Syracuse University’s men’s basketball program and the Big East Conference lost a legend in Lawrence Moten.
Syracuse University announced the passing of men’s basketball legend Lawrence Moten on Tuesday at the age of 53. Moten’s was said to have passed in his hometown of Washington D.C.
“It’s a sad day for the Orange community,” former Orangemen teammate Adrian Autry, now the head coach of Syracuse men’s basketball, said in a statement from the athletic department. “For me, Lawrence was not only a teammate, but a friend. I can’t think of anybody that was more positive or who loved Syracuse more than he did.”
“He was one of the greatest to put on the uniform. It’s a big loss. I was able to play alongside him for three years and watch him do some amazing things. I was fortunate to spend time with him on and off the court. I feel for his family, including his beautiful daughters. Lawrence was a positive light in this world. He was one of a kind. I’m going to miss him.”
Moten is best-known for his work under the iconic roof of Syracuse’s Carrier Dome (now the JMA Wireless Dome), where he earned the nickname “Poetry in Moten.” He played four seasons with the accomplished Orangemen/Orange program (1991-95) after attending Archbishop Carroll in D.C. and the New Hampton (N.H.) School.
Moten was a national Top 100 recruit out of Archbishop Carroll, ranked No. 65 by All-Star Stars, before doing a post-grad year at New Hampton. Moten was also an excellent tight end on the gridiron at Carroll and good enough in both sports to be honored as our 1989-90 National Grid-Hoop Player of the Year.
An all-time great on and off the court.
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) September 30, 2025
Heavy hearts for the ‘Cuse Family today as we mourn the passing of Lawrence Moten.https://t.co/i7MCeNjRa9 pic.twitter.com/fJoGaKnhGp
It was clear from the get-go that Moten would be a force to be reckoned with: he took home the 1992 Big East Rookie of the Year title at the end of his freshman season, which ended with the Orangemen’s third conference tournament win at Madison Square Garden. He would earn first-team All-Big East honors in each of his final three seasons and guided the Orangemen to an appearance in the regional semifinal round of the 1994 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament during his junior year.
By the time of his Syracuse departure, headlined by All-American honors next to lauded stars like Ray Allen and Tim Duncan, Moten was the all-time leader in Big East Conference scoring, a record that stood until Markus Howard of Marquette passed him in 2020. Moten remains the all-time leading scorer in Syracuse men’s basketball history and the No. 21 he wore during his time as an Orangeman is one of 17 digits retired. That legendary group also includes Carmelo Anthony, Dave Bing, Derrick Coleman, and more.
“Lawrence’s passing is such a sudden thing; it’s very hard to take,” Moten’s college coach Jim Boeheim said, per the Associated Press. “He was one of the most underrated college basketball players of all time. I believe some people took his ability for granted because he made it look so easy. Lawrence was one of our greatest players and one of the best in the history of the Big East Conference.”
After his Syracuse career, Moten appeared in 119 NBA games, almost all of them with the original Vancouver Grizzlies, who drafted him No. 36 overall in 1995. Other professional endeavors included tours in the rebooted American Basketball Association and the Continental Basketball Association, as well as overseas stints in Europe and South America.
Moten is survived by his wife Noelene and their two daughters, Lawrencia and Leilani.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
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