Lawrence Morten, a celebrated former Syracuse basketball player, has died at the age of 53.
Morten, the leading scorer in Syracuse history with a remarkable 2,334 points, was discovered deceased in his home in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, according to several reports.
“Today is a tragic day for the Syracuse basketball family,” said Jim Boeheim, the renowned Syracuse coach, in a statement provided by the university. “Laurence’s sudden passing is really hard to bear. He was arguably one of the most underrated college players ever. He had such skill, and I think sometimes he didn’t quite appreciate just how talented he was.”
Adrian Autry, the current head coach at Syracuse who played alongside Morten in the 1990s, shared his thoughts as well.
“It’s an incredibly sad day for the Orange community,” Autry remarked. “To me, Lawrence was more than just a teammate; he was a true friend. I can’t think of anyone who was more positive or loved Syracuse more than he did. His basketball talent was extraordinary, and it’s a significant loss for all of us.”
“I had the privilege of playing with him for three years, and I witnessed some astonishing moments on the court. My heart goes out to his family, especially his lovely daughter. He truly was a bright light in our lives.”
Morten’s Syracuse career spanned from 1991 to 1995, where he averaged 19.3 points per game across four years. He helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1994, and 1995, although in 1993, they were excluded due to a one-year ban.
In 2018, Morten’s jersey number 21 was retired by the university.
After being selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies, Morten played parts of three seasons in the league.
In 119 games in the NBA, he averaged 6.3 points per contest for both the Grizzlies and the Wizards. A Washington D.C. native, he had recently returned to his hometown to take on the role of general manager for a local high school basketball team.
“Lawrence Morten was truly a Syracuse icon,” stated John Wildehack, the athletics director. “While he is celebrated for being the all-time leading scorer and for holding the Big East scoring record for 25 years, his unique style brought energy to the Carrier Dome and earned him the nickname ‘Poetry in Motion.’ Even after his playing days, he remained a constant presence around the program, always greeting everyone with a smile.”
“He will eternally be a part of the Orange family.”
