SU alum come together for third annual Orange Legends Basketball Classic

With Coming Back Together weekend in full effect at Syracuse University, the third annual Orange Legends Basketball Classic brought former players together for some competitive fun a Nottingham High School on Saturday.

Former No. 1 pick in the 1990 NBA draft and Syracuse legend Derrick Coleman coordinated this event alongside Patricia Mussi from Legends Athletics to give back to the community.

“I felt great being back home,” Coleman said. “Syracuse is my second home. Every time I come back reengaging with the community. We still care and appreciate everything they’ve done for us over the years.”

Former Syracuse basketball players, employees and community members came out to participate in the Legends Classic.

Coleman sat in the coaching chair for the White team, which included forward John Wallace, who led the Orange to a Final Four appearance in 1996.

Other participants were Damone Brown, Eric Devendorf and Mookie Jones, who all played at SU between 1997-2011.

For the Blue team, former third-overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, Billy Owens, alongside current SU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack handled coaching duties. The Blue team consisted of players like Brandon Triche, who played at SU from 2009-2013. Malik Campbell, who played basketball and football at Syracuse from 1997-1999. 

Lazarus Sims participated on the Blue team and has Final Four experience, playing for SU from 1992-1996. 

Photo by Daniel Gaither

Former Syracuse University men’s basketball player John Wallace drives to the basket during Saturday’s Orange Legends Basketball Classic at Nottingham High School.

During halftime of the Legends Classic, Legette-Jack was honored for winning ACC Coach of the Year last season and for her contributions to the Syracuse community. Legette-Jack was grateful for being back at her alma mater, Nottingham High.

Legette-Jack returned to Syracuse in 2022 to coach the women’s basketball team after a decade coaching at University of Buffalo. She played at Syracuse from 1984-1989. 

“This is magical,” Legette-Jack said. “This is like coming back home, coming back to this high school and being on the sideline.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable because I never sat on the bench, and as a coach, I got to sit on the bench, but I’m loving this opportunity to be with my colleagues and friends and hopefully bring some fun to this Community.”

The competitive nature of the Legends classic picked up late, but ultimately, the Blue team took home the 91-88 win.  

Before the game, several SU current women’s basketball players handed out backpacks to current students in the Syracuse city school district.

Wallace said he was grateful for the continuous support of the community.

“There’s no community, there’s no university like Syracuse,” Wallace said. “The way they support us and continue to support us for over 30 years with all the events we do, with everything they do, they always come out.

“You see the support we had today and that happens all the time and we’re very fortunate and lucky to have this support of this community.” 

Syracuse legend and former men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim appeared at the event and stayed post-game to take photos with fans.