Lawrence Moten, the former Syracuse University star who still holds the program’s all-time scoring record, has died at the age of 53.
According to People, his daughter, Lawrencia Moten, confirmed he was found inside his Washington, D.C., home earlier this week. No cause of death has been released.
The university announced his death on Tuesday, September 30, citing information shared by his family. Officials in Washington, D.C., have not provided further details. The lack of clarity has left many in the Syracuse community stunned, as fans and former teammates remember the player who defined the Orange throughout the early 1990s.
Moten wore No. 21 for Syracuse from 1991 to 1995, where he built a reputation as one of the smoothest scorers in college basketball. Nicknamed “Poetry in Moten,” he finished his career with 2,334 points, a record that still stands three decades later. His scoring average of 19.3 points per game helped the Orange to three NCAA Tournament appearances, and he was named a Second-Team All-American in his senior season.
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack called Moten “a Syracuse icon,” adding that his playing style “energized the Dome” and that he remained a visible part of the program long after graduation. His No. 21 jersey was retired in 2018, cementing his place in school history.
After college, Moten spent two seasons with the Vancouver Grizzlies before continuing his career overseas in Spain and Venezuela, as well as in U.S. minor leagues. When his playing days ended, he turned to coaching and mentorship, including a role as general manager for the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs at Digital Pioneers Academy in D.C.
Former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim described Moten’s passing as “very hard to take,” noting that his effortless game sometimes led people to underestimate his talent. “Lawrence was one of our greatest players and one of the best in the history of the Big East Conference,” Boeheim said.
Moten is survived by his daughter.