Syracuse adds another Boeheim

Jimmy Boeheim is going home.

Poised to graduate from Cornell in May and with one year of college eligibility left, Jim Boeheim’s oldest son announced Friday on social media that he’s transferring to Syracuse. He will play as a graduate student for his father and alongside his younger brother Buddy after three seasons with the Big Red.

The announcement on Instagram was all of 14 words. “Back home to the place that made me fall in love with the game,” he wrote.

Jimmy Boeheim placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal in November after the Ivy League announced that it was canceling its basketball season. The 6-foot-8 Boeheim averaged a team-high 16.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 21 games in his junior season in 2019-20.

“He’s a good player and we’re happy to get him,” coach Boeheim said. “Out of high school he was 6-7 and 200 pounds. He wasn’t physical enough to play at Syracuse. Cornell was a great place for him and now he’s 6-8, 225 and is more than strong enough to play here. We’re getting an experienced player that understands the game, can play inside and outside. Really happy to have him here.”

Coach Boeheim said Jimmy would not have made the move if Marek Dolezaj had decided to come back for a fifth year. Dolezaj announced just over a week ago that he would pursue a professional career.