our squad and we look forward to having him as part of our program."
Luke Fennell - a 6’5 guard out of the NBA Global Academy - has signed a one-year development player deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, sources told ESPN. Fennell is one of Australia’s best 2006-born prospects.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) May 3, 2024
Previously, Fennell was a part of the NBA Global Academy, a training center located at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia.
Travis Branham, a top national analyst with 247Sports, wrote in an evaluation of Fennell: "He is a big guard who is really skilled with a high IQ for the game. He's not the most athletic but he's a kid who knows how to get to his spots. He is a capable scorer at all three-levels and is very comfortable operating out of ball screens and has some playmaking ability. He is a high floor guy who can come and make an immediate contribution and has the potential to be a multiple year starter."
Eric Bossi, the national basketball director for 247Sports, added: "Fennell is a very solid all-around guard. He has tremendous size and can score from all three levels and is also capable of being a facilitator on offense. With his level of experience and overall skill, he should be able to step right in and provide valuable minutes as a freshman."