Lawrence Moten made his way through the obligatory greeting line.

Hugs were in order for Syracuse men’s basketball coaches Jim Boeheim, Mike Hopkins and Bernie Fine. To most of the Orangemen, Moten offered the traditional handshake. But to freshman superstar Carmelo Anthony, Moten offered a few words.

‘He talked about his scoring when he was a freshman,’ Anthony said. ‘He said I was taking his spot. I had to laugh.’

Given their performances in Syracuse’s 110-88 exhibition victory over Upstate New York AAU at the Carrier Dome last night, it’s easy to spot the similarities between AAU’s Moten and SU’s Anthony. Take away a few years, inches and pounds, and Moten and Anthony would be nearly identical.

Both sported corn rows and high socks, although Anthony’s didn’t stretch as far as Moten’s trademark knee-highs. Both came from similar neighborhoods in the Washington D.C./Maryland area. And both can score — a lot.

‘Lawrence will be scoring when he’s 60,’ Boeheim said of the 28-year-old. ‘He’s one of the most underrated scorers ever to play in the Big East. He knows how to put the ball in the basket.’

Moten left Syracuse after the 1994-95 season as the Big East’s career leading scorer and owns Syracuse’s record for freshman scoring (18.2 points per game). Anthony, who led the Orangemen in scoring for the third straight game with 23 points, should break Moten’s freshman mark.

‘All the power to him,’ Moten said. ‘I just told him to do what he does best.’

What Moten always did best was score. Nothing’s changed.

‘I remember watching him a long time ago,’ Syracuse senior Kueth Duany said. ‘I remember the socks. That and how he was so smooth. He doesn’t look like he sweats out there.’

Hanging on the second level of the Carrier Dome was the ‘Lawrence ‘Poetry in’ Moten” sign that was also present when Moten played for the Orangemen. Underneath it, Moten sank shot after shot.

Moten finished with 29 points, draining 5 of 9 three-pointers. In previous contests with Upstate New York AAU, he’d scored 42 points against Siena, and 32 against Seton Hall.

In Moten’s first visit to the Carrier Dome in more than six years — his last trip was when he worked at a summer camp run by Boeheim — he left the fans with something to remember.

After starting slowly, scoring nine points on 2 of 8 shooting in the first half, Moten blitzed the Orangemen during the second half. He scored eight consecutive AAU points shortly after the break, nailing two three-pointers with Duany in his face. He ended the game the same way, spotting up and hitting a pair as Duany looked on.

‘You never get nervous in your house,’ Moten said. ‘This is my home. It’s mi casa. I was here four years. There’s a lot of love.’

Despite their penchants for scoring, Anthony and Moten have a major difference.

While Anthony fields postgame questions about when he’ll leap to the next level, Moten debates what level he’ll leap to next.

After a three-season stint in the National Basketball Association, Moten took his game to Greece for a year. Next, he spent a season in Venezuela. Then Spain.

He’s also played for the Saskatchewan Hawks, LaCrosse Wildcats and Maryland Mustangs. Last year, Moten suited up for the Mobile Revelers in the National Basketball Development League.

After last night’s game, Moten said he’d visit his wife, Noelene, and kids, Lawrencia and Leilany, until Christmas before heading back to Spain for the upcoming basketball season.

He insists he has no plans of giving up his NBA dream.

‘I’m a basketball player, man,’ Moten said. ‘I’m 28. I still have some time. I’m going to keep doing this for as long as I can. This is what I do.’

Published on November 19, 2002 at 12:00 pm