Top 10 Best Syracuse Basketball Players

Syracuse University started its basketball program in 1898. However, it was only after Jim Boeheim’s arrival that the team started cementing itself among the college basketball elite, winning one National Championship and taking five trips to the Final Four. Now, let’s find out more about the ten best players to have played for the Syracuse Orange.

Who Are the Best Syracuse College Basketball Players of All Time?

1. Carmelo Anthony
2. Dave Bing
3. Derrick Coleman
4. Sherman Douglas
5. John Wallace
6. Pearl Washington
7. Gerry McNamara
8. Lawrence Moten
9. Ronny Seikaly
10. Jason Hart

1. Carmelo Anthony

• 2003 NCAA Champion
• 2003 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• No. 15 jersey retired by Syracuse University

Carmelo Anthony is not just the greatest player in Syracuse history or the Orange alum to have had the best NBA career, he is a true legend of the game. After dominating the scene in high school earning McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic bids, Melo decided to forgo the 2002 NBA Draft and enrolled at Syracuse University.

In just one year at Syracuse University, the forward was able to lead the school to a National Championship, an achievement that no player had been able to do before the 2002-2003 season. Anthony stepped up in the tournament and claimed the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player award to lead ‘Cuse to its first-ever championship.

2. Dave Bing

• 1966 First-Team All-American
• No. 22 jersey retired by Syracuse University
• Only player with multiple forty-point games at Syracuse University

Hall of Famer Dave Bing was the first player to start Syracuse’s turnaround to become one of the powerhouses in college basketball. As an All-American guard at Spingarn High School, Bing was a highly-rated prospect and it did not take him long to make his mark at Syracuse.

In four years with the Orange, Bing managed to score over 1,800 points, averaging 28.3 points as a senior and leading the team in scoring for three years. Bing was also a consensus first-team All-American in 1966 and is the only Orange to record three 40-point games.

3. Derrick Coleman

• 1990 First-Team All-American
• No. 44 jersey retired by Syracuse University
• 1990 Big East Player of the Year

After attracting a lot of interest as one of the highest rated big men in high school, Derrick Coleman decided to commit to Syracuse University to play under Jim Boeheim.

Coleman spent four years at Syracuse. As a freshman, he was part of the team that lost the National Championship by one point to Indiana, a game in which he showed all of his dominance by grabbing 19 rebounds. His presence in the paint made him a menace in college, as he finished his career as the all-time leader in rebounds in school history and as an All-American. In 2006, Syracuse University made him the first player in the history of the basketball program to have the legendary number 44 jersey retired.

4. Sherman Douglas

• Three-time First-Team All-Big East
• 1989 Second-Team All-American
• No. 20 jersey retired by Syracuse University

DC native Sherman Douglas is the greatest point guard in Syracuse University history and formed with Derrick Coleman one of the most lethal duos in college basketball in the late eighties.

Douglas was a one of the stars in the legendary 1986-1987 Orange side and made the first-team All-Big East three times before graduating in 1989. His 960 assists are the most in school history and seventh all-time in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball rankings. Douglas was also a member of the second-team All-American in 1989 and of the All-Final Four team in 1987.

5. John Wallace

• 1996 Second-Team All-American
• Two-time First-Team All-Big East
• No. 44 jersey retired by Syracuse University

When Derrick Coleman graduated from Syracuse in 1990 the program struggled to find another dominant big man until John Wallace committed to the school in 1992.

John Wallace came into Syracuse University during one of the toughest moments during Jim Boeheim’s tenure, as the school was handed a postseason ban. Nonetheless, Wallace was able to establish his dominance and led Syracuse to three consecutive tournament appearances, including Syracuse’s second trip to the National Championship in 1996. Wallace finished his Syracuse career as the third all-time in scoring and third in rebounding. Syracuse retired his jersey in 2020, making him the last player to wear the number 44.

6. Pearl Washington

• Three-time First-Team All-Big East
• 1985 Second-Team All-American
• No. 31 jersey retired by Syracuse University

Dwayne “Pearl” Washington is among the most iconic players to have ever worn the Syracuse Orange. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Pearl soon started displaying his talent in high school and committed to Syracuse University as the number one player in the country.

During his four years at Syracuse, Washington went to the tournament four times, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in his sophomore season in 1984. Pearl is fourth all time in assists and fifth in steals in the history of the program and was a second-team All-American in 1985 and a three-time first-team All-Big East.

7. Gerry McNamara

• 2003 NCAA National Champion
• Third all-time in assists in Syracuse University history
• Fourth all-time in scoring in Syracuse University history

Carmelo Anthony’s teammate Gerry McNamara is in seventh place on the list of the greatest players in Syracuse University basketball history. Following a stellar high school career highlighted by the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year award in his senior year, McNamara enrolled at Syracuse University in 2002.

Gerry McNamara was among the heroes of the 2003 title, scoring six three pointers in the championship game and earning All-Tournament team honors. Although Syracuse could not repeat its success in the following years, Gerry McNamara still dominated in the postseason. He finished his Syracuse career with 400 made three pointers, which is the highest all-time in school history.

8. Lawrence Moten

• All-time leading scorer in Syracuse University history
• Three-time First-Team All-Big East
• No. 21 jersey retired by Syracuse University

Just like John Wallace, Lawrence Moten committed to play at Syracuse University in the midst of the investigations that led the NCAA to hand the Orange a postseason ban in 1993. However, led by Moten the Orange reached the Sweet 16 the following year.

Lawrence Moten was a scoring machine at Syracuse, graduating from the school as the all-time leading scorer, breaking the record that was previously set by Derrick Coleman. Moten finished only three games out of 121 played at Syracuse with single digits in points and is the second all-time in scoring in Big East games.

9. Ronny Seikaly

• 1988 Second-Team All-American
• Second all-time in rebounding in Syracuse University history
• No. 4 jersey retired by Syracuse University

Lebanese-born Rony Seikaly is the greatest foreign player and one of the best rim protectors in the history of the Syracuse University men’s basketball program.

After playing at Panathinaikos in Greece, Seikaly enrolled at Syracuse University in 1984. He spent four seasons there where he formed a great frontcourt partnership with Derrick Coleman. The two dominated in the paint during those years, as they both finished their Syracuse career in the top three for blocks and rebounds. Seikaly was also part of the team that made it to the 1987 National Championship, logging a double-double with 18 points and ten rebounds.

10. Jason Hart

• 2000 First-Team All-Big East
• All-time leader in steals in Syracuse University history
• Second all-time in assists in Syracuse University history

Point guard Jason Hart closes out the top ten of the best basketball players in the history of the Syracuse University men’s program. The LA native enrolled at Syracuse in 1996, following their trip to the National Championship, and helped lead the team to two Sweet Sixteen appearances in four years.

Hart is among the best floor generals in the history of the Orange, as he finished his Syracuse career as the all-time leader in steals and second in assists. During his time under Jim Boeheim, he also made the first-team All-Big East in 2000.

Honorable Mentions

• Adrian Autry
• Roosevelt Bouie
• Dennis DuVal
• C.J. Fair
• Rudy Hackett
• Eddie Moss
• Billy Owens
• Bill Smith
• Hakim Warrick
• Darryl Watkins

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