Syracuse all-time career scoring leader and legendary point guard during the early 1990s, Lawrence Moten, was confirmed deade on Tuesday September 30, at age 53.
He was discovered unconscious in his Washington, D.C., home. The report was confirmed to the local news by his daughter, Lawrencia. As of now, the cause of death has not been made public, although the authorities have said that there is no sign of foul play.
An iconic career
Moten’s career in professional basketball started at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., before becoming a big personality at Syracuse University from 1991 to 1995. Moten was 6-foot-5 and earned the nickname of “Poetry in Moten” because of his elegant and successful style of playing.
Throughout four years of college competition, Moten scored a total of 2,334 points, making him the program’s all-time leading scorer. He also established the Big East Conference scoring mark in league games with 1,405 points.
Following college, Moten was selected in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He played for three years in the NBA, with the Washington Wizards among others before going into coaching. In 2018, his No. 21 jersey was retired by Syracuse in a ceremony at the Carrier Dome in honor of his legacy.
Heartfelt tributes from the basketball community
Moten’s death has produced an avalanche of tribute in the basketball world. Syracuse’s former head coach, Jim Boeheim, called it “a tragic day for the Syracuse basketball family” and Moten “, describing Morten as “one of the most underrated college basketball players in history.”
Current head coach, Adrian Autry, who was also a former Moten teammate, recalled him as a friend and good influence. Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack called Moten an “icon” whose legacy will be felt for generations to come.
A forever impact
Aside from his on-court success, Moten was a community-oriented person. When he left his professional career behind, he went back to Washington, D.C., where he served as general manager for Digital Pioneers Academy, a local high school. His dedication to coaching young men and his positive attitude off the court had a lasting effect on everyone who met him.
While the basketball world laments his passing, Lawrence Moten’s playing, coaching, and community leader legacy remains.
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