SEISMIC SHIFT
BASKETBALL GUIDE 2024
PAGE 11 BULLSEYE
Freshman guard Elijah Moore went viral on social media this past summer for his signature elbow celebration.
PAGE 3 FRESHMAN PHENOM
Donavan Freeman is primed for a stellar freshman season following his summer with the Bahamas National Team.
PAGE 7 WOOLLEY’S TEAM
Following star guard Dyaisha Fair’s graduation, Georgia Woolley is set to take over as Syracuse’s No. 1 scoring option.
Editor@dailyorange.com
News@dailyorange.com
Opinion@dailyorange.com
Culture@dailyorange.com
Sports@dailyorange.com
Digital@dailyorange.com
Design@dailyorange.com
Photo@dailyorange.com
BUSINESS
The Daily Orange is an independent, nonprofit newspaper published in Syracuse, New York. The editorial content of the paper — which started in 1903 and went independent in 1971 — is entirely run by Syracuse University students.
The D.O., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is editorially and financially independentfromSU,andthepaperreceivesnofundingfromthe university. Instead, The D.O. relies on advertising revenue and donations to sustain operations.
This fall, the paper will be published Thursday when SU classes are in session. The D.O.’s online coverage is 24/7, including while SU is on break.
To show your support to The D.O.’s independent journalism, please visit dailyorange.com/donate. Donations are tax deductible.
DEAR READERS,
Following its first season under Adrian Autry, Syracuse’s roster underwent many changes. Autry looks to build a team that can put SU in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. On the flipside, Felisha Legette-Jack led SU’s women’s program to a resurgent season in 2023-24. The Orange tied a program-record with 23 regular season wins, but now have to grapple with the loss of star point guard Dyaisha Fair.
After losing Judah Mintz, Quadir Copeland and Maliq Brown, Autry found replacements. Donavan Freeman highlights a talented freshman class. The forward spent the summer playing alongside NBA players with the Bahamas National Team. Fellow freshman Elijah Moore broke out as a viral sensation this past year with his patented elbow celebration. Colorado transfer Eddie Lampkin rounds out SU’s roster, bringing March Madness experience and a much-needed post presence.
On the women’s side, Georgia Woolley looks to replace Fair’s immense production and step in as the No. 1 option. Woolley spent the last two seasons as Syracuse’s No. 2 scorer. The Orange also brought in LSU transfer point guard Angelica Velez to bring stability to SU’s backcourt. Freshman Shy Hawkins is another key addition for Syracuse. The highly-touted recruit is coming off a dominant senior year of high school, where she won a state title.
The Daily Orange’s 2024 Basketball Guide has everything you need to know ahead of the 2024-25 season for Syracuse men’s and women’s basketball.
Thanks for reading,
BAHAMAS’ PROMISE
Five-star recruit Donavan Freeman spent the summer competing against NBA players with the Bahamas National Team
By Zak Wolf SPORTS EDITOR
Donavan Freeman was first introduced to the idea of playing for the Bahamas National Team in April at the McDonald’s AllAmerican game. VJ Edgecombe, a Baylor commit and five-star recruit, was already set to attend a four-day training camp held in Houston in June.
The Bahamas was looking to compile its best-ever roster ahead of its final qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Valencia, Spain. Edgecombe didn’t want Freeman to miss out on the opportunity.
Freeman listened intently to the pitch. That same week, Bahamas general manager Lynden Rose spoke with Freeman’s agent, Keith Stevens, and his father, Dedglan Freeman, about the endeavor. Initially, Freeman was intrigued, yet remained hesitant. He would have to miss the first portion of summer practices at Syracuse.
Two weeks before the training camp started, Rose along with Bahamas head coach and current Golden State Warriors assistant, Chris DeMarco, followed up about Freeman’s availability. Freeman continued to push it aside.
Four days before the camp started, Stevens asked Freeman one final time if he wanted to go to Houston. This time, Freeman agreed.
“I couldn’t turn down an experience like that,” Freeman said.
Ahead of his much-anticipated freshman season at Syracuse, Freeman spent two weeks in the summer trying to help the Bahamas qualify for the Olympics. Behind NBA players like Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield, Freeman’s role was limited and the Bahamas fell one game short of its goal.
Still, the experience was invaluable as Freeman gathered every bit of information he learned and took it back to SU. Now, Freeman — the No. 15 recruit in the 2024 class, SU’s highest since Carmelo Anthony — looks to use that knowledge as a springboard to a successful freshman campaign.
Freeman’s Bahamian roots run deep. His mother, Darshelle Freeman, grew up in the Bahamas before attending Saint Augustine University in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, she met Dedglan and the two moved back to the Bahamas. When Freeman was 4, they decided to start a new life in the United States, moving to Waldorf, Maryland.
Basketball wasn’t in the picture for Freeman until he was in third grade. He started learning the ins and outs while playing at the Temple Hills Community Center. As a lanky and uncoordinated kid, Freeman initially struggled.
“We used to keep tabs of how many times he would fall when he first started playing basketball,” Dedglan said.
Over time, Freeman grew more comfortable. He started playing AAU for New World in middle school and was selected to play for the Premier Youth Basketball League — a showcase league in the DMV area. There, Freeman was discovered by Team Takeover, a national AAU powerhouse.
Freeman went from a more back-to-the-basket center to a dynamic wing player who could put the ball on the floor and shoot. The skillset, combined with his 6-foot-9 frame, garnered attention from Power Four schools around the country. Syracuse was among the first to offer Freeman in 2021, along with Maryland, Georgetown and Virginia Tech. Unbeknown to Freeman, it wasn’t just colleges keeping tabs on him.
Mychel Thompson first heard about Freeman in 2022. Thompson, the brother of four-time NBA Champion Klay Thompson, had become an assistant coach with the Bahamas National Team, tasked to scout young Bahamian players around the U.S.
Paolo Zamorano, an NBA agent, contacted Thompson to let him know Freeman — then a sophomore in high school — was possibly Bahamian. Thompson and others involved in Bahamas basketball attempted to contact Freeman but never got through.
Since Freeman was just 16 at the time, he wasn’t a top priority. Though, Thompson still monitored Freeman. He watched him commit to Syracuse in May 2023 and blossom from a top-60 prospect into a consensus five-star recruit and potential NBA lottery pick.
With Freeman transferring to IMG Academy for his senior season and dominating in the Nike EYBL Scholastic, Thompson and others ramped up their interest. The week of the McDonald’s All-American Game, representatives from the Bahamas National Team aggressively pushed for Freeman to join them.
Edgecombe, who played for Long Island Lutheran and competed against Freeman in the Nike EYBL, continuously nudged him. Eventually, things fell into place and Freeman came aboard.
“There’s not that many talents in the world like that at that age so I was excited to see that potential in person,” Thompson said.
“We don’t have anyone like that. Most teams probably don’t,” DeMarco added.
Twenty-four players arrived at the University of Houston’s campus to compete for 12 spots. Freeman took things slow, not wanting to look too far ahead. Due to the camp’s limited time, DeMarco said there wasn’t much time on the court for individual development. The main focus was implementing consistent philosophies for players who never played with each other.
As a result, Freeman went out of his way to pick the brains of the professional players and coaches there. Lourawls ‘Tum-Tum’ Nairn Jr., a veteran on the team and the associate head coach at Bowling Green, took him under his wing as the starting point guard.
Most notably, he immediately built a rapport with Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and current Portland Trail Blazers center. They discussed the mindset required to play professionally and strategies for the best ways to stay in shape. Freeman took Ayton’s advice to heart.
“Picking up things from a guy like that, you can’t really put a price tag on it,” Freeman said. “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Freeman did his best to impress across the four days of camp. Thompson said Freeman started slightly timid, but gained confidence each practice. He impressed the coaching staff with his shot-making and defensive tenacity. Thompson said Freeman was never afraid to guard the ball and take the challenge of being a defensive stopper.
Five days after arriving in Houston, Freeman was on a plane to Greece for the Bahamas’ tuneup games.
Freeman was always the focal point wherever he played. Despite being the youngest player on the team, he expected to have a large role. Freeman saw minutes in friendlies against Montenegro and Greece, matching up with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
When it came to the Bahamas’ qualifiers, Freeman was a benchwarmer. During two group stage games, he played just five minutes, all of which came in the opening game against Finland. Freeman was blunt when discussing the lack of minutes, saying he was hard on himself. Ayton told Freeman to take things one day at a time and stay engaged.
“As a player, you put so much into the game and on a stage like that, you want to be able to play,” Freeman said. “But everything just is not going to happen like that.”
The staff also worked with Freeman to better his shot selection. At times, he’d take contested mid-range jumpers, but the coaches emphasized pulling the trigger from long range instead.
“He had his moments … I remember the staff talking about how, literally, we saw him get better every day,” Thompson said.
Freeman’s hard work didn’t result in minutes, however. He didn’t play in the Bahamas’ semifinal win over Lebanon. And all Freeman could do was watch from the bench when the Bahamas fell to Spain on July 7, ending its Paris dreams.
With heartbreak, he didn’t have too much time to sulk. After losing on Sunday, Freeman was back on SU’s campus by Tuesday. Due to FIBA’s slower pace, it took Freeman a couple of weeks to get adjusted to the speed. Physically, though, Freeman fit right in after playing against professionals.
Since getting to campus, Freeman has lived in the weight room with SU strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles. Freeman arrived on campus at 190 pounds. He now weighs 207.
It’s all part of the process for Freeman. This summer set the foundation for him. He got a taste of what it’s like to be a professional. Yet, he remains level-headed about his future. As for being one and done at SU, Freeman put it off.
“The NBA isn’t going anywhere,” Freeman said. “It’ll always be there. So (I’m) just prioritizing my improvement and my development, making that the focal point of everything.”
Freeman applied the same live-in-themoment attitude to his future with the Bahamas National Team. He’ll be 22 when the Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028. Ask Freeman about it. It hasn’t crossed his mind yet.
The same couldn’t be said for others. Whether it’s DeMarco, Rose or Thompson, they all share the same sentiment. Freeman will be one of the reasons the Bahamas makes the Olympics for the first time. Whether that happens in four years or further down the line remains to be seen.
“For years to come, he’s going to be a star on the Bahamian national team,” Nairn Jr. said. “We need him to help us get to where we want to go, as far as making the Olympics … his class of guys and himself are going to be able to get us over that hump.”
zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22
Syracuse enters its second season under head coach Adrian Autry following its first 20-win season since 2018-19. Autry took over for legendary coach Jim Boeheim and saw mixed success in his first season in charge. There were highlights, like SU’s upset of then-No. 7 North Carolina for its first top-10 victory since 2019. It also came with low points, including a 29-point drubbing to Wake Forest.
Ultimately, Judah Mintz and Quadir Copeland’s guard play along with Maliq Brown’s presence down low wasn’t enough for the Orange, who missed their third straight NCAA Tournament. It’s the first time SU has gone that long without a tournament appearance since the early 1970s, before Boeheim was in charge.
Despite losing Mintz, Copeland and Brown, the Orange brought back marquee names like Chris Bell and J.J. Starling. They bolstered their frontcourt with transfer additions Eddie Lampkin Jr. (Colorado) and Jyare Davis (Delaware). Autry also brought in a talented freshman duo in Elijah Moore and McDonald’s All-American Donavan Freeman, instilling a welcome new look to the program.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse men’s basketball will fare in 2024-25:
ZAK WOLF DANCING AGAIN | 22-9
MVP: J.J. STARLING | X-FACTOR: DONAVAN FREEMAN
It feels like there’s an air of uncertainty surrounding Syracuse this season. Much of that has to do with the number of new players on the roster. Though in my eyes, this will bode well for the Orange. Autry has used the transfer portal much more than Boeheim did, giving the roster more firepower.
In Autry’s first season, he was coaching with a roster Boheim built. But with most of those players gone, Autry’s coaching prowess will shine through. Syracuse’s combination of youth and experience is a strong point. The Orange can rely on veterans like Starling, Bell and Lampkin while Moore and Freeman get up to speed, two players I see playing larger roles as the year progresses.
Freeman’s talent is something to behold. As a 6-foot-9 forward who can put the ball on the floor and shoot, he presents a skillset Syracuse hasn’t seen in a long time. Benny Williams was a similar versatile forward, though Freeman is a much more polished version. Despite his talent, the Orange won’t have to rely on Freeman too much to create his own offense. Without Mintz and Copeland, Starling will become the focal point of the offense and continue his much-improved play during the second half of last season.
All these factors combined together are why I see Syracuse making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
AIDEN STEPANSKY BUBBLE TROUBLE | 20-11
MVP: J.J. STARLING | X-FACTOR: DONAVAN FREEMAN
Syracuse is a fairly revamped team this season. Out with the old of Mintz, Copeland and Brown, I like the upgrades Autry made. Bringing in experienced talent like Jaquan Carlos, Davis and Lampkin brings SU a veteran presence it lacked last season. And the additions of Freeman and Moore give Autry needed depth.
While I see Starling having an improved season and leading the team from October through February, the Orange’s fate in returning to March Madness relies heavily on the shoulders of Freeman.
As SU’s top recruit since Carmelo Anthony, Freeman has immense pressure to succeed in year one. If Freeman is really a top freshman in the nation, this team’s ceiling improves drastically. I see Freeman starting slower than expected, however, not truly finding his groove until around mid-to-late December. Though, once Freeman gets going, he will emerge as one of the top players on the Orange for the rest of the way.
Making the tournament isn’t easy. And I believe conference realignment only hurts SU’s chances with more bids likely going to the Big Ten and SEC. Syracuse will float around the .500 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play but have a worse record in nonconference play than a year ago. The Orange will again be on the bubble, and I see them falling on the outside looking in for the fourth season in a row.
JUSTIN GIRSHON NOT THERE YET | 19-12
MVP: EDDIE LAMPKIN JR. | X-FACTOR: CHRIS BELL
While Syracuse’s once highly-touted class of 2022 recruits were expected to be one of its better classes in recent memory, the group didn’t live up to expectations. Mintz, Copeland, Brown and Co. never quite gelled. Now, the Orange have a good mix of veterans and freshmen. The biggest question mark, as Aiden noted, is Freeman’s performances. Yes, he’s the program’s highest-ranked recruit since Anthony. However, he has a lot of raw skills and I’m not sure how quickly that turns into production.
In Lampkin, Davis and Carlos, Syracuse boasts a solid group, but I’m unsure if it moves the needle. Lampkin has proved he can star and shoulder the load on the biggest stages, but I’m curious how Davis and Carlos will adjust to moving to the Power Four.
The most underrated part of the roster is the players Autry retained. Starling turned a corner during ACC play last year. While he’s not the most dominating player, Naheem McLeod is much better suited to play in a reserve role, giving Syracuse size in spurts. Lastly, Bell has proved he can be one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference and his performance will be influential to unlock SU’s perimeter game.
Even with all this said, I’m not sure how much better the Orange are despite their much-needed roster turnover. Though I’m confident with where the program is heading, laying the foundation for the start of a new golden era in 2025.
CHASING
Men’s wins in the 2022-23 season
Men’s wins in the 2023-24 season
Syracuse’s men’s team returns only 24% of its scoring from last season
Syracuse’s men’s team ranked 13th in the ACC in rebounds per game last year
CHASING MARCH
Women’s wins in the 2022-23 season
In the last two years, Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack completely turned around the program. The Orange won 20 games in 2022-23, and followed that up by claiming a spot in the NCAA Tournament last season. After beating Arizona in the first round, Syracuse narrowly fell to No. 3 seed UConn.
In the offseason, though, SU took some major hits. Point guard Dyaisha Fair — the third-highest scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history — was selected in the WNBA draft.
Fellow guard Alaina Rice graduated, while Alyssa Latham and Kennedi Perkins entered the transfer portal.
Women’s wins in the 2023-24 season
Legette-Jack had her work cut out for her. She used the transfer portal to snag LSU guard Angelica Velez and Journey Thompson, a forward from Arizona State. She also boasts a freshman class of Shy Hawkins, Madeline Potts and Keira Scott. If SU wants to make another tournament run, it will need these additions to step up alongside returners Georgia Woolley, Sophie Burrows and Kyra Wood.
Here’s how our beat writers think that Syracuse women’s basketball will fare in 2024-25:
NOAH NUSSBAUM
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK | 16-13
MVP: GEORGIA WOOLLEY | X-FACTOR: ANGELICA VELEZ
Despite finishing 24-8 last season, Syracuse looks completely different this season. With Fair’s departure, Woolley appears to be next in line to lead a talented, but inexperienced squad. The Orange lost three of their top four scorers from 2023-24 in Fair, Rice and Latham, so it will be tough for them to improve on last season.
Syracuse’s women’s team returns only 48% of its scoring from last season
Legette-Jack’s offseason additions, namely Velez, Thompson and Hawkins, could potentially make that task easier. If Syracuse wants to contend again this season, it will need production from these newcomers. Woolley, Burrows and Wood can’t carry the team on
However, at this point, it’s tough to see what value they will bring. Velez only received 4.9 minutes per game at LSU and, while Thompson played over 20 in each contest for the Sun Devils, she averaged a lowly 5.5 points.
SU has potential for a strong squad, but I still see the Orange finishing slightly above .500 and in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Along with Syracuse’s new roster, a tough schedule featuring 11 NCAA Tournament teams from 2024, including Notre Dame and NC State, will make another postseason run difficult.
SU’s women’s squad ranked 1st in the ACC in offensive rebounding last season
NICHOLAS ALUMKAL
REGRESS, NOT ELEVATE | 18-11
GEORGIA WOOLLEY | X-FACTOR: SOPHIE BURROWS
At the ACC Tipoff on Oct. 8, the stated goal for Syracuse this season was to “elevate” — reach a level higher than it did last season. The expressed objective was to get to the Sweet 16, one round deeper than it reached last season. That is going to be a challenge for SU. Not only are the Orange in the ACC, which has six ranked teams, but on paper, SU’s quality has regressed.
The loss of Fair, who averaged 22.3 points while making 37.7% of her shots from beyond the arc last season, is a major blow for the offense. Latham, who led the team in rebounds as a freshman with seven per game, transferring to Tennessee is another challenge for Legette-Jack’s group.
But I expect to see a more well-balanced attack from Syracuse. Woolley is ready to be the top scoring option, and she can do it on all three levels. SU’s scoring attack will be more spread out across many players. Last season, if Fair was shut down or if she had an off night, teams had a great chance to beat Syracuse.
This year, the weight of the offense is not solely on Woolley’s shoulders. Burrows is a threat from the outside while Izabel Varejão and Wood can score down low. While the offense may be more balanced, it can’t collectively make up for Fair’s exit. And for that reason, Syracuse will take a step back from its NCAA Tournament Second-Round appearance.
TIMMY WILCOX
‘BRICK -BY-BRICK’ | 17-12
MVP: GEORGIA WOOLLEY | X-FACTOR: DOMINIQUE CAMP
Syracuse’s ability to move forward without Fair will involve some heavy lifting. Legette-Jack said the Orange will take it “brick-bybrick” to replace their former star.
SU has a healthy mix of veteran and youthful options to compete in the ACC this season. The first place to look is Woolley, who averaged 13.8 points and 33.6 minutes last season, each ranking second to Fair. Wood returns after making 24 starts a year ago while finishing second on the team in field goal percentage.
The Orange suffered an exit in the ACC Quarterfinals in 202324, where they had just six scorers. This year, SU’s depth will need to step up, especially when it faces No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 11 Duke and No. 15 North Carolina. Dominique Camp can be the difference maker after missing last season with an ACL injury. She joins Syracuse’s rotation this season with three seasons of experience, including 2022-23 when she averaged 10.8 points for Akron.
Whether Syracuse wins its nonconference and road games will be pivotal. The Orange’s returners will lead it to gritty ACC wins, but the strength of the conference will refrain them from improving on last season. SU will fall just short of a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
THE BIGGEST DANCER
Eddie Lampkin Jr. is looking to lead Syracuse to its first NCAA Tournament since 2021. In his stints with TCU and Colorado, the center’s best performances came in March.
By Justin Girshon asst. sports editor
Eddie Lampkin Jr. craves the feeling of thriving during March Madness.
As a sophomore at Texas Christian University in 2022, he stood out with a 20-point, 14-rebound effort in the Horned Frogs’ narrow loss to overall No. 1 seed Arizona. Two years later, after transferring to Colorado, Lampkin averaged 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists across the Buffaloes’ three-game run.
Because of Colorado’s success in his first year with the program, Lampkin didn’t want to leave. But, with Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson departing for the National Basketball Association, the 6-foot-11, 265-pound center entered the transfer portal to better position himself for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
On April 2, he decided his quest for one last dance in March would continue at Syracuse.
“I had a goal that when I got in the portal (that) I wanted to go somewhere (where) I’ll be able to play my game and help them get to the tournament,” Lampkin said.
After registering 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in three seasons at TCU, Lampkin broke out in his lone season at Colorado, where he averaged a career-best 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. Now, the graduate student is expected to play an instrumental role in leading SU to its first NCAA Tournament since 2021.
“I expect a lot out of him,” Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry said. “I think everyone will be excited to watch him play, he competes at a high level, he competes to win.”
Syracuse significantly lacked a dominant interior presence in its first season under Autry. From 2021-23, Jesse Edwards was a powerful force in the paint for the Orange, but he transferred to West Virginia for his final year of eligibility.
Without Edwards, SU turned to 7-foot-4 Florida State transfer Naheem McLeod. Just 14 games into the season, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Without another true big on their roster, the Orange resorted to playing 6-foot-9 power forward Maliq Brown at center. Brown thrived in his role, but Syracuse was consistently killed in the post.
A day before Lampkin committed to Syracuse, Brown entered the portal, eventually committing to Duke. Though SU lost its top frontcourt player, Lampkin’s addition — and McLeod’s return — gives it a much-improved look down low.
“Having two diverse bigs is going to be a blessing for us,” McLeod said.
Once Lampkin entered the portal, SU assistant coach Allen Griffin noticed on social media the center was training in New York City with Chris Brickley. Griffin has a solid relationship with Brickley and other trainers at the gym, so the veteran coach inquired about Lampkin.
“His Colorado team was sick… he was able to adjust and adapt and make those guys better,” Griffin said. “So we know he’s gonna make our guys better and that’s the beautiful thing about Eddie.”
Beyond his bulldozing post presence, Lampkin piqued Allen’s interest because his energy never wavered. It’s always been one of his key strengths.
When Lampkin moved to the Katy, Texas, area and began attending Morton Ranch High School, head coach Khris Turner was intrigued by the tall, baby-faced student he’d never met. His height alone stood out, but once Lampkin introduced himself to Turner, the head coach was infatuated with his personality, too.
13.8
Throughout his four years at Morton Ranch, which included back-to-back district titles, Lampkin became the team’s soul. When things were going well, Turner said Lampkin was the most vocal. When things were going poorly, he was the biggest motivator. Turner praised Lampkin for being himself off the court, frequently challenging classmates to dance-offs in the hallways — a trait he later took with him to the hardwood in March.
“Eddie was always Eddie. And he was always the spark that we needed,” Turner said.
By the end of his high school career, Lampkin was 247Sports’ No. 58 prospect in the class of 2020. He committed to TCU, but it took him time to adjust to the Division-I level. When he arrived on campus in 2020, Lampkin spent nearly a month quarantining and weighed over 330 pounds. The center only appeared in 10 games throughout the season, which Turner says humbled Lampkin.
Lampkin then lost nearly 70 pounds ahead of his sophomore season, adjusting his body to become a contributor for the Horned Frogs and helping them to their first NCAA Tournament since 2018. Lampkin’s energy quickly made him a fan favorite. That same energy is what later turned him into a March Madness darling.
Playing a career-high 36 minutes in TCU’s Round of 32 bout against Arizona, Lampkin was 8-for-9 from the field tallying career-bests in points (20) and rebounds (14). Though the Horned Frogs fell in overtime, it was Lampkin’s coming out party.
Beyond building his on-court notability, Lampkin’s performance increased his star power. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported he signed NIL deals that totaled at least $100,000. Lampkin appeared to be a star in the making.
But his life changed drastically a month later. Lampkin’s older brother, Du’Vonta Lampkin, was shot and killed.
“It really helped me, he motivates me every day… You wouldn’t notice what I go through half the time, and it just shows that I’m a tough person (and) that I want to be a bigger person on myself,” Lampkin said of Du’Vonta’s passing.
In what was supposed to be a promising season for TCU, the center wasn’t himself. As he dealt with his older brother’s death, Lampkin also managed a nagging injury. Then, he was faced with the death of his aunt.
As the season progressed, Lampkin’s relationship with the Horned Frogs spiraled. Ahead of the Big 12 Tournament, he stepped away from the team. Lampkin committed to Colorado a month later, giving him a fresh start.
“We very much needed Eddie… his leadership and ability to change the energy of a program,” former Colorado guard J’Vonne Hadley said. Because of Colorado’s deep roster, as five of its players averaged 10 or more points per game, Lampkin had to learn how to make the most of his touches. Despite the Buffaloes’ litany of talent, they allowed Lampkin to be a vital part of their offense from the paint and perimeter.
“All those scouts were at the games, watching (Williams, da Silva and Simpson) play, but I’m pretty sure they have him on their list now,” said Jayson Martinez, who began training Lampkin after he transferred to Colorado.
One NBA scout who grew familiar with Lampkin’s game was Syracuse General Manager Alex Kline, who worked for the New York Knicks from 2020-24.
“All the years I scouted him in the NBA, you’re watching other guys on his team,” Kline said. “But he always stood out because he’s just an energizer bunny. He’s always on the move.”
Eddie was always Eddie. And he was always the spark that we needed.
Khris Turner
While scouts honed in on Williams, da Silva and Simpson, Lampkin’s play throughout the NCAA Tournament demanded everyone’s attention. After Colorado won its First Four game versus Boise State, it faced Florida. Just as he did at TCU two years prior, Lampkin saved his best for The Big Dance.
In Colorado’s 102-100 win over the Gators, Lampkin played arguably the most complete game of his college career. Along with his typical high-motor energy, Lampkin poured in 21 points while notching six rebounds and dishing five assists. The Boulders fell 81-77 in the Round of 32 to Marquette, but Lampkin continued his dominance, registering 13 points and seven rebounds.
“It feels good knowing that you have someone that has been in a lot of winning situations and still comes and brings energy wherever he goes,” Syracuse freshman guard Elijah Moore said. While Lampkin brings a high pedigree and much-needed experience to SU, it’ll mark the first time he’s thrust into the spotlight in his career. At both TCU and Colorado, it’s where the center had his best moments.
But now, Lampkin is primed to shoulder the biggest role of his career at Syracuse. It’s an opportunity he’s always craved, and a role he believes he’s perfectly suited for. As he enters his final collegiate season, Lampkin wants to help lead the Orange back to where they belong and where he thrives most — March.
“I just want to do whatever I (can) do to get us back on the buzz and help our team get back to the tournament,” Lampkin said.
justingirshon@gmail.com
@JustinGirshon
FLIPPING THE SWITCH
Shy Hawkins’ game reached a new level after she returned to William Floyd High School as a senior. Now, she looks to continue that dominance in her freshman year at Syracuse.
By Timmy Wilcox senior staff writer
Shy Hawkins had a slow start in her first game back at William Floyd High School (New York) on Jan. 6, 2024. After playing at powerhouses Christ the King and Long Island Lutheran from her sophomore season until halfway through her senior year, Hawkins returned to the Colonials.
Facing Walt Whitman, the 2023 Suffolk County Class AA Champions, Hawkins had seven points at halftime, with the score tied. So, her father, Patrick Hawkins, pulled her aside. He asked her why she was holding back and told her it was time to show off.
In the second half, Hawkins finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, making four threepointers in the third quarter, and led William Floyd to a 45-38 win.
“I flipped the switch,” Hawkins said. “Every time (Patrick) is telling me (advice), I just turn into a whole different player.”
Hawkins’ return home to William Floyd united her with her father, past teammates and coaches before she began her NCAA career with Syracuse. She played at William Floyd from seventh to ninth grade before her stops at Christ the King and Long Island Lutheran propelled her to become a fourstar wing prospect.
Despite success along the way, including leading Long Island Lutheran to a runner-up finish in the
2023 Geico National Basketball Championship, each school was an over-40-minute commute. To wrap up her high school career, she wanted a return home.
Hawkins kept in touch with her former teammates while away. After committing to Syracuse in October 2023, she contacted William Floyd’s coaches and decided to transfer. She went back to William Floyd, in her hometown of Mastic Beach, following winter break.
“To end off where I started at was a great feeling,” Hawkins said. “I wanted to come back and help (William Floyd) win something.”
When Hawkins was considering returning, she spoke with former teammates Jacky Sutherland and Kayla Gilmore. In eighth grade, Hawkins played with the pair on a Catholic Youth Organization team and the three played together as freshmen at William Floyd.
Hawkins brought a jolt of competitiveness to each Colonials’ practice, pushing the team to their limits, Sutherland said. She also taught her teammates lessons from previous endeavors.
“She knew what to do in (tough) situations, which was great to have that type of person on our team, because she would keep us calm, cool and collected,” Sutherland said.
Hawkins’ connection with her family grew, too. While playing a national schedule with Long Island Lutheran, there were times her relatives watched
on TV. The switch to William Floyd positioned her five minutes from home, so Patrick and her mother, Gwen Hawkins, could attend games easily.
Patrick dedicated himself to helping Hawkins in any way he could. Hawkins started playing basketball at age 12. To help propel her development, Patrick spoke to Hawkins from the stands of her high school and AAU games. At William Floyd, Hawkins benefited from his more frequent feedback.
aging 23.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.7 steals per game.
Gwen noticed that Hawkins grew more confident and carried herself with a different energy at William Floyd.
“It was like a spark ignited under her when she went back,” Gwen said.
“Being back home with a lot of the plays being ran through me, it made me be able to open my game more and show people more what I could actually do compared to what they really see,” Hawkins added.
Hawkins’ high-level play led the Colonials to their second consecutive League I title. The next step was winning the county championship. In the Suffolk AAA quarterfinals, Hawkins scored a game-high 34 points to propel William Floyd to a 74-41 win over North Babylon.
Hawkins and Patrick trained after games, working on her three-level scoring. Beyond training with her father, the closer location maximized training time with her coaches.
At 6 a.m., she drove to the gym to meet with assistant coach Rob Hodgson or head coach Rich Sinclair. Hodgson, a former player at Rutgers, helped Hawkins prepare for Syracuse by working on shooting release speed and adjusting to the NCAA’s extended 3-point arc.
During games, William Floyd often ran offensive sets through Hawkins. She dominated, aver-
Though, after winning each of the first 12 games with Hawkins, William Floyd fell 49-42 to No. 3-seed Walt Whitman in the Suffolk Class AAA semifinals to end the season. Still, Hawkins’ return helped establish the program among the best in Suffolk County.
“She was the last piece of our puzzle that we needed for our team,” Sutherland said. “She came in at the perfect timing, especially for our senior year, to win it all.”
tswilcox@syr.edu @TimmyWilcox32
SHE’S READY
Following the graduation of star point guard Dyaisha Fair, Georgia Woolley is set to take the mantle as Syracuse’s No. 1 scoring option in her third season with the Orange
Woolley scored 15+ points in 12-of-29 games in 2023-24, good for 41% of the time Woolley ranks 1st in
Georgia Woolley tried to keep her emotions in check. She sat alongside Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and star guard Dyaisha Fair after SU’s season-ending loss to No. 3 seed UConn in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
The game marked the end of Fair’s college career, in which she scored the third most points in NCAA women’s basketball history. As all three reflected on Syracuse’s best season since 201516, they each couldn’t fight back tears.
Woolley paused, composed herself and finally answered when asked about the pain of not playing with Fair anymore. “Everything,” she muttered. Up to that point, playing alongside Fair had been all Woolley knew throughout their one season at the University of Buffalo and two at SU.
As Woolley and Fair left the podium, LegetteJack stayed behind to field questions. The penultimate question asked the coach who would fill Fair’s shoes.
“(Fair) passed the torch right in front of your eyes,” Legette-Jack said. “Her name is Georgia Woolley, and she’s ready.”
After serving as Fair’s co-star over the last three seasons, averaging 13.8 points per game last season, Woolley said hearing Legette-Jack’s words instilled confidence in her to take over as Syracuse’s primary threat. Four years ago, Woolley — an Australia native — trusted Legette-Jack by committing to Buffalo without stepping on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coach is now putting her trust in Woolley to spearhead SU for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
“That’s why I picked (Legette-Jack) in the first place,” Woolley said. “Because I knew she was that coach that I could trust and she would put that trust back into me as well.”
After last season concluded, Woolley said it took a few days for the sting of elimination
By Nicholas Alumkal asst. copy editor
to subside, but she quickly shifted her focus to the 2024-25 season. In the offseason, she sharpened her skills on the court — focusing on her defensive game, shot mechanics and ball handling. But her off-the-court development was just as important, she said.
At the Atlantic Coast Conference Tipoff on Oct. 8, Legette-Jack said Woolley “had to find herself” during the offseason. She took a 28-day, 11-country trip to Europe and paid a surprise two-week visit to her family in Brisbane, Australia.
Citing her love of travel, Woolley backpacked through Europe in May and June. She visited the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Monaco, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. When she returned from the trip, Woolley sensed a difference. The trip boosted her maturity. Traveling solo and advocating for herself, Woolley felt she became a better communicator.
Legette-Jack noticed a change, too.
“She needed to do that, and she came back a lot more mature (and) a lot more ready,” Legette-Jack said of Woolley’s trip.
In August, Syracuse had two weeks off. Woolley initially planned to stay on campus. But she also missed her family and wanted to go home. She called Legette-Jack and asked if she could return to Brisbane.
“(Legette-Jack) (was) like, ‘Please go.’ She wanted me to go,” Woolley said.
Two days after the conversation with Legette-Jack, Woolley embarked on the 30-hour journey home. Woolley called her sister, Kelsey, notifying her she was coming home but didn’t tell her parents.
As Woolley entered her home, her dad Adam, who was working remotely, first thought Woolley was Kelsey. Once he realized it was actually Woolley, he couldn’t contain his shock.
“We were talking to her on the phone a couple of days earlier, and she was going about her business back in Syracuse and the next thing you know, she’s walking in the front door,” Adam said.
Woolley posted the entire interaction on her TikTok. But at the time, Woolley’s mother, Sue, was at work. Another video shows Sue’s reaction as she arrives home. At first, Sue couldn’t believe it. She stood speechless in the doorway. “You made my year,” Sue said.
During her two weeks in Australia, Woolley worked with Derek Rucker, a former National Basketball League player and CEO of Derek Rucker Basketball, who has coached her since she was 13.
In their sessions, Rucker continued to chip away at Woolley’s shot mechanics. They focused on getting her hips in the right position, making sure her posture was good and her release was clean. Rucker also wanted Woolley to focus on the defensive side, saying he sees untapped potential for Woolley.
She has embraced Rucker’s challenge. Woolley understands she may be tasked with guarding the toughest assignment each opponent has to offer this season. While players in the ACC might be quicker or stronger than her, she wants to hold her ground.
“I’ve really prioritized defense,” Woolley said. “So just being able to try and build on that so that this year, I can stand out even more as a defensive player, not just as an offensive player.”
Syracuse sophomore guard Sophie Burrows, a fellow Australian and Woolley’s roommate, sees the growth from Woolley on and off the court. For Burrows, it’s nothing new. When she first arrived at SU, they were the only two players on campus.
“She took me around, showed me where everything was, helped me move into my apartment, introduced me to people and just made the transition so much easier,” Burrows said of Woolley.
Burrows has seen Woolley do similar things to countless other underclassmen, helping them
acclimate to SU’s campus and basketball program. Woolley often talks them through specific plays and defensive concepts, Burrows said.
As Woolley embraces her veteran status, she knows that being a leader looks different for everyone. She wants to be her authentic self, not try to be anyone else. For Woolley, that means being extroverted, “bubbly” and creating a lighthearted environment, Burrows said. But it also appears in the example Woolley sets with her energy and grit on the court.
“She wants to win at all costs and will put her body on the line day in and day out for our team,” Burrows said.
When each player commits to play for Legette-Jack, she asks them to write out what they want their legacy to be while with the program. In addition, Legette-Jack makes them pick a quote that connects with that. When Woolley arrived at Buffalo in 2021, she spent a lot of time before choosing, “Nothing is ever given, everything is earned,” which hangs on her locker as a constant reminder.
“I try to remember that every single day,” Woolley said. “Nothing is ever given to you. I wasn’t given Syracuse University. I started at Buffalo. You have to earn your way to where you are. And I think I just continue to try and live that every single day.”
Just like Legette-Jack predicted in the minutes following last season’s finish, after an offseason of work on herself and her game, Woolley has earned the right to lead Syracuse this season.
“(Woolley’s) already been the Robin to Dyaisha’s Batman,” Legette-Jack told syracuse.com on Oct. 9. “Sometimes she was Batman. But now she’s here and we have to figure out how big and wide her wings are. I think she can really take another step higher.”
‘GETTING MY BOOGIE BACK’
By Noah Nussbaum asst. copy editor
When Angelica Velez peered out the plane window, all she saw was grass.
The Bronx, New York, native was en route to The Webb School, a boarding school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Velez’s previous high school had closed, so she moved south to further her basketball career. Accustomed to skyscrapers and busy streets, the rural town of 400 people forced immediate adjustments.
Velez struggled at first. She said it was odd not always having things going on around her. But Velez eventually came out of her shell, developing into one of Webb’s best players.
Velez’s experience at Webb helped her develop into a Division-I point guard. After winning two state championships, Velez committed to LSU. Though she only averaged 4.9 minutes per game last year in her lone season with the Tigers.
She then transferred to Syracuse, where the sophomore is projected to fill a starting role following the departure of three of its top four scorers from last season. Now set up for a large usage rate with the Orange, her decision to transfer to Webb has proved pivotal in her growth.
“I just had to get out of the Bronx,” Velez said. “I felt like there was just too much going on, and I needed to get away and really focus on my dreams.”
With her mother, Migdalia Arce, often in and out of the hospital, Velez was primarily raised by her father, Jorge Velez. At Baychester Middle School, Velez tried out for the boys team because there wasn’t a girls squad. With the boys, she developed a toughness that’s still present.
Velez was then introduced to New Heights NYC AAU head coach Dominique Nute, who noticed her skills and recruited her. It was her first time playing against girls, so she learned a different style of basketball. Velez began studying the game by watching film, being described by Nute as a “basketball junkie.”
“She was just a kid that loved to go outside and play in the park,” Nute said. “When I introduced her to AAU basketball, she had to develop her basketball IQ.”
Velez became a second coach on the floor, positioning her teammates on every play. Velez credited her execution to playing quarterback for her youth football team, the Bronx Steelers. She learned how to be a “general on the field,” easing the transition to New Heights.
In high school, Velez bounced around New Jersey, moving from Manchester Township High School to Trenton Catholic. Both schools shut down while she was there, however, forcing her to look elsewhere. She decided to go to Webb, which just captured the Division II Class A State Championship the year prior.
“Growing up as a kid from New York, she had a lot of independence,” Nute said. “But I think moving to Tennessee, going down and playing at The Webb School, allowed her to grow on the court.”
A few months after Velez expressed interest in Webb, head coach Matt Shewmake saw her play for New Heights in Hampton, Virginia, at the Boo Williams Invitational.
Shewmake was in Hampton coaching his own travel team, and went over to watch Velez in between games. Shewmake was immediately impressed by her communication and how she handled her team.
“She was talking, she had great energy,” Shewmake said. “I was like, ‘Holy sh*t, this kid’s special.’”
In the weeks before move-in, Shewmake remembered Velez calling him in tears. She was scared to leave her father at home. But Velez knew she needed to go for a better chance at playing college basketball.
Though it took time, Velez adjusted, Webb teammate Rhema Collins said.
“Tennessee and New York are completely different environments,” Collins, now a forward at Ole Miss, said. “But Angelica did a great job of adapting and getting used to how people interact with each other.”
In Velez’s junior year, Webb went 31-6, making the state championship again. In the finals, Webb defeated Middle Tennessee Christian 68-48.
After the title, Velez was emotional. She knew the sacrifice of leaving her father had paid off. A year later, she helped Webb repeat, this time winning by 30 in the championship.
Similar to her time at New Heights, Velez was largely a distributor at Webb. In her senior year, she tallied 20 assists in a 107-52 blowout of Arlington, a top public school in Tennessee. Her biggest weakness, though, was her shooting. And she continued to work at it.
Velez woke up at 5 a.m. every day to shoot before her 8 a.m. class. She worked on increasing her efficiency and reaction time. Shewmake gave her his key on weekends when the gymnasium was closed.
Velez faced 11 future college recruits in practice. Shewmake also scheduled games against some of the best teams in the country, including Montverde and IMG Academy. She guarded numerous Power Four recruits, namely current Arizona guard Jada Williams and Duke forward Jadyn Donovan.
“We tried to do things in a manner that prepared them for the next level — adversity that we try to create every day, the competition that we played on the road, the team that we had to compete against every day,” Shewmake said.
Velez ended her illustrious prep career by winning her division’s Miss Tennessee Basketball Player of the Year. Then came her college decision. She gained offers from top-tier programs, including Tennessee and Florida State, but it came down to LSU and Syracuse.
She loved the coaches at SU, yet thought LSU presented a better chance to win a national title. In September 2022, Velez committed to the Tigers. Seven months later, LSU won the 2023 NCAA Championship, cementing her decision.
But when she got to Louisiana, Velez was buried in the Tigers’ depth chart behind guards Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith. She played sparingly, averaging 1.2 points and 0.6 assists.
Velez took it as a learning experience. She still woke up early to shoot, but was surprised to see Van Lith and Johnson already there. Velez also noted their focus on recovery and eating habits and began implementing their tips into her routine.
“Their work ethic was insane,” Velez said of her star teammates. “I felt like I worked really hard, but to see their work ethic at another level just made me want to work so much harder.”
Velez entered the transfer portal after the season, looking to receive more consistent minutes. She circled back to Syracuse. After talking with the coaches over the phone, Velez committed to the Orange on May 5.
For Velez, this season is about regaining a resilience that originated on the courts of New York City. SU freshman Shy Hawkins backed up that sentiment, saying Velez brings an unmatched intensity and aggressiveness every day in practice. Though Velez also wants to enjoy herself, something that was lacking in Baton Rouge.
“I’ve been working on just getting my boogie back, being a tough guard from the Bronx,” Velez said. “When you watch me, you’re like, ‘Oh, that girl is tough.’”
njnussba@syr.edu
@NoahNuss99
Angelica Velez didn’t receive much playing time at LSU last season. After transferring to SU, she’s primed to become its starting point guard.
Both Angelica Velez and Elijah Moore grew up in The Bronx, NY
BOWS UP
Elijah Moore is known for his elite shooting. Through his elbow tattoo and signature celebration to pair, it’s allowed him to establish his on-court identity and off-court brand.
By Aiden Stepansky asst. sports editor
While Elijah “Choppa” Moore mulled over how he’d finish his left arm tattoo sleeve, one made perfect sense to pair with his marksman-like shooting ability — a bullseye on his elbow.
Days later, training with high school teammate and current University of North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, Moore’s elbow was sore from the recent tattoo, forcing him to shoot solely with his right arm. After sinking a jump shot, Moore pointed the bullseye to the sky, showcasing the tattoo. From there, the gesture stuck.
“That’s his trademark. That’s him,” Jackson said. “It gave him his own identity that everybody knows. You see that celebration, that is Choppa.”
Whether it’s Carmelo Anthony’s
‘3’s to the Dome,’ Stephen Curry’s ‘Night, night’ or Trae Young’s ‘Ice Trae,’ signature celebrations are synonymous with elite shooters. Moore’s elbow is no different. An elite shooter and 247 Sports’ No. 58 player in the Class of 2024, Moore has recently gained popularity through his signature celebration.
Playing with Jelly Fam (Our Savior Lutheran) of Overtime Elite in his senior season and Cam Wilder’s Rod Wave Elite this summer, Moore has amassed over 143k followers on Instagram before playing any college basketball. Along the way, his elbow point has exploded, giving him increased notoriety entering his freshman season at Syracuse.
“A big part of my game is my ability to shoot,” Moore said. “Having the elbow tattoo just goes hand in hand with it.”
Moore first broke out the elbow embellishment in Our Savior Lutheran’s first preseason scrimmage versus Archbishop Wood. OSL teammate and current Mississippi State guard Dellquan Warren recalls his teammates anticipating the celebration. Spartans head coach Pete Wehye wasn’t yet informed of Moore’s antics, though. His first glimpse came against the Vikings.
After knocking down his first 3, Moore signaled his elbow outward. Wehye was confused, unsure why Moore wasn’t getting back on defense. The next possession, Moore drew nylon again and repeated the motion. Wehye proceed to yell at Moore, still muddled by his actions. Following a steal, he got it to go again, this time motioning the celebration toward
The bench followed with the action, all pointing their elbows up. Wehye went to his players, and they explained the celebration. A few plays later, Moore came downhill on a two-on-one with Jackson running by his side. Rather than dishing it off, Moore released from deep, hitting the shot and sending the gymnasium into a frenzy, including Wehye.
“He has a unique skill,” Wehye said. “The level of frequency it goes in is what makes the celebra-
That skillset was always a part of Moore’s game. He just continued to perfect it.
His shooting was first on display at 5 years old, when his father, Ty Moore, would host hundreds of people in New York City basketball tournaments. At halftime, Ty brought his son onto the court to run him through shooting drills. It wasn’t to show off, Ty said, but to take advantage of every opportunity to give him a workout.
Years later, as an eighth-grader during the COVID-19 pandemic, Moore would travel from the Bronx to Connecticut to train and even did workouts over Zoom. He further developed his game at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, a staple of the New York State Catholic League. After three successful seasons with the Cardinals and a commitment to Syracuse in January 2022, Moore decided to play his last prep season for Our Savior Lutheran and its OTE affiliate, Jelly Fam.
“I always love and will forever love Cardinal Hayes for the things that they’ve taught me and the moments that I’ve had there,” Moore said. “But OTE, the arena and the environment was just different.”
Per Ty, the decision was simple for both him and Moore: Where could he go to best prepare for
Moore was already familiar with OSL, attending it in middle school. But the most intriguing point of joining the squad was its newly founded team in OTE. The league is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is comprised of 16-to-20-year-old athletes split across eight teams. Operated by media giant Overtime, most teams are filled with future first-round NBA talent. Players like Alex Sarr, Rob Dillingham and twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson have participated since its inaugural 2021 season.
Moore’s team, Jelly Fam, was added for the 2023-24 season. Along with Jackson, he helped turn the team into one of the most popular in year 1, according to Overtime Chief Growth Officer
Tom Weingarten.
Because of the affiliation with Overtime, players are constantly enthralled in social media-based activities. Weingarten said all of the media team’s posts featured either Moore or Jackson because of their immense popularity.
The media attention was fairly new for Moore, but he said it came naturally. Whenever the media team wanted to put a microphone on him for a game, film a TikTok or shoot a podcast, Moore obliged. While described as mild-mannered and mellow by Jackson, when the camera comes on, Moore shines brightest. And the elbow celebration was a key piece of the team’s, and his own, online growth.
“In the new age of basketball, to have something that is new and original is really hard,” Weingarten said. “For Choppa to have something that we haven’t seen before in basketball, I think it identified him as a star.”
The stardom continued into the summer as Moore participated in Wilder’s AAU program, Rod Wave Elite. Wilder, a YouTuber with over one million subscribers, brings top talent from across the country together for loose yet fierce competition. While the games were flooded with five-star recruits and high flyers, Moore’s 3-point shooting took center stage.
And there, his signal turned into a phenomenon. With millions of viewers online and hundreds in the stands, Moore’s gesture became a movement. Teammates and opponents constantly used it. Fans even drew bullseyes on their elbows to emulate Moore.
“Hitting a 3 may not be as exciting as a dunk, but Elijah’s 3 and his elbow became just as exciting, or even more exciting,” Ty said.
Moore said while preparing his body for the upcoming season, his time with RWE was a “breath of fresh air.” He traveled the country to play at their showcases, growing his brand in the process.
Ty said the newfound fame hasn’t changed his son. Moore is still the same humble, mature kid from the Bronx. Now, the platform allows him to extend his reach in his city and beyond.
Daman Brown, Moore’s youth coach for New York Lightning, said he recently saw kids in California on the AAU circuit do Moore’s iconic move. Ty said Moore has received hundreds of direct messages on Instagram from people around the world doing it.
“They’re listening to someone who they consider a star,” Ty said. “And so it allows him to have a platform where now when he’s talking to young kids, they listen.”
While Moore is at times a silent assassin, his new SU teammates have grown a liking to him off the court because of his personality. Junior guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. said Moore is “goofy” off the court and not nearly as serious as he looks on it. Colorado transfer Eddie Lampkin Jr. has built a bond with Moore through social media, co-hosting the “DA BIGGEST CHOPP UP” podcast with him.
Lampkin said while thinking of starting a podcast, Moore was the perfect fit due to his social persona and fan influence already.
Moore’s individuality is on full display now. But it wasn’t always like that. Playing alongside Jackson — the No. 8 player in the 2024 class — put him in the background at times. Brian Harrington, Moore and Jackson’s performance coach since 10th grade, said the two have always been viewed as a one-two combo. The elbow gives Moore that separation.
“It’s something that was necessary for (Moore),” Harrington said. “He needed some sort of thing to differentiate himself from any teammate.”
The celebration has grown into a mind of its own. To Wehye, it can mean anything from flexing your own skill to trash-talking an opponent. Wehye even remembered a time when an opponent hit a 3 and directed the gesture at Moore. But that’s what it has become.
The idea started with Jackson gave Moore an immense personality on the court. It’s turned him into a national brand. And as Moore embarks on his first go with the Orange, the elbow is a stamp of what he brings to the table.
“He started to own it, and he started to be comfortable with, ‘I am that shooter. I’m OK with being that guy who can knock down that shot and hit that 3. And that’s my identity as a basketball player,’” Wehye said of Moore.
“I think once he owned it, he started to create an identity from it. And the celebration is a part of that.” amstepan@syr.edu
