Syracuse basketball: All-time starting 5 lineup

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange looks on during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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SYRACUSE, NY – DECEMBER 17: General view of the stands during a halftime presentation to honor former player Pearl Washington against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Carrier Dome on December 17, 2016 in Syracuse, New York. Georgetown defeated Syracuse 78-71. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

1. G Dwayne “Pearl” Washington (1983-1986)

The unquestioned star of this team is Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, who was the first big recruit Jim Boeheim was able to land after taking over at Syracuse. Washington, who was a legend coming out of high school in Brooklyn, was the nation’s top-ranked prep player when he committed to the Orangemen.

The guard came to school with the nickname of “Pearl” after he picked it up as a kid since his game compared to NBA legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. Washington was an excellent ball-handler, using his patented “shake and bake” move to burn defenders on a nightly basis.

Over the course of his career with the Orangemen, Washington dominated the college game, earning numerous All-American honors while setting the stage for Boeheim to recruit more elite talent like Douglas and Coleman. Washington averaged 15.7 points per game in his career with Syracuse, bolting for the NBA after his junior year in 1986.

The New Jersey Nets took Washington with the 13th overall pick, but his pro career never really panned out. Washington washed out as a pro after just a few years, but his collegiate feats are still the stuff of legend.

Syracuse retired Washington’s no. 31, a feat well deserved for a player who really helped elevate the profile of both the Orangemen and the Big East as a whole nationally. It is only fitting that Washington serves as the star for Syracuse’s all-time starting five since he is the guy who really helped transform the program into what it is today.

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