Top 12 Syracuse basketball players of all time

Ask any basketball fan about Syracuse University and the first responses won't vary much: Jim Boeheim and 2-3 zone.

But while the Syracuse men's basketball program has become iconic for the defensive scheme it runs and the legendary coach who runs it, it's the players — from a future Detroit mayor to a nine-time NBA All-Star — who have made it into one of the NCAA's greatest college basketball programs.

MORE: Top 10 UNC Tar Heels | Next great Cuse freshman ^[1]^[2]

Syracuse, which played its first official season in 1900-1901, is the fifth winningest men's Division-1 basketball team of all-time, and currently holds an active NCAA-record 46 consecutive winning seasons.

In 40 seasons under current Boeheim, the team has compiled an all-time record 34 20-win seasons, including ten Big East regular-season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, 32 NCAA Tournament appearances (and 38 all-time) and three appearances in the national title game.

Years at Syracuse: 2010-2014

Why he's here: Solid. Reliable. Consistent. The best smile ^[3] on the Syracuse University campus since Carmelo Anthony left in 2003. For four years, C.J. Fair — with a midrange jump shot that seemed automatic at times — provided Syracuse with anything it needed on a nightly basis (especially defensive rebounding). When Brandon Triche or Trevor Cooney or Rakeem Christmas couldn't buy a basket, Fair was often SU's only ray of hope on offense.

In his four years in central New York, Fair played 143 games, averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. As a senior, the forward was named to the All-ACC First Team. In the Orange's overtime victory against Duke that year, Fair played all 45 minutes, scoring 28 points while being guarded by Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood.

Maybe more importantly, Fair's offensive foul against Duke in Durham sparked Jim Boeheim's famous "That's Bull****!"^[4] explosion.

Years at Syracuse: 1976-80

Why here's here: The story of Jim Boeheim recruiting Bouie to come to Syracuse from Kendall, N.Y., is the most oft-repeated anecdote in program history. But it's worth retelling: On the day of assistant Rick Pitino's wedding, Boeheim drove from Syracuse to New York City to try to convince the future star coach to accept an assistant coaching position for the Orangemen.

Boeheim kept Pitino out of his hotel room for four hours until Pitino agreed. But there was one caveat: Pitino had to delay his honeymoon, which was scheduled for the next day, so he could hit the recruiting trail immediately. The next day, Boeheim went to Kendall to secure Bouie's commitment, while Pitino went to Cincinnati to try to secure top guard recruit Louis Orr.

Bouie, a 6-11 center, combined with Orr to became the "Louie and Bouie Show." In 118 career games, Bouie scored 1,560 points, grabbed 631 rebounds and blocked 327 shots (second most all-time in school history).

Bouie was drafted in the second round of the 1980 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. However, he never played in the NBA, opting instead to play in Italy where he averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over 12 seasons.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)

Years at Syracuse: 2001-2005

Why he's here: Let's get right to it. The block ^[5]. The biggest defensive play in Syracuse basketball history. Leading Kansas 81-78 with seconds remaining in the 2003 National Championship game, Syracuse needed one stop, one play, to seal a victory. They got it from the 6-9 Warrick, a lanky power forward who sprang from just outside the paint to the 3-point line to block a Michael Lee 3-point attempt.

It was the signature play of his career, but not the only one. Warrick finished his SU career averaging 15.4 points (53.6 percent shooting), 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He finished second on the school's all-time list in free throws made (529) and free throws attempted (803), third in consecutive double-figure scoring games (61) and fourth in points (2,073) and rebounds (1,025).

A consensus first-team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year in 2005, Warrick was chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies with the No. 19 over pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Years at Syracuse: 1991-1995

Why he's here: Of all the superstars who passed through the Syracuse program, it's guard Lawrence Moten who holds the school's all-time scoring record (2,334 points). Even more surprisingly, Moten is also the leading scorer in Big East Conference history (1,405 points).

Moten — the only player to score 500 or more points in four consecutive seasons at SU — was chosen by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the second round (No. 36 overall) in the 1995 NBA Draft. He played two seasons for the Grizzlies (1995–1997) and also played for the Washington Wizards during the 1997-98 season.

Years at Syracuse: 1988-91

Why he's here: Owens, who played at Syracuse for three years, finished his college career with 1,840 points and 910 rebounds. In his time in Syracuse, the 6-8 wing averaged 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 103 games. In his junior season, Owens was named Big East Player of the Year.

Owens was chosen No. 3 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 1991 NBA Draft.

His jersey was retired at SU on March 8, 2008.

Years at Syracuse: 1992-1996

Why he's here: A four-year player for Boeheim, Wallace helped lead the Orangemen to the 1996 Final Four. Over the course of his career, Wallace played 127 games for SU and ranks third in scoring (2,119 points) and third in rebounds (1,065) in program history.

In a 2014 interview ^[6] with Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated, Boeheim called Wallace the most "important" recruit in Syracuse history.

"Not the best," Boeheim said. "But the most important. It was very important that John decided to stick with us."

At the time, when Wallace came to Syracuse in 1992, the Syracuse athletic department was being investigated for possible violations across several sports. When the infractions were found and penalties were handed out, the men's basketball program was disqualified from the 1992 NCAA Tournament.

"I knew the investigation was hanging over us, but, really, I didn't care," Wallace said. "There was nothing that was going to deter me from Syracuse. I loved it. I thought it would be a one-year ban, but, even if I knew it would going to be two or thee years, I would've come.

"I told John Thompson, Dean Smith and Bob Knight, don't waste your time recruiting me. I'm not a Georgetown, Carolina or Indiana type guy. I told them, 'I don't need your systems.' I'm going to Syracuse."

Years at Syracuse: 1984-88

Why he's here: Seikaly ranks 13th on SU's all-time scoring (1,716 points), second in rebounds (1,094) and third in blocks (319). The center started on SU's 1987 team that advanced to the NCAA title game.

Seikaly jersey was retired at SU on Jan. 13, 2007.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)

Years at Syracuse: 1985-89

Why he's here: Douglas finished his career as Syracuse's all-time leading scorer (2,060 points) and the NCAA's all-time assists leader (960). His 22 assists on Jan. 28, 1989 in a game against Providence remains an NCAA record.

A starter on SU's 1987 NCAA Tournament championship game finalists, Douglas's jersey was retired at SU on March 9, 2003.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)

Years at Syracuse: 1983-86

Why he's here: Washington was the perfect recruit at the perfect time for the Orangemen. A playground legend in New York City, the electric point guard with a now-famous crossover was the No. 1 ranked high school player in the country for Boys and Girls High School in 1983.

Washington arrived in central New York just a few years after the Carrier Dome opened and just as ESPN started to broadcast Big East games. He was the right man for the spotlight, earning All-American honors in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He ranks fourth on the school's all-time assists list despite playing 26 fewer games than the player only six assists behind him. Washington played 145 fewer games than the guy two spots (18 assists) behind him.

The highlight for Washington came on Jan. 21, 1984 against Boston College when the crafty guard hit an epic half court buzzer beater. With the game tied at 73 and B.C. having just missed a free-throw, Washington took an an outlet pass and let a shot go from just inside the half-court line. The 45-foot heave sailed through the air and went directly in the hoop. A highlight of the play still runs during a pregame montage at the Carrier Dome.

Washington's jersey was retired at SU on March 2, 1996. Sadly, the loveable guard continues to battle a brain tumor that he was diagnosed with last summer.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)

Year at Syracuse: 2002-03

Why he's here: Orange fans can thank former SU assistant coach Troy Weaver for seeing something in this once-skinny kid from Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore. Anthony played one season at SU, in 2002–2003, and averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game. His 778 points that year is 158 more points than any freshman ever scored at SU. Of course, the year was capped off with a National Championship victory —the school's first and only to date.

Though he spent just one season at Syracuse, Anthony's presence is still felt at the school. In 2009, SU opened the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, a state of the art training facility that was kick-started by a $3 million donation from Anthony.

Anthony's jersey was retired at SU on Feb. 23, 2013.

Years at Syracuse: 1986-90

Why he's here: Coleman ranks as the school's No. 1 career rebounder (1,537 points) and No. 2 career scorer (2,143 points). When he left Syracuse, the enigmatic center was the NCAA leader in career rebounds. His 422 rebounds in 1988-89 is a Syracuse single-season record and his 587 career free-throws made is also a school record.

Coleman was chosen No. 1 overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets.

His No. 44 jersey was retired at SU on March 6, 2006.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)

Years at Syracuse: 1963-66

Why he's here: Bing scored 1,883 points in his three-year varsity career at Syracuse, a point-total record that stood at SU until 1989. As a senior — starting in a backcourt with some guy named Jim Boeheim — Bing averaged 28.4 points per game (a single-season SU record). Bing's career scoring average of 24.7 points per game is also an SU record that still stands.

The smooth guard led the Orangemen in scoring as a sophomore (22.2 ppg), junior (23.2 ppg) and senior (28.4 ppg). During his senior year, Bing was fifth in the country in scoring, earning him Sporting News First Team All-American honors. He was chosen No. 2 overall in the 1966 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons and later became the mayor of Detroit.

Bing's jersey was retired at Syracuse on Dec. 19, 1981.

(Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletic Communications)