Class of 2025 PG Luke Fennell (Australia) COMMITTED & SIGNED TO SYRACUSE (10/23/24)

[Hopkins16]

We need 2 things next year to be successful. An experienced and skillful point guard and center. We cannot rely on Fennel or Starling if he returns, at the point. We will be bare at center after the season and will need a legit down low player. Right now we are not a sexy destination but money talks. Only big bags will get us the players we need.

A legit point guard would have helped guys like Bell and Moore this year, who are solid shooters but cannot do much else offensively to help themselves get good shots. I hope Red learned that a real floor general covers up so many weaknesses.

 

[baggerbob]

I was very pro-Red going into this season, ignored a lot of the warts with Carlos/Eddie/Bell, and thought we could be decent this year. It's not "haters are going to hate". It's "this program is in freefall and might never recover".

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People need to look at the chart you showed and realize the years from Ennis back all our NCAA seeds were 4 or less. The 4 seeds since were one 8 seed and a number of double digit seeds.
For a program that for a long time was a top 10 program that shows the bottom has fallen out.
It past time for a new beginning, the fans deserve better then what they have been given the last 10 years.

 

[hoopsupstate]

People need to look at the chart you showed and realize the years from Ennis back all our NCAA seeds were 4 or less. The 4 seeds since were one 8 seed and a number of double digit seeds.
For a program that for a long time was a top 10 program that shows the bottom has fallen out.
It past time for a new beginning, the fans deserve better then what they have been given the last 10 years.

People can say what they want, but the second round of sanctions crushed this program. It was almost an excuse for JB to stop going on the road to recruit. It’s not ironic that the program has been on a steady decline since the sanctions happened.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Fennell has got some real skills and reads the floor well. Sees where the open spaces are. Has a very nice 3 point shot. But he is a bit slow. It will be interesting to see his adjustment to the NCAA. International ball is pretty good training, but it might take him a while to get up to speed. His upside to me is a poor man's Chris Mullin. There's a reason he's playing for his national team. The kid is talented.

More like a destitute Chris Mullin, who was one of the greatest college players, an NBA all-star, Dream Teamer, HOFer, and all time great shooter.
I see a bit of MCW with a far better shot. Maybe not as explosive.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I think his athleticism is a little deceiving. He’s 6’6” tall so he’s not one of those smaller guards getting by bigger guards. He reminds me a lot like Proctor at Duke. Big guard who can shoot and drive to the basket. Proctor is not super quick but he gets to where he wants to go. I think he’s from Australia too.

 

[djcon57]

NCAA College Men's Basketball DI current individual Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA Division I Men's Basketball leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

Here are the current NCAA leaders in Assists Per Game

The number of Freshman in the Top 50 = 2

Some kid at Sacred Heart and the 6'9 5 star Russian kid at BYU who played for REAL MADRID.

The idea we would go into next year with Fennell as a starter seems to counter everything that we see currently in college basketball.

But what do I know, Stats lol and all that, right?

This is not to say he can't be a key member of this team next year.

 

[Hopkins16]

People can say what they want, but the second round of sanctions crushed this program. It was almost an excuse for JB to stop going on the road to recruit. It’s not ironic that the program has been on a steady decline since the sanctions happened.

The sanctions hurt, but other good programs received NCAA sanctions and did not fall off the map. If JB didn’t want to go on the road to recruit anymore, he should have retired way before he was released from the program. It was frustrating over his last several years seeing photos or reading of Coach K, Calipari, Miller, Self, Izzo, etc. at AAU events while we were represented by an assistant coach or two. Isaiah Stewart and Hamier Wright had relationships with Coach Hop and not JB, so they followed him all the way to Washington. Thomas Bryant said we took him for granted and thought he was a lock while other schools recruited him hard. Lastly, as the top recruits all saw college as a stepping stone to the NBA, they did not want to play zone. This was well known and other programs and player handlers used that against us. JB’s lack of recruiting effort and being stubborn with the zone are two of the major factors in the decline of our program.

 

[IthacaMatt]

The sanctions hurt, but other good programs received NCAA sanctions and did not fall off the map. If JB didn’t want to go on the road to recruit anymore, he should have retired way before he was released from the program. It was frustrating over his last several years seeing photos or reading of Coach K, Calipari, Miller, Self, Izzo, etc. at AAU events while we were represented by an assistant coach or two. Isaiah Stewart and Hamier Wright had relationships with Coach Hop and not JB, so they followed him all the way to Washington. Thomas Bryant said we took him for granted and thought he was a lock while other schools recruited him hard. Lastly, as the top recruits all saw college as a stepping stone to the NBA, they did not want to play zone. This was well known and other programs and player handlers used that against us. JB’s lack of recruiting effort and being stubborn with the zone are two of the major factors in the decline of our program.

That picture of him sleeping on the bleachers with his mouth agape at an AAU event was probably used against us for years in recruiting, I'll bet.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[RyanCuse44]

He looks really thin which doesn't bode well playing against ACC competition.

 

[Red2003]

He looks really thin which doesn't bode well playing against ACC competition.

Get outta here dude. He's 6'6.

You realize we ran a zone defense with 5'11 JC and 6'2 Cuffe in the game last Tuesday at Pitt. Just him being tall is a step up.

 

[hoopsupstate]

He can actually drive and finish and shoot and make threes. That’s a plus.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The haircut is terrible.

 

[hoopsupstate]

The haircut is terrible.

We can find him a good barber. Make it part of his NIL.

 

[littlereg]

The haircut is terrible.

Brother he’s from Aussie, they’re KNOWN for terrible haircuts that was given

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The haircut is terrible.

Which is perfect for an international player.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Brother he’s from Aussie, they’re KNOWN for terrible haircuts that was given

Agreed. That said that cut has made it to the US too. I see the kids with it at the gym.

 

[Orangezoo]

One nit pick which comes with a younger player even as talented as Luke is despite being 6-6 he still tries to finish contorting his body and going around defenders instead of into them. You see that with Kiyan too- just not yet being as physically mature. That tendency should fade over time but does limit ability around the rim as a driver as it makes you smaller and takes away from opportunities to get to the line.

 

[hoopsupstate]

He shoots a very soft ball. That’s something very good shooters possess. He’s also very crafty with the ball and can be herky, jerky, but very smooth doing it. You will have to defend his three point shooting but respect his ability to get to the rim, as well as his mid-range game. I can’t remember any SU player that has a similar playing style. He reminds me of the Proctor kid from Duke who is another Aussie. I‘m anxious to see how his game translates to SU. It’s nice to see a highly skilled guard coming in. Wormack is also very skilled with a multi-facet game. I think they may both end up being the biggest surprises in next year’s class.

 

[Giants1973]

Are starting PG

 

[orangemass]

He shoots a very soft ball. That’s something very good shooters possess. He’s also very crafty with the ball and can be herky, jerky, but very smooth doing it. You will have to defend his three point shooting but respect his ability to get to the rim, as well as his mid-range game. I can’t remember any SU player that has a similar playing style. He reminds me of the Proctor kid from Duke who is another Aussie. I‘m anxious to see how his game translates to SU. It’s nice to see a highly skilled guard coming in. Wormack is also very skilled with a multi-facet game. I think they may both end up being the biggest surprises in next year’s class.

Soft balls a plus

 

[wiCuse]

Think Robert Braswell when you think of Womack. He won’t be playing much for a couple years. Would gladly eat my words

This is a great comparison. He's right down the road from me. I'm also a little concerned when some say this was a great find by the staff. Marquette and Wisconsin never recruited him... I would also love to eat my words...

 

[hoopsupstate]

This is a great comparison. He's right down the road from me. I'm also a little concerned when some say this was a great find by the staff. Marquette and Wisconsin never recruited him... I would also love to eat my words...

Not true. Marquette was involved and about to offer when he committed. Wormack has a much better offensive game than Robert. Both are good shooters, but Womack is a much better creator, driver and passer.

 

[Bulldog04]

This dude can play and I have no issue if he’s starting PG next year.

 

[orangefog]

This dude can play and I have no issue if he’s starting PG next year.

I mostly agree, but I would love it if we could get a legit PG transfer that makes this kid the backup.