Syracuse Orange Basketball Icon Lawrence Moten Dead at 53

SU Legend Dies at 53

Sad news for college basketball fans, especially those who follow the Syracuse Orange: Lawrence Moten, an SU legend who played in the early to mid-90s, has passed away.

He was just 53 years old.

As a lifelong fan of the Syracuse Orange, this was hard news to stomach. My dad took me to my first SU game when I was about 13 years old, and I’ve been hooked on the Orange ever since.

That’s why the passing of former Syracuse basketball legend Lawrence Moten at just 53 years old feels especially tough.

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All-Time Leading Scorer

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

The cause of death has not been determined.

“This is a tragic day for the Syracuse basketball family,” longtime Orange coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement. “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.”

Moten starred at Syracuse from 1991-95, averaging 19.3 points per game across four seasons, helping the Orange to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, ’94, and ’95.

Current head coach Adrian Autry, who played alongside Moten in the 1990s, echoed the heartbreak. “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, he was one of the greatest to put on the uniform. It’s a big loss.”

Moten’s jersey was retired in 2018, a well-deserved honor for the man who left an indelible mark on Syracuse basketball and the Big East.