hoopsupstate
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 14,156
- Like
- 33,192
He can guard the three and he’s a much better ball handler than Donnie. You just play with three forwards and no center. Teams have been doing that for years.
Donnie Freeman injures foot
- Thread starter SWC75
- Start date
MikeSU02
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 13,624
- Like
- 52,583
That line is pure poetry. Bravo.
MikeSU02
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 13,624
- Like
- 52,583
That team can't shoot.
The center would have to be Wemby for us to be competitive.
JJ is shooting 29.8% from three this year and 30.9% from three for his career.
Cusefan0307
Red recruits the ACC!
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2011
- Messages
- 47,766
- Like
- 139,308
No one loves to double down on bad shooting teams quite like us.
Scooch
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 17,859
- Like
- 61,766
I'll also add (since I looked it up) that we've had 5 freshmen contribute meaningfully in the past 9 seasons:
Battle
Brissett
Girard
Mintz
Freeman
That's the list. Basically one every other year.
But we're going to have 2 next year? Doubtful.
Battle
Brissett
Girard
Mintz
Freeman
That's the list. Basically one every other year.
But we're going to have 2 next year? Doubtful.
RF2044
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 31,304
- Like
- 102,974
I REALLY like Fennell. I think he's going to be a great player for us eventually.
But I agree 100% that it is playing with fire to have this be plan A, B, and C.
Dmcnabbrules
All Conference
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2011
- Messages
- 3,280
- Like
- 7,011
“He was a member of the COE team that won the 2024 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany -- averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-high 2.4 assists per game -- before going on to win a gold medal with Victoria at the 2024 under-20 National Championships in Ballarat.”
They don’t give out The John Stockton assists I guess.
Also like it or not if JJ comes back the ball will be in his hands a lot of the time.
Fly Rodder
Hall of Pretty Good
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 11,120
- Like
- 33,637
Watching his highlights he looks to be a clone of JJ, but not as fast. He's someone who wants to drive drive drive and try floaters and mid range jumpers ... which is the Syracuse offense.
phil77
BC Prophet
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 10,031
- Like
- 25,009
JJ is not a lead guard, point guard, or whatever you want to call it. He doesn't have the instincts to be. He is a volume-scoring guard, period.
Cusefan0307
Red recruits the ACC!
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2011
- Messages
- 47,766
- Like
- 139,308
According to this site he's a 90% FT shooter which is a big step up from what we have seen. He has made 3's, but this site does not show percentage. I remember reading something comparing him to Tyrese Proctor which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I do agree we need more shooting and ball handling though.
NBL1 Australia
nbl1.com.au
Fly Rodder
Hall of Pretty Good
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 11,120
- Like
- 33,637
Doesn't matter to me, it's not my job on the line.
pwong
Starter
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2017
- Messages
- 1,597
- Like
- 3,964
Currently mocked as the 66th best prospect in Givony’s (ESPN) big board (as of middle of Jan). Some agent influence in his list but the drop happened when he was still playing.
Updated Top 100 rankings for the 2025 NBA draft: Who's rising and falling?
Players from Illinois and Oklahoma move up the ranks, but it's still Cooper Flagg's show as his impressive games of late keep him locked in at No. 1.
Fly Rodder
Hall of Pretty Good
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 11,120
- Like
- 33,637
40% from three in that season. About 33% of his FGAs are threes. I get that he's in a pro-development league though. I hope he's great. And it's not like he was unknown: Florida, Cal, and Louisville all have their eyes out for foreign players. And Woj knows his stuff. I'm super skeptical about freshman until they get into games. And Red isn't going to have time to gauge Fennell until well after the portal is picked over.According to this site he's a 90% FT shooter which is a big step up from what we have seen. He has made 3's, but this site does not show percentage. I remember reading something comparing him to Tyrese Proctor which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I do agree we need more shooting and ball handling though.
NBL1 Australia
more volume shooting than scoring.
BillSU
All American
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2018
- Messages
- 6,856
- Like
- 10,740
Apologies if this has already been posted. 
www.espn.com
Oct 23, 2024, 03:18 PM ET
Luke Fennell wants to be under pressure.
He's already one of Australia's best 2006-born basketball prospects, and has been a leader through a heap of team success in his home country and abroad, but he wanted more.
That's why, when Syracuse University came knocking, the 18-year-old was immediately enamoured by the opportunity.
The entire situation was appealing. Everything from the intensity of college basketball to the alumni that have gone through the school's storied program spoke to Fennell, who announced his commitment to the Orange on Thursday morning.
"I like being under the big lights," Fennell told ESPN.
"Syracuse is definitely a big school, which I really like. Their gym holds more than 35,000 people, and Carmelo [Anthony] went through there, so having something to live up to is the place I want to be at.
"I wanted to be around people that are hungry, people that want to be the best versions of themselves and still haven't reached that stage of being a pro yet. I'm excited to be around that high-pressure environment where iron sharpens iron, everyone wanting to be great, so I think that's the environment that's gonna help me."
Fennell was part of the NBA Global Academy, which is based out of the Basketball Centre of Excellence (COE) in Canberra, and had immense success as part of that program. He was a member of the COE team that won the 2024 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany -- averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-high 2.4 assists per game -- before going on to win a gold medal with Victoria at the 2024 under-20 National Championships in Ballarat. Luke Fennell likes "being under the big lights”.
The 6'6 point guard is currently a development player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but had always kept the door open to potentially go down the college route.
"Syracuse just kept in touch with me every day," Fennell said.
"They kept calling me, asking me about my life, and really just got to know me. They connected my life to how it is in Syracuse. The way they communicated that, and the way they showed me what life is like there and how I would fit in, was a big thing in me coming to my decision."
The university is based in Syracuse, NY, which is about a four-hour drive northwest of New York City. The campus sits on a hill overlooking the city, and features the largest arena in division-1 basketball -- with a maximum capacity of 35,642 -- in the JMA Dome.
That stadium houses a program that has historically had immense success, but hasn't had an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021. Adrian Autry took over as head coach of Syracuse in 2023, aiming to fill the giant shoes of Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Famer who was at the helm of the Orange for 47 years.
The alumni of Syracuse includes Anthony, Jerami Grant, Danny Schayes, Dave Bing, Michael Carter-Williams, and Hakim Warrick, among others, and Fennell has an eye toward following their footsteps from the Orange to the NBA.
Fennell fits the mould of the modern point guard. He's big, can effectively run an offence -- he has an impressive feel coming off on-balls -- has a reliable jumper out to beyond the three-point line, and can score at all three-levels.
"Syracuse is getting a guy who knows how to control tempo, a person who can control a team and be patient," Fennell said.
"I think I can really set the offence, and share the ball around. When teams need to get a bucket or need something desperately, I can go and do that for the team. I can be a real spark plug, and be energetic."
"They said they play fast, and that's how I wanna play. I wanna play with tempo and pace, be in transition, in the open floor."
Over his junior career in Australia, Fennell has played both guard positions, but says he's working intently on his handle in order to continue excelling at the point.
The 18-year-old has been with the Phoenix since the preseason, practicing with the NBL team as a development player. That means regularly going up against the likes of Derrick Walton Jr., a high-level international point guard who has spent time with three different NBA teams; and Nathan Sobey, a one-time Olympian who's been one of Australia's most dynamic guards over the past few years.
Fennell says competing consistently in a professional environment has played a key role in expediting his growth as a basketball player.
"Having to guard Derrick Walton Jr. every day... that's a task," Fennell said.
"Going up against that every day has definitely sped up my development. I can see it every time I go to an open gym or play in a scrimmage, I can tell the game feels a lot slower, and everything flows a lot easier."
Fennell will finish the 2024-25 NBL season with the Phoenix, before looking to represent Australia at the 2025 FIBA under-19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland. Once that tournament comes and goes, he plans to arrive in Syracuse for his freshman season.
When he arrives, he wants expectations; if anything, it's just so he can have the satisfaction of overcoming them.
"Playing in front of a huge crowd, and knowing they all love hoops, that's just a great place to be around," Fennell said.
"For me, it's about having something to prove, playing with a chip on my shoulder. I want everyone to see how much work I've put in, and how much I love this game."
"I like being under the big lights": Luke Fennell relishing commitment to Syracuse
Luke Fennell is already one of Australia's best 2006-born basketball prospects, and has been a leader through a heap of team success in his home country and abroad, but he wants more, writes Olgun Uluc.
Oct 23, 2024, 03:18 PM ET
Luke Fennell wants to be under pressure.
He's already one of Australia's best 2006-born basketball prospects, and has been a leader through a heap of team success in his home country and abroad, but he wanted more.
That's why, when Syracuse University came knocking, the 18-year-old was immediately enamoured by the opportunity.
The entire situation was appealing. Everything from the intensity of college basketball to the alumni that have gone through the school's storied program spoke to Fennell, who announced his commitment to the Orange on Thursday morning.
"I like being under the big lights," Fennell told ESPN.
"Syracuse is definitely a big school, which I really like. Their gym holds more than 35,000 people, and Carmelo [Anthony] went through there, so having something to live up to is the place I want to be at.
"I wanted to be around people that are hungry, people that want to be the best versions of themselves and still haven't reached that stage of being a pro yet. I'm excited to be around that high-pressure environment where iron sharpens iron, everyone wanting to be great, so I think that's the environment that's gonna help me."
Fennell was part of the NBA Global Academy, which is based out of the Basketball Centre of Excellence (COE) in Canberra, and had immense success as part of that program. He was a member of the COE team that won the 2024 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany -- averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-high 2.4 assists per game -- before going on to win a gold medal with Victoria at the 2024 under-20 National Championships in Ballarat. Luke Fennell likes "being under the big lights”.
The 6'6 point guard is currently a development player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but had always kept the door open to potentially go down the college route.
"Syracuse just kept in touch with me every day," Fennell said.
"They kept calling me, asking me about my life, and really just got to know me. They connected my life to how it is in Syracuse. The way they communicated that, and the way they showed me what life is like there and how I would fit in, was a big thing in me coming to my decision."
The university is based in Syracuse, NY, which is about a four-hour drive northwest of New York City. The campus sits on a hill overlooking the city, and features the largest arena in division-1 basketball -- with a maximum capacity of 35,642 -- in the JMA Dome.
That stadium houses a program that has historically had immense success, but hasn't had an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021. Adrian Autry took over as head coach of Syracuse in 2023, aiming to fill the giant shoes of Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Famer who was at the helm of the Orange for 47 years.
The alumni of Syracuse includes Anthony, Jerami Grant, Danny Schayes, Dave Bing, Michael Carter-Williams, and Hakim Warrick, among others, and Fennell has an eye toward following their footsteps from the Orange to the NBA.
Fennell fits the mould of the modern point guard. He's big, can effectively run an offence -- he has an impressive feel coming off on-balls -- has a reliable jumper out to beyond the three-point line, and can score at all three-levels.
"Syracuse is getting a guy who knows how to control tempo, a person who can control a team and be patient," Fennell said.
"I think I can really set the offence, and share the ball around. When teams need to get a bucket or need something desperately, I can go and do that for the team. I can be a real spark plug, and be energetic."
"They said they play fast, and that's how I wanna play. I wanna play with tempo and pace, be in transition, in the open floor."
Over his junior career in Australia, Fennell has played both guard positions, but says he's working intently on his handle in order to continue excelling at the point.
The 18-year-old has been with the Phoenix since the preseason, practicing with the NBL team as a development player. That means regularly going up against the likes of Derrick Walton Jr., a high-level international point guard who has spent time with three different NBA teams; and Nathan Sobey, a one-time Olympian who's been one of Australia's most dynamic guards over the past few years.
Fennell says competing consistently in a professional environment has played a key role in expediting his growth as a basketball player.
"Having to guard Derrick Walton Jr. every day... that's a task," Fennell said.
"Going up against that every day has definitely sped up my development. I can see it every time I go to an open gym or play in a scrimmage, I can tell the game feels a lot slower, and everything flows a lot easier."
Fennell will finish the 2024-25 NBL season with the Phoenix, before looking to represent Australia at the 2025 FIBA under-19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland. Once that tournament comes and goes, he plans to arrive in Syracuse for his freshman season.
When he arrives, he wants expectations; if anything, it's just so he can have the satisfaction of overcoming them.
"Playing in front of a huge crowd, and knowing they all love hoops, that's just a great place to be around," Fennell said.
"For me, it's about having something to prove, playing with a chip on my shoulder. I want everyone to see how much work I've put in, and how much I love this game."
OrangeXtreme
The Mayor of Dewitt
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 232,360
- Like
- 422,916
Remember when this was the Donnie Freeman has an injured foot thread?
When Red announces tonight that Freeman is done for the year, what will you guys talk about?
When Red announces tonight that Freeman is done for the year, what will you guys talk about?
albanycuse
Dion Waiters
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 5,818
- Like
- 11,487
How Red knew and lied about it this whole time..
Fly Rodder
Hall of Pretty Good
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 11,120
- Like
- 33,637
How the Orange were completely outclassed by a visiting Duke team?
DCUNITED13
Scout Team
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2021
- Messages
- 308
- Like
- 692
Outside of Pearl and Ennis & McNamara we have not had great success with a freshman PG. IMO (as I'm no an insider LOL) Red preaches team building. One thing is lets practice what we preach and retain our talent and bring in outside transfers to supplement. He preached it in year and and blew it up in year two.
One thing I see is that our NIL and Freshmen look young, I look at the top 30-40 teams and their players look way more mature. If we continue to recruit "projects" that fall through the cracks we will struggle unless we have continuity in the recruiting process. Next year is the Key for Red. If he retains the players and brings is transfers to fill the gaps we will have a team that can we "watchable" and compete.
Guards are the key and retaining JJ, Moore, Cuffe is paramount. Bring in an experienced PG for 20-25 MPG and a C that can play 20-25 MPG. Our forward position and forward bench could be our strength. If we can retain our rebounding advantages and lower our turnovers we will have more success.
WE NEED TO RETAIN TALENT.
GO CUSE
One thing I see is that our NIL and Freshmen look young, I look at the top 30-40 teams and their players look way more mature. If we continue to recruit "projects" that fall through the cracks we will struggle unless we have continuity in the recruiting process. Next year is the Key for Red. If he retains the players and brings is transfers to fill the gaps we will have a team that can we "watchable" and compete.
Guards are the key and retaining JJ, Moore, Cuffe is paramount. Bring in an experienced PG for 20-25 MPG and a C that can play 20-25 MPG. Our forward position and forward bench could be our strength. If we can retain our rebounding advantages and lower our turnovers we will have more success.
WE NEED TO RETAIN TALENT.
GO CUSE
Similar threads
