sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to World Parrot Day!
World Parrot Day was created by World Parrot Trust in 2004 to highlight the plight of wild parrots and raise awareness about the role of importing birds in causing this plight. In the lead up to the first observance, World Parrot Trust had put forth a petition that called for the European Union to ban the trade of wild birds in Europe, and it had been signed by tens of thousands of people from dozens of countries. On the first World Parrot Day, zoos around the world marked the day and celebrants gathered at London's Trafalgar Square. Supporters of the petition and their parrot companions marched from the square down Downing Street to deliver it. Their efforts bore fruit in 2007. Today, World Parrot Day aims to highlight the threats that captive and wild parrots face, and zoos and other organizations hold special events around the world.
SU News
Transfer portal, fit and NIL money: How it works to build a Syracuse basketball roster (PS; $; Ditota)
The transfer portal in college basketball has become a crucial way for teams to build rosters. After this season, six Syracuse players entered the portal; Orange coaches thus far convinced three transfers to play for SU in 2024-25.
Amid those Orange transfer infusions, there was some confusion about the status of Eddie Lampkin, the highest-profile of SU’s incoming transfers. Could other schools keep recruiting him after he pledged to attend SU?
The transfer portal is complicated.
The way men’s basketball transfer deals are struck at the Power 5 level depends on the perceived value of the transfer, a school’s interest in adding a player at his position and the amount of money each program has and is willing to spend. For Syracuse right now, that number is about $2 million.
NIL these days is largely governed by collectives that operate independently of the schools they serve, though that distinction has blurred and coaches can now interact with collectives to provide a shopping list of players they hope to entice.
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When was the last time SU basketball had 5-star recruits in back-to-back years? (Mike’s Mailbox) (PS; $; Waters)
I had a full Mike’s Mailbox completely ready to go earlier this week and then came the news on Wednesday that Sadiq White, a consensus Top 30 player in the 2025 recruiting class, had committed to Syracuse.
That forced the Mailbox to go into editing mode. In an attempt to stay relevant, the Mailbox had to address some of the questions that were sent in following White’s announcement.
I picked out one of many questions related to White’s decision to use this week and kept a few more for next week.
(If you have a question for the Mailbox, email it to mwaters@syracuse.com).
Q: When was the last time Syracuse landed 5-star recruits in consecutive years?
Mike K.
Mike: On Wednesday, Syracuse got a commitment from Sadiq White, a 6-foot-8 forward from Charlotte, N.C.
White is a highly regarded prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. Using 247Sports.com’s composite rankings, which take into account a player’s rankings in several of the best-known recruiting services, White is listed at No. 24 and considered a five-star recruit.
White is Syracuse’s second five-star recruit in the last two years. He follows Class of ‘24 recruit Donavan Freeman, a 6-10 forward out of Washington D.C., to Syracuse. Freeman is at No. 13 in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the ‘24 class, which earns him five-star status.
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(youtube; radio; Orange Nation)
247Sports Publisher, Mike McAllister joins Steve & Paulie to discuss 'Cuse Men's Basketball's newest commit Sadiq White. Mike discussed the player Syracuse should be expecting and gave insight to what he's heard on who Sadiq is as a person, and more.
Axe: Why Sadiq White picked Syracuse and who is SU’s top recruiting target now? (podcast) (PS; podcast; Axe)
Sadiq White has been a top recruiting priority for the Syracuse basketball coaching staff for well over a year.
Now that the five-star prospect in the Class of 2025 has announced his commitment to Syracuse, who moves up to the top spot on list?
Syracuse.com’s Brent Axe and Mike Waters discussed that and more on a live version of Syracuse Sports.
Brent and Mike also discuss other recruiting targets on SU’s radar and catch up on the latest SU basketball offseason news including Eddie Lampkin’s re-affirmed commitment to the Orange and what that means for the upcoming season.
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Syracuse Basketball Lands 2025 5-Star Forward Sadiq White - Could Kiyan Anthony be NEXT?! (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Basketball landed 2025 priority Five-Star Forward Sadiq White. White announced his decision with On3 Recruiting Analyst Joe Tipton and he's the first recruit for Adrian Autry in the class of '25. Could White be the first domino to fall for the Orange -- Kiyan Anthony and/or Tyler Jackson next?
Syracuse Basketball: 'We need to hang more banners,' 5-star commit Sadiq White says (itlh; Adler)
Sadiq White Jr., the long-time Syracuse basketball priority recruit in the 2025 class, wants to help return the Orange program to its days when the 'Cuse was one of the elite teams around the country.
He's not alone in that sentiment. While the 6-foot-8 White, a five-star forward and a consensus top-35 national prospect from Charlotte, N.C., is the Orange's first 2025 verbal commit, the squad's two prep signees in its 2024 class possess the same mentality in getting Syracuse basketball back on top.
The 'Cuse 2024 cycle includes a trio of four-star transfers, as well as two high school commits in five-star power forward Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C., and four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore from New York City.
Freeman, rated as high as No. 6 nationally in the senior cycle, has put forth a storied prep career where he has won a lot of games both in high school and on the AAU circuit. As numerous national analysts and scouts have noted, Freeman is a proven winner, and he has said he looks forward to continuing that trend on the Hill.
Moore, a lethal long-range shooter and a top-10 shooting guard in 2024 class, has also mentioned in various interviews how he's laser-focused on arriving in Central New York and doing whatever he can to help Syracuse basketball return to its glory days.
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Syracuse basketball 4-star target Dante Allen moves to Montverde, nation's No. 1 team (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse basketball 2025 four-star recruit Dante Allen will spend his senior year at the country's premier high school program.
According to social media posts, the 6-foot-4 Allen is transferring to the powerhouse Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., which finished the 2023-24 season undefeated and won the high school national championship.
Allen, a top-100 overall player and a top-15 shooting guard in the rising senior cycle, received a scholarship offer from the Orange staff in late April of this year. Dating back to mid-April, he is one of at least five prospects in the 2025 class to pick up a 'Cuse offer.
Since landing a Syracuse basketball offer, per media reports, the 'Cuse staff has been in consistent contact with Allen, and I believe he's a prospect to monitor for potentially taking an official visit to the Hill in the coming months.
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Why new five-star commit Sadiq White is so important to Syracuse (orangefizz.net; Shalam)
Class of 2025 power forward Sadiq White committed to Syracuse last night. White is the first member of the ‘25 class to commit to SU and is ranked as the 26th overall recruit in 2025. So, what has White’s numbers looked like so far, how does he fit in SU’s system and why is this such a big get for Coach Autry?
White’s high school stats
There’s a reason that White’s ranked as a five-star recruit. This past high school season, the Charlotte native averaged just under 17 points per game in 28 games. White also racked up just under six rebounds a game slotting in at the center position. As for his play in the Nike EYBL league, the forward is averaging just over 11 points and a little under five rebounds a game. Scouts have said there is plenty of room for White to improve and that his numbers should go up in the travel league as time goes on.
How does White fit in SU’s system?
White is described as a player who is “super bouncy, able to play up at the top of the box, and quick with his second (and third) bounces” by 247 Sports Director of scouting Adam Finklestein. His skill set fits into what Autry is looking for in the next few years. Besides Jesse Edwards, Syracuse hasn’t had a true center presence in several years, but that now seems to be changing. Between center Eddie Lampkin Jr. and forward Donnie Freeman being on the squad this season, the Orange are returning to having a consistent skilled big man. White is the perfect player to keep making an impact in the paint, and slots well into Autry’s system.
Why is this such a big commitment for Autry?
Autry has only had two players from high school officially pledge to Syracuse, those two being Freeman and White. For the first-year head coach, that’s more than promising. White has five stars and is rated as the number-one player in North Carolina for the 2025 cycle. As for Freeman, he’s also a five-star and ranked 15th overall in the class of 2024. If Autry can keep landing commits like White who picked Syracuse over bigger programs like Tennessee and Alabama, the future is more than promising for SU basketball.
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Syracuse men’s basketball: Oshae Brissett makes Orange history with NBA Finals run (TNIAAM; Tomaiuolo)
The Boston Celtics have punched their ticket to the 2024 NBA Finals following a sweep of the Indiana Pacers that concluded on Monday night. One former Syracuse Orangemen helped them get there, making history in the Salt City.
Oshae Brissett became the fifth Syracuse player ever to qualify for the championship round. In two years with the Orange, the Toronto native averaged 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game from 2017-19. Brissett declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season but went undrafted and signed as a free agent with his hometown Toronto Raptors.
After a year in Canada and three seasons with the Pacers, Brissett shipped over to Boston this offseason. His role as a small forward saw him average 11.5 minutes in the 2023-24 regular season, contributing 3.7 points and nearly three rebounds per game. Brissett also made an impact in the playoffs, where he featured in 50% of Boston’s games and scored nine total points.
If Brissett takes the court in the finals, he’d be the fourth Orangemen ever to do so and the first in 44 years. Marty Byrnes last represented SU in 1980, seeing one minute of action when his Los Angeles Lakers took down the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
Other former Syracuse players to see action include Dennis Duval (Washington Bullets, 1975) and Bill Gabor (Syracuse Nationals, 1950, 1954). Dion Waiters won a championship with the Lakers in 2020 but, due to an injury, didn’t play in the Western Conference Finals or NBA Finals.
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In this file photo, Kenny Chesney performs at the Syracuse amphitheater in 2018. Michael Greenlar | syracuse.com Michael Greenlar
Kenny Chesney performs at Empower FCU Amphitheater in Syracuse (set list) (PS; $; Herbert)
Country superstar Kenny Chesney returned to Syracuse for a packed concert at the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on Thursday night.
The ambassador of No Shoes Nation performed his biggest hits, including “When the Sun Goes Down,” “American Kids,” “Get Along,” “Summertime,” “All the Pretty Girls” and “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem.” He also played his new song, “Take Her Home,” from his latest album, “Born.”
Chesney previously performed at the amphitheater, previously known as St. Joe’s Amp and the Lakeview Amphitheater, in 2018 and 2022. He also headlined the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last year at the En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, near Binghamton.
Thursday’s set list was similar to those recent shows, but included different songs like “Guitars and Tiki Bars,” “Keg in the Closet,” and “Never Wanted Nothing More.” Most surprisingly, Chesney is not performing the fan favorite “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” on this tour, instead opting to play “Don’t Happen Twice” as his encore, according to setlist.fm.
Megan Moroney, who will return to Syracuse for a free New York State Fair concert on Aug. 26, opened the show. The 2024 winner of the ACM Awards’ New Female Artist of the Year is known for songs “Tennessee Orange,” “I’m Not Pretty” and “No Caller ID.”
This month has been the warmest May in Syracuse in more than a century (PS; $; Coin)
It might not feel like it this morning, but this month has been the warmest May in Syracuse in 113 years.
If National Weather Service predictions for today are realized, this month’s average temperature should end up at 64.6 degrees. That’s more than 6 degrees above normal. Only May 1911 was warmer, and just barely, at 64.7 degrees.
If temperatures pan out to be several degrees warmer this afternoon than forecast, this month could tie the May 1911 record.
Regardless, Syracuse did set two other records this month:
-- The high temperature of 93 degrees on May 22 was the hottest ever recorded on that date. It broke the record of 92, set, again, in 1911. That 93-degree day last week tied for the second-hottest day ever recorded in the month of May in Syracuse.
-- The nine consecutive days of 80 degrees this month was the longest such stretch ever measured in May. From May 19 to 27, Syracuse reached at least 80 each day. That broke the record of eight straight 80-plus May days, first set in 1976 and then tied in 2016 and May 2020.
The strong weather system that spawned deadly tornadoes in the South and Midwest steered warm air into Upstate New York this month, said New York state climatologist Mark Wysocki.
“It opened up the Gulf of Mexico, and so warm air was able to move up the East Coast,” Wysocki explained. “We simply ended up with a lot of warm air.”
That air stalled above the Northeast, he said, delivering that string of 80-plus days in Upstate New York.
Of the 10 warmest months of May on record in Syracuse, five of them have come in the past 13 years.
Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market sets dates for 2024 (PS; $; Cazentre)
The Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market returns this summer with fresh produce, flowers, specialty foods and more starting Tuesday, June 11.
The market takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Tuesday through Oct. 8. There is no market on Sept., 3, the day after Labor Day. The market is held in Clinton Square except for June 25, when it will be in the One Lincoln Center lot at South Salina and Washington streets.
Each market day features live music from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For opening day, the entertainer is local Elvis impersonator Tom Gilbo.
The market showcases produce from dozens of local farmers through the growing season, so the range will run from spring asparagus to fall apples. Cheeses, meats, baked goods and other items are also available.
A rotation of different food trucks will also park at the market each Tuesday.
The market is run by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse and sponsored by Pathfinder Bank. The live music series is sponsored by CNY Arts, Onondaga County and SUNY Oswego.
Local restaurant patrons can “round up” their bill to benefit SU NIL collective (cnybj.com; Reinhardt)
Syracuse–area independent restaurant owners say they’re partnering with Syracuse University (SU) Athletics, giving patrons the chance to “round up” their bill to benefit SU student-athletes.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the partnership on Thursday.
Surrounded by local restaurant owners, McMahon made the announcement outside the John A. Lally Athletics Complex on Syracuse’s South campus. SU men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry and SU football coach Fran Brown both attended the announcement.
Patrons at participating restaurants will have the opportunity to “round up” when paying the bill, McMahon said.
“And whether you’re rounding up to the dollar or rounding up with a couple of dollars, that would be the patron’s choice,” he noted.
The extra dollars and cents would benefit Orange United, and the student-athletes involved in the NIL program. Syracuse University (SU) Athletics back in September unveiled Orange United, which the school describes as the “preferred” NIL collective for Syracuse student-athletes to leverage their name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities to earn money. Orange United is “powered” by Atlanta, Georgia–based Student Athlete NIL, or SANIL, SU said in its announcement.
NIL is playing a major role in college sports recruiting these days with most universities deploying collectives to help compete as the average NIL deal needed to attract high-level recruits to commit to a university continues to rise in value.
The initiative also seeks to benefit area restaurant businesses and the local economy and community.
“Syracuse Athletics drives the hospitality industry,” McMahon said. “Coach Autry knows this and Coach Brown is learning this, when we are doing well in Syracuse athletics, the mental health of this community is much better.”
Some of the participating restaurants in the pilot program include Apizza Regionale; Emerald Cocktail Kitchen; Kitty Hoynes; Scotch ‘N Sirloin; Noble Cellar; King David’s Restaurant; Middle Ages Brewing Company; Trappers II Pizza & Pub; The Taphouse on Walton; Buried Acorn; Pavone’s Pizza; and Willow Rock Brewing Company.
The program begins June 1 and continues through Aug. 1, Mark Hayes, general manager of Orange United, said in his remarks at the Thursday morning announcement.
“We want to drive awareness. We want to drive foot traffic to these local establishments … and also supporting the mission to help our student-athletes,” Hayes added.
He also noted that selected SU student-athletes will provide their own engagement with the restaurants involved, including social-media posts and meet-and-greet events.
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