For Syracuse basketball, 'going to be really big year,' says 4-star big Eddie Lampkin

Eddie Lampkin Jr., a four-star transfer center who will spend his final season of college on the Hill, has big expectations for himself and Syracuse basketball during the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Lampkin, a senior from Colorado, recently shared some insights in a great podcast interview with the X account No Destination.

Lampkin, in the 2023-24 season, averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game at Colorado, and he played in this past spring's NCAA Tournament.

Given all the comings and goings for the Orange this off-season via the transfer portal, Lampkin is the presumed starting center for the 'Cuse at the onset of the next term. In national transfer rankings, multiple recruiting services have him as four stars, in the top 200 overall, and in the top 20 at center.

Eddie Lampkin dishes on what Syracuse basketball fans can expect from him this coming season.

Lampkin recently moved in at Syracuse University, and he says he's "grinding right now," hitting the gym every day, two times a day.

A big reason why he picked the Orange: "knowing I can be comfortable, be myself" around the 'Cuse coaching staff and other Syracuse basketball players.

He continues to work on his shooting, especially from beyond the arc, among other things, this summer and heading into the upcoming 2024-25 campaign. Lampkin says he looks forward to doing things that people don't necessarily expect him to do.

His goal, understandably, is to get to the NBA. Lampkin says he's excited to play with everyone on the Orange's 2024-25 roster. When he visited the SU campus earlier this spring before committing to the 'Cuse, his host player was sophomore small forward Chris Bell.

Bell, in 2023-24, was one of the top 3-point shooters in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Lampkin says watch out for his two-way game with Bell. "If we're on the same side" of the court, "he's gonna get the ball."

Interestingly enough, Lampkin says he's a pass-first big man who has scoring prowess but doesn't have to score a ton to make an impact for his team. "I'm the best passer in the country; I'm gonna kill you one-on-one every time."

He says to get to the NBA, he has to be laser-focused on setting up his teammates and averaging five to six assists per game, rebounding well, and playing defense at a high level.

In the Big Dance, Lampkin wants to go on a deep run this coming season. He's played in the round of 32, and now he wants to advance to the Sweet 16 and even further than that come next spring.

A "main thing for me, just being a leader," he says, adding, "Just know it's going to be a really big year."