Jim Boeheim talks about Taurean Thompson and the impact he can have in the program as well as what 2017-2018 might look like.
On Friday Jim Boeheim sat down with Adam Zagoria of SNYtv to discuss the arrival of Tauren Thompson and Tyler Lydon’s future in a Syracuse uniform.
On Thursday, Syracuse announced that Taurean Thompson was officially enrolled. Boeheim spoke about what the 2016 recruit can bring to the table.
“He’s big, he’s long, he can shoot,” Boeheim told SNY.tv at the Peach Jam tournament in South Carolina where he’s recruiting some of the top prospects in the country. “He’s a good player, he’s developing. I think he’s come on late.”
Boeheim touched on how Thompson will thrive in Syracuse’s system:
“He’s really long, which helps in our system,” Boeheim said. “He can shoot it, we need shooting. We lost some shooting this year [with Malachi Richardson heading to the NBA]. I think he’s got tremendous long-range potential.”
Boeheim also shared that while Thompson can help a little bit this year, he will be big for Syracuse in his sophomore season when the Orange are only scheduled to have five scholarship players right now. Syracuse will lose Tyler Roberson and DaJuan Coleman after this year and Boeheim hinted that the Orange will likely lose Tyler Lydon.
“[Thompson] can help a little bit and three of those guys are going to be gone next year, Tyler, Tyler, Dajuan,” Boeheim said of the two seniors next year and Tyler Lydon who is projected as the No.21 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
Boeheim is also already talking about potentially finishing what the Orange started last year and returning to the Final Four:
"[Frank] Howard's gotten better, Tyler [Lydon]'s gotten better, Tyus Battle's a very good player," Boeheim said.
“We’re probably in much better position heading into this year than we were last year and last year turned out pretty good,” Boeheim said. “ I like our team. The big guy [Chukwu] is pretty good. He can block shots. He can block a lot of shots.”
Andrew White is another player the Orange could add to the fold for the 2016-2017 season and Boeheim added “we might get somebody else.” White would be huge for the Orange who just need one more consistent threat from 3-point range from complete the full picture.
