Lawrence Moten obit

Syracuse legend Lawrence Moten dies at 53

 

He was not on the list.

Syracuse, N.Y. ― Lawrence Moten, one of the greatest players in Syracuse basketball history, has passed away at the age of 53.

Moten’s daughter, Lawrencia, confirmed her father’s passing on Tuesday. He was found dead in his Washington D.C. home earlier Tuesday.

Moten played at Syracuse from 1991 to 1995. He remains Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer with 2,334 career points. He averaged 19.3 points per game for his entire four-year career at Syracuse.

But Moten’s impact on the Syracuse basketball program went beyond his scoring records.

Moten burst upon the scene when Syracuse was still in the midst of an NCAA investigation. The unheralded recruit out of Washington, D.C.’s Archbishop Carroll High School stayed firm with his commitment to Syracuse, even taking a year at New Hampton (N.H.) Prep to qualify academically.

He averaged 18.2 points per game as a freshman and helped Syracuse to the 1992 NCAA Tournament.

Moten captured the hearts of Syracuse fans with his high socks and a nickname that matched the smoothness of his game ― Poetry in Moten.

Syracuse served a one-year NCAA Tournament ban as a result of the investigation, but Moten returned the Orange to the tournament in 1994 and 1995. He was named a second-team All-American as a senior in 1995.

Moten played two years in the NBA with the Vancouver Grizzlies, but once his playing career was over he came back to Syracuse. He worked with youth groups within the Syracuse city school district.

Just this past June, Moten had returned to his hometown of Washington, D.C., taking a job as general manager for the boys and girls basketball teams at Digital Pioneers Academy.

In a recent conversation, Moten was clearly happy to be back in D.C. and excited about his new position. He talked about scheduling games this season in Syracuse against Nottingham High School and a to-be-determined opponent.

On March 3, 2018, Syracuse University honored Moten by raising his No. 21 jersey to the rafters of the JMA Wireless Dome.

“Lawrence Moten was a Syracuse icon,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement.

“His accolades as Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer and holding the Big East scoring record for 25 years speak for themselves, but his style of play is what energized the Dome and was deserving of his nickname ‘Poetry in Moten.’

“He was a fixture around the program long after his playing career, always with a smile on his face. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Lawrence’s family and friends. He will be Forever Orange.”

Moten was selected in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Grizzlies and later signed with the Washington Wizards in 1998.

He also played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA) through 2006 and played overseas in Spain and Venezuela.

Moten later became the vice president of player development for the Maryland Nighthawks of the ABA. He was the head coach of the Rochester Razorsharks in 2014 and led them to their fourth PBL title.

 

Career history

1995–1997      Vancouver Grizzlies

1997    Papagou

1997–1998      La Crosse Bobcats

1998    Washington Wizards

1998–1999      Idaho Stampede

2001    Maryland Mustangs

2001–2002      Saskatchewan Hawks

2002    Mobile Revelers

2004–2006      Maryland Nighthawks

Career highlights

2× ABA All-Star (2005, 2006)

Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (1995)

3× First-team All-Big East (1993–1995)

Third-team All-Big East (1992)

No. 21 retired by Syracuse Orange