Syracuse Basketball: New 4-star commit Lucas Taylor expects 'a whole lot of winning'

Like many other recent Syracuse basketball commits at the high school level and via the transfer portal, new 'Cuse pledge Lucas Taylor seems to be laser-focused on winning a ton of games and helping get the Orange back to the NCAA Tournament following a three-year absence.

Earlier this week, Taylor, a Georgia State junior guard, said that he would transfer to the 'Cuse for his final season of collegiate eligibility amid taking a visit to the Hill.

Taylor, rated a four-star transfer by 247Sports, provides additional depth for the Orange in its backcourt ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Based on some media reports I've come across, it appears that he's a versatile player who can suit up at both guard spots, and also potentially out on the wing as a small forward, given his strong 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame.

In the wake of Taylor committing to Syracuse basketball, he discussed in several interviews why he picked the 'Cuse, and also what his goals are for the upcoming term.

Syracuse basketball bolstered its backcourt with the addition of Lucas Taylor.

In an interview with Jeff Bendel, the director of player analysis at Phenom Hoops, Lucas says that he decided on the Orange because it gives him a chance to "compete at the highest level" during his senior year.

In this interview, Lucas noted that three members of the Syracuse basketball staff were heavily involved in his recruiting process: head coach Adrian Autry, assistant coach Brenden Straughn and new assistant coach Dan Engelstad.

In a piece by 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham, Lucas said he will don a 'Cuse uniform in 2024-25, because "I wanted to compete on a national level and I built a great connection with Coach Red and the whole staff."

Mike Waters, the Hall of Fame reporter with Syracuse.com, had a subscriber-exclusive story on Lucas, so I'm going to of course respect Mike's work. But one publicly available quote from Lucas stated that the Orange "had everything I was looking for."

When asked by Bendel what his expectations are for his senior season on the Hill, Lucas said, "Definitely to make a tournament run. A whole lot of winning." Yes, please.

Taylor, who is from Raleigh, N.C., began his college career at Atlantic Coast Conference school Wake Forest. As a junior in 2023-24 for Sun Belt Conference member Georgia State, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per affair while connecting on 40.7 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Bendel added this on Taylor: "In addition to his six 20-point performances, he also ranked within the top ten of seven different statistical categories across the Sun Belt. Between his scoring ability and the fact that Syracuse lost multiple key pieces, it should be a seamless fit."

To that end, when asked by Phenom Hoops what he foresees his role with Syracuse basketball as a senior, Taylor noted that the team's 2024-25 roster is filled with talent, so he's ready to be a playmaker for others, "or a guy who can score."