The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Local basketball star Sydney Lusher chooses Lemoyne.
Local basketball star Sydney Lusher chooses Lemoyne.
For any young athlete, it is their dream to continue to play at a high level. For Oneidas own Sydney Lusher, that dream becomes a reality.
For any young athlete, it is their dream to continue to play at a high level. For Oneidas own Sydney Lusher, that dream becomes a reality. Lusher has recently chosen to continue her basketball career at Lemoyne College, passing on Dartmouth, Binghamton, Columbia, St. Bonaventure, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Roberts Wesleyan.
“I was looking for coaches who believed in me,” Lusher said. “Whose style of play fit mine. Lemoyne was a perfect fit.”
Lusher has always had a burning love for the game.
“I have been playing for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved to dribble the basketball. I don’t know what to do when I’m not playing a sport. I have always gravitated towards basketball because it is fast-paced, continually moving, and having teammates and coaches around you, striving for the same goal. The feeling after making a great pass, stealing the ball, blocking a shot, or taking charge is like no other”.
Lusher is one of the best players at Oneida High school, but her love for basketball runs
deeper than just high school ball. She played on the Oneida Crusaders youth basketball team for about seven years. For AAU, I played for the Syracuse Nets for two years, City Rocks for three years, and Syracuse Royals for three years.
Syd also has the best support system in the world, her parents. Lusher’s parents chimed in on how proud they were for Syd. Their excitement is through the roof.
“I think a lot of kids feel the need to go, Division 1, but Syd was looking more for a group of girls that she would enjoy playing with,” her dad said. “And to play for a coaching staff that she would care about. I am also proud of all her accomplishments, team mentality, and the amount of time she was willing to put in to get better”.
Her parents have always known what she was capable of when it came to basketball.
“She was probably 2 or 3 years old, and she would pick up a ball and dribble around the pool. When she was in kindergarten, she played with 3rd and 4thgrade girls and continued from there.”
Sydney’s mom had this to say about her play as well as her personality.
“I’m extremely proud of Syd. She excels in whatever she puts her mind to. But to me, it’s not just that she excels; it’s that she’s just a really good person - very down to earth, has a good sense of humor, doesn’t look for the spotlight, and has always been a team player”.
As she prepares for her final year at Oneida High school, Syd and her parents give us some words for her expectations for playing at the next level.
Her parents said, “I think she would enjoy it most if she can help her team win the league and maybe win some tournament games. She doesn’t care about her stats or being the star. She wants to be an important part of it and to help her teammates and coach. So that’s what I want for her too. I want Syd to keep being Syd. I hope Coach Castelli, Coach Annie, and the rest of the team become her college basketball family, and Syd gets to live her dream.
Syd said, “At Lemoyne, I am going to fill any role necessary for the team’s success. I’m just hoping to play and contribute in any way that I can.”
Lusher is an incredible basketball player. I hope we get to see her play her final year at Oneida.
Congratulations to Sydney and her family. We all know you are going to do amazing things at Lemoyne.