The weather may be wonderful in Central New York this week, but the leaves are starting to fall, which means we’re oh-so-close to basketball season. 2024 has a lot to be desired for Syracuse fans, especially with the debut of highly touted freshman Donnie Freeman. But looking ahead, now’s the time that we start to see dominoes fall for the class of 2025, and that was the case today.
Earlier today, it was announced that combo guard Luke Fennell has officially committed to Syracuse for its 2025 class. Fennell, standing at 6’6, chose the Orange over teams such as California, Florida, Louisville, and St. Bonaventure. Fennell becomes the third player to join SU’s 2025 class, alongside five-star forward Sadiq White and wing Aaron Womack.
Fennell is described as “a big guard who is really skilled with a high IQ for the game,” according to 247 Sports analyst Travis Branham. “He’s not the most athletic but he’s a kid who knows how to get to his spots. He is a capable scorer at all three levels and is very comfortable operating out of ball screens and has some playmaking ability.”
The 18-year-old most recently played for Team Australia in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup Gold Medal. In the semifinal game, Fennell scored 24 points alongside five rebounds and four assists while shooting 50% from behind the arc. Against New Zealand in the gold medal game, Fennell added 11.
Fennell has never visited the Syracuse campus, however, was pursued heavily by Adrian Autry and company this past summer.
“Committing to Syracuse was the most seamless process,” Fennell said via his agent Daniel Moldovan. “The fit felt right from the very first conversation. I’ve developed a great rapport with Coach (Autry) since the process started. A school with such a rich history and a style of play that suits my game is just a great fit for me.”
Landing a player with a professional pedigree like Fennell at such a young age is a huge positive for Adrian Autry and Syracuse. Hopefully, for SU fans, it’s the first of many names to make an impact as the years go on.
