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Message: [QUOTE="AWMKY, post: 778846, member: 3415"] This is going to be a lot: ESPN/Finklestein Junior [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/181850/tyler-lydon']Tyler Lydon[/URL] (Pine Plains, N.Y./New Hampton) made an early verbal commitment to Syracuse on Thursday night, giving the Orange a jump start on their 2015 recruiting class. The 6-foot-8 forward turned in a series of big performances during the summer evaluation period, first starring at the Reebok Breakout Classic and then picking up a plethora of offers thanks to his performance with the New England Playaz in Las Vegas. [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/181850/tyler-lydon'][IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/recruiting/ncb/players/190/181850.jpg&w=65&h=90&scale=crop&transparent=true[/IMG][/URL] [LIST] [*][URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/181850/tyler-lydon']Tyler Lydon[/URL] [*][URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/database/_/position/PF/class/2015']Power forward[/URL] [*]2015 [*]Committed: [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/183/class/2015']Syracuse[/URL] [/LIST] Pos RkStarsGradeHometown 14 81Pine Plains, NY [B]Why he committed:[/B] While the timing of Lydon's announcement might seem early, the reality was that he already had earned his choice of high-major programs, with offers having come in from various national championship winners. The bottom line here is that Syracuse is almost impossible to beat for kids who grow up in upstate New York, and that's something we've seen time and time again in recent years with the likes of Brandon Triche, [URL='http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61821/dajuan-coleman']DaJuan Coleman[/URL], [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/141430/chinonso-obokoh']Chinonso Obokoh[/URL] and others. [B]What he brings:[/B] Here's the most important part -- Lydon is just scratching the surface of his potential and was trending up as rapidly as almost any 2015 prospect on the East Coast. He's already a long and rangy athlete, but he actually might still be growing and certainly isn't anywhere close to maxing out his frame yet. He's very skilled on the perimeter, already capable of knocking down 3s and pull-ups alike and also a threat to score over smaller defenders from the mid-range area and in. He has a high basketball IQ and is a very good passer from either forward position. He's mobile for his size with a very active floor game that allows him to get his hands on a lot of balls, both defensively and coming off the glass. [B]How he fits:[/B] He fits the Syracuse prototype as the type of long, mobile athlete who will be ideally suited to play the wing in the 2-3 zone. Like most of Syracuse's forwards, he'll have no problem flourishing in transition, but he'll also offer some added offensive flexibility, especially when they're forced to play in the half-court, because of his skill, IQ and ability to create mismatches. Because the zone doesn't differentiate between the forward positions on each wing, Lydon is likely to be matched up against opposing three-men on most nights, making him a virtually impossible cover. Finally, because he projects as someone who will be capable of playing right away, he offers a terrific back-up plan should incoming ESPN 100 PF [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/126289/chris-mccullough']Chris McCullough[/URL] pursue a one-and-done track, as some suspect. [B]How the class is shaping up:[/B] He's the first piece of the 2015 class, but his commitment sets a strong precedent given how strong his reputation was in the northeast region following the month of July. Furthermore, this is not only an example of Syracuse continuing to dominate its backyard in upstate New York, but it's also the second time in as many years the Orange have been able to make a major early score, after landing McCullough in his junior season last spring. [B]Who he reminds us of:[/B] He's a cross between guys like Troy Murphy, [URL='http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/72977/ryan-anderson']Ryan Anderson[/URL], and Rashard Lewis. Physically and offensively he might be best described as a blend of Anderson and Lewis, because of his skill set and still budding physical tools, but his developing toughness, ability to rebound the ball and willingness to cause match-up problems can all be reminiscent of the way in which Murphy used to operate. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?