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SU Transfer’s Debut Stymied By Rain Eddie Lampkin Debut Stymied By Rain

By Josh Crawford

MCU of women basketball player
© 2024 Mike Sugamosto

CAMILLUS, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Last week’s Salt City Pro-Am Basketball Tournament matchup was a highly anticipated potential faceoff between hometown hero J.J. Starling and new transfer Eddie Lampkin.

The event, led by Mike Sugamosto, newly appointed head basketball coach at Corning Community College. Unfortunately, due to record high temperatures and humidity in Syracuse, leading to wet floors, Lampkin was unable to play.

However, with this year being the 11th iteration of the event, and having gone through a successful rebrand, event organizer Mike Sugamosto was all smiles looking around at the packed gym.

For the recently hired head basketball coach at Corning Community College, this tournament signifies more than a rebranding; it’s a celebration of Syracuse’s athletic diversity and a testament to the community’s shared passion for basketball. Sugamosto told NCC News that he plans to have his own dedicated space for the event within the next three to five years. 

Crawford: “FANS PACKED INTO THE ST. JOSEPH’S AUXILIARY GYM IN CAMILUS TO SEE EDDIE LAMPKIN, THE CROWN JEWEL OF ADRIAN AUDTRY’S TRANSFER PORTAL RECRUITING CLASS, MAKE HIS FIRST-EVER ON-COURT DEBUT IN THE 315.”

Crawford: BUT, WITH TEMPERATURES SOARING, THE COURT BECAME DANGEROUSLY SLIPPERY, AND LAMPKIN DECIDED NOT TO RISK INJURY. DESPITE LAMPKIN ELECTING NOT TO PLAY, THE COMMUNITY AND SU ATHLETES CAME OUT IN DROVES TO SUPPORT,. INCLUDING S-U STAR RUNNING BACK LEQUINT ALLEN, AND FLORIDA STATE TRANSFER NAHEEM MCLEOD.

Allen: “I came out to support today because I’m a big community guy, I’m big on community and Syracuse, and Syracuse is a great community and I’d love to be apart of it, always. So, whenever I have off, I love to show love.”

Crawford: “FOR NAHEEM, IT WAS A CHANCE TO SEE HIS POTENTIAL STARTING FRONTCOURT MATE, AND HE’S EAGER TO BACK ON THE COURT AFTER AFTER ONLY PLAYING 12 GAMES LAST SEASON DUE TO INJURY.”

McLeod: “He’s gonna make a huge impact, help rebound, score, you know, he pass the ball a lot, you know, him having my back, and me having his back, we’re going to together, and we’re going to run the ACC.”

Crawford: “DESPITE THE DISAPPOINTMENT, EVENT ORGANIZER MIKE SUGAMOSTO, RECENTLY HIRED HEAD COACH AT CORNING COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WAS PROUD TO PUT ON THE EVENT, WHICH RECENTLY UNDERWENT A REBRAND TO INCLUDE SYRACUSE’S SALT CITY NICKNAME.”

Sugamosto: “To be honest, it’s more than just basketball and it’s more than just running a business, it’s to bring everybody together. We all have the same passion, a shared love for basketball, and I want to provide people the ability to see players up close.”

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