SYRACUSE, N.Y. — At the age of 53 years old, Lawrence Moten passed away. He was one of the best basketball players in Syracuse University history. Moten played at S.U. from 1991 to 1995, where he was averaging more than 19 points a game.
Those who knew Lawrence Moten personally, and those who only watched him on the court, are both shocked and upset at the news of his passing.
Mike Theiss, general manager of Manny’s, was a fan of Moten’s legacy he left behind him.
“At the end of the day, you’d look at the stat sheet and he’d have the leading score,” said Theiss.
Theiss remembers Moten coming into his shop on Marshall Street and described him as a kind man.
Number 21, a legacy players that those watching couldn’t take their eyes off of. After starting his basketball career at Syracuse University in 1991, he shortly after became the al time leading scorer for the school.
Who Lawrence Moten was doesn’t just stop at how many points he could score in a night. Rather, a good player and a good person.
Roosevelt Bouie Jr., a former Syracuse University basketball player himself, was a friend of Moten. He described their relationship as brotherly.
“We had a real easy relationship,” said Bouie Jr. “We always had a big hug every time we saw each other. It was just like a family member really.”
Bouie Jr. found out about the news in a group chat with some of their mutual friends. At first, he couldn’t believe the news.
“It must be a mistake or something,” said Bouie Jr.
His first thoughts were about Moten’s two daughters and how they must be feeling now.