The Syracuse Ring of Honor just grew over the weekend, with SU basketball legend Dave Bing’s addition to the list. There are now eight total people that have been selected: Dave Bing, Jim Boeheim, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Ben Schwartzwalder, Roy Simmons Jr., and Dwayne “Pearl” Washington. Who could be the next few Orange players or coaches to make the list?
Honorable Mentions
There are two great choices that might have to wait a bit. First up is Syracuse women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack. She was an All-Big East selection three times as a player, and became one of the first three female student-athletes to have their jersey retired at SU. Now, coaching has been added to her Orange resume, having built up a conference contender in under two years. Since she still has plenty of coaching ahead of her, the university might wait until later into her career to put her in the Ring of Honor, but she’ll likely make the cut one day.
The second person that might have to wait due to still being active is Gary Gait. As a player, he led SU men’s lacrosse to three championships and was a four-time All-American. Then, Gait brought Syracuse women’s lacrosse to eight championship weekends as a head coach. Now, he’s at the head of the men’s squad. Similar to FLJ, Gait still has work to do, so his selection might come after his coaching years.
Carmelo Anthony
This is an easy choice, right? Carmelo Anthony won Syracuse men’s basketball its only national championship, and is as synonymous with the program as pretty much anyone else. His professional and Olympic career only help his cause. What likely pushes Anthony over the edge is his continued commitment to the team, with his donation that helped build the Melo Center practice facility.
One more thing to consider: Anthony’s son, Kiyan, is a four-star shooting guard recruit in the class of 2025. SU will likely be pulling out all the stops to convince him to commit to the Orange, and giving Carmelo Anthony Syracuse Ring of Honor Status couldn’t hurt.
Don McPherson
Don McPherson is another player that led SU to one of its best seasons, but on the football field. His performances in the Orange’s 11-0-1 season in 1987 will never be forgotten – he was absolutely robbed of the Heisman that year. McPherson is also in the College Football Hall of Fame, which ties the bow on an all-time resume for a Syracuse football player. In his post-playing days, McPherson has been a huge advocate for ending gender-based violence, writing books and publicly speaking on the topic. His legendary play and impressive work off the field make him a worthy selection for the Syracuse Ring of Honor.
