Syracuse commit Buddy Boeheim, who’s wrapping up his high school career at Brewster (New Hampshire) Academy, has sat a few rows from the court for each of SU’s first three NCAA Tournament games. He’s only missed a handful of Tournament games over the past few years. And he will cheer on Syracuse near the floor again on Friday night, when 11th-seeded Syracuse looks to continue its run, this time against No. 2 seed Duke from CenturyLink Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

“This run has been amazing,” Buddy said on Wednesday. “We know we have a chance every time. These guys are handling everything, playing together, never giving up. It’s awesome to watch this, knowing I’ll be a part of it soon.”

Buddy officially committed on Sept. 8, 2017 to play for his father and suit up for the Orange this fall. He attended several SU games this season, and he watched practices and played pick-up games with team managers and assistant coaches. But his focus over the past week has been on the one goal he has for his time at SU: a national title alongside his dad.

There is no telling how many shots Buddy has made in the Carrier Dome and Carmelo K. Anthony Center. When he wasn’t at school or playing in a game of his own, he practically lived in Melo, Buddy said. He and his older brother, Jimmy, a freshman at Cornell, routinely competed in drills with SU players during the summer.

Buddy, a 6-foot-5, 170-pound shooting guard, progressed from high school reserve to Division-I bound standout, averaging 26.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at Jamesville-DeWitt (New York) High School in 2016-17. He earned All-CNY Player of the Year honors because of an intense work ethic, his coach at J-D, Brad Ike, said. His father, SU head coach Jim Boeheim, told ESPN last year that he has never seen anyone in his 49 years of coaching work harder than Buddy.

“He’s as focused as he’s ever been,” his mother, Juli, said.

Buddy said he focused on his jumpshot and strength this season at Brewster in preparation for his years playing under his dad. But for now, he’s seeking the thrill of another Final Four run.

“What they’re doing,” Buddy said, “is a big goal of mine.”

Published on March 21, 2018 at 5:04 pm

Contact Matthew: mguti100@syr.edu | @MatthewGut21