Leaving early has been right call for most Syracuse NBA Draft hopefuls

Given the fact that Tyus Battle never hired an agent when he declared himself eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft, Syracuse Orange fans have been in limbo.

The rising junior had a big sophomore season last year while helping lead Syracuse to the Sweet 16. But most mock drafts have him somewhere between the late first round and mid-second. Without a guarantee to be selected in the first round, there’s plenty of uncertainty remaining on whether or not he should leave SU. However, history wouldn’t indicate as much.

On Syracuse.com today, Mike Waters looked at some previous early departures from Orange basketball, nothing that success has largely come in one way or another for these players — either via a first-round draft pick or in the case of Jerami Grant, what’s rounding into a productive NBA career. So if Battle’s looking at those examples, it’s pretty much a lock he goes to the pros -- with or without that first-round guarantee.

The rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

When Syracuse basketball players leave early for NBA, it’s almost always right decision (Syracuse.com)

If Battle does decide to remain in the draft, he would become the 15th player in Syracuse history to leave school early for the NBA. How did those decisions work out? In almost every case, the decision to leave early turned out to be the right decision.

SU icon Riley Dixon tasked with fixing Giants’ punting woes (Big Blue View)

Dixon couldn’t be more thrilled. After having spent two seasons in Colorado, he is back home. Or, almost as close to home as he could get as an NFL player with only the Buffalo Bills being closer to his Dixon’s Central New York birthplace of Oneida. Asked what he missed most about this part of the country while he was with the Broncos, the 24-year-old said “To be honest with you, my family.”

Years after Bouie, Bona wins battle with Syracuse for Osunniyi (Olean Times Herald)

Bouie had taken a liking to Boeheim for all that he had taught him at SU’s annual summer camps. The next day, the 6-foot-11 Bouie stepped off the bus to Kendall coach Dick Reynolds holding a newspaper with a headline about Boeheim. They went straight to Reynolds’ office, called Boeheim and committed to the Orangemen.

ACC’s proposal to expand NCAA tournament a tough sell (Daily Press)

“So I’m not sure if two years makes a trend,” Kallander said, “but my sense is that is a trend, and with the bias being in place for the regular season from a scheduling standpoint, I’m just a little skeptical as to whether or not quote-unquote mid-majors would really benefit from (tournament expansion).”

Gabriela Knutson wins again, moves on to NCAA singles round of 16 (Daily Orange)

No. 5 Gabriela Knutson advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA women’s tennis championships Thursday morning with a three set win, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, over No. 38 Erin Larner of Northwestern. Knutson’s win leaves her as the top remaining seed on her half of the bracket in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Two Syracuse lacrosse players named All-Americans (Syracuse.com)

EPA Recognizes Syracuse University for Largest Green Power Use in ACC (Syracuse University)

Powell to be Inducted to Lacrosse Hall of Fame (Cuse.com)

In new AD Carla Williams, Bronco Mendenhall has a partner in turning around UVA football (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

K’s Plan: Duke basketball officially headed to Canada this summer (ACC Sports Journal)