Lawrence Moten, Syracuse basketball legend, dead at 53

Former Syracuse basketball star Lawrence Moten has died at the age of 53. 

Moten, the Orange’s all-time leading scorer with 2,334 career points, was found dead at his home in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. 

“This is a tragic day for the Syracuse basketball family,” legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement released by the school. “Lawrence’s passing is such a sudden thing — it’s very hard to take. 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.”

Current Orange head coach Adrian Autry, a former teammate of his at Syracuse in the 1990s, also had kind words for Moten.

“It’s a sad day for the Orange community,” Autry said. “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. Obviously, his basketball – 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 played at Syracuse from 1991-95, averaging 19.3 points per game across four seasons. 

He helped the Orange to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, ’94 and ’95 — only missing the tournament in 1993 due to a one-year tournament ban. 

In 2018, Moten had his jersey No. 21 retired by Syracuse. 

Moten played parts of three seasons in the NBA after being drafted in the second round of the 1995 draft by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. 

In 119 career games in the league, Moten averaged 6.3 points per game playing for the Grizzlies and Wizards. 

A D.C. native, Moten had recently returned to his hometown to serve as a general manager for a local high school basketball team.

“Lawrence Moten was a Syracuse icon,” said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “His accolades as Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer and holding the Big East scoring record for 25 years speak for themselves, but his style of play is what energized the (Carrier) Dome and was deserving of his nickname ‘Poetry in Moten.’ He was a fixture around the program long after his playing career, always with a smile on his face. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Lawrence’s family and friends.

“He will be Forever Orange.”