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SU Announces Jersey Retirements for Hackett and Lee
12/15/2025 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The jerseys of former basketball standouts Rudy Hackett (#45) and Jim Lee (#10) will join the most significant numbers in Syracuse hoop history when they are retired in a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2025, in the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange are scheduled to host ACC rival North Carolina that afternoon.
Hackett and Lee were teammates on Syracuse's first NCAA Final Four squad, the 1974-75 group that advanced to the national semifinals in San Diego.
"Rudy Hackett and Jim Lee are two of the greatest and most important players in the history of Syracuse Basketball," said John Wildhack, Syracuse Director of Athletics. "They were the leaders of our first Final Four team in 1975. They are deserving of joining our other great players whose jerseys are displayed in the JMA Wireless Dome."
In three varsity seasons at Syracuse, Hackett accumulated 1,496 points and averaged 17.2 points per game. He was the 14th player in school history to surpass 1,000 points and remains tied for 26th on the all-time point list with the Orange. Hackett reached the milestone in 66 contests, a mark that is tied for the 15th fastest at Syracuse. He started 84 of 87 contests he competed in for the Orange.
Hackett was Syracuse's leading rebounder in each of his three seasons and ranks sixth in career rebounds (990) with the Orange. He grabbed 407 boards as a senior (12.7), which was the school record until Derrick Coleman exceeded the total with 422 in 1988-89.
In the 1974-75 season, Hackett scored 709 points, the ninth-best total at Syracuse. His scoring average (22.2 ppg.) remains the eighth highest in a single season with the Orange. Hacket earned 1974-75 All-American recognition from the Associated Press (2nd team) and Basketball Weekly (3rd team).
Lee was also a 1,000-point career scorer at Syracuse, totaling 1,165 points in three years. He ranks 51st on the list of Orange performers who surpassed 1,000 points. Lee led Syracuse in assists in 1973-74 (107) and 1974-75 (115). He started every game of his junior and senior years, a streak of 58 contests.
One of the most successful free-throw shooters in Syracuse history, Lee led the Orange in free-throw percentage in 1972-73 (.885), 1973-74 (.812) and 1974-75 (.812). His career free-throw percentage (.859) ranks fourth at Syracuse.
The Orange made three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament with Hackett and Lee in the lineup and Coach Roy Danforth at the helm. Syracuse posted campaigns of 24-5 (1972-73), 19-7 (1973-74) and 23-9 (1974-75).
Hackett and Lee were both named to the 25-player Syracuse University All-Century Team that was selected by fan vote during the 1999-2000 season. The duo also own residence in the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame. Hackett starred at Mount Vernon High School and Lee was a product of Windsor High School.
Hacket and Lee will join a group of 17 other Syracuse players who have had their jerseys retired: Carmelo Anthony, Dave Bing, Roosevelt Bouie, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Dennis DuVal, Billy Gabor, Vic Hanson, Gerry McNamara, Lawrence Moten, Louis Orr, Billy Owens, Rony Seikaly, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, John Wallace, Hakim Warrick, and Dwayne "Pearl" Washington.
Hackett and Lee were teammates on Syracuse's first NCAA Final Four squad, the 1974-75 group that advanced to the national semifinals in San Diego.
"Rudy Hackett and Jim Lee are two of the greatest and most important players in the history of Syracuse Basketball," said John Wildhack, Syracuse Director of Athletics. "They were the leaders of our first Final Four team in 1975. They are deserving of joining our other great players whose jerseys are displayed in the JMA Wireless Dome."
In three varsity seasons at Syracuse, Hackett accumulated 1,496 points and averaged 17.2 points per game. He was the 14th player in school history to surpass 1,000 points and remains tied for 26th on the all-time point list with the Orange. Hackett reached the milestone in 66 contests, a mark that is tied for the 15th fastest at Syracuse. He started 84 of 87 contests he competed in for the Orange.
Hackett was Syracuse's leading rebounder in each of his three seasons and ranks sixth in career rebounds (990) with the Orange. He grabbed 407 boards as a senior (12.7), which was the school record until Derrick Coleman exceeded the total with 422 in 1988-89.
In the 1974-75 season, Hackett scored 709 points, the ninth-best total at Syracuse. His scoring average (22.2 ppg.) remains the eighth highest in a single season with the Orange. Hacket earned 1974-75 All-American recognition from the Associated Press (2nd team) and Basketball Weekly (3rd team).
Lee was also a 1,000-point career scorer at Syracuse, totaling 1,165 points in three years. He ranks 51st on the list of Orange performers who surpassed 1,000 points. Lee led Syracuse in assists in 1973-74 (107) and 1974-75 (115). He started every game of his junior and senior years, a streak of 58 contests.
One of the most successful free-throw shooters in Syracuse history, Lee led the Orange in free-throw percentage in 1972-73 (.885), 1973-74 (.812) and 1974-75 (.812). His career free-throw percentage (.859) ranks fourth at Syracuse.
The Orange made three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament with Hackett and Lee in the lineup and Coach Roy Danforth at the helm. Syracuse posted campaigns of 24-5 (1972-73), 19-7 (1973-74) and 23-9 (1974-75).
Hackett and Lee were both named to the 25-player Syracuse University All-Century Team that was selected by fan vote during the 1999-2000 season. The duo also own residence in the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame. Hackett starred at Mount Vernon High School and Lee was a product of Windsor High School.
Hacket and Lee will join a group of 17 other Syracuse players who have had their jerseys retired: Carmelo Anthony, Dave Bing, Roosevelt Bouie, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Dennis DuVal, Billy Gabor, Vic Hanson, Gerry McNamara, Lawrence Moten, Louis Orr, Billy Owens, Rony Seikaly, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, John Wallace, Hakim Warrick, and Dwayne "Pearl" Washington.
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