Syracuse Legends Jim Lee and Rudy Hackett to Finally Get Their Moment in the Dome Rafters
It’s been nearly 50 years since Jim Lee and Rudy Hackett led Syracuse to its first-ever Final Four, but this February, the two captains of that 1975 squad will finally get the recognition they’ve long deserved. The university will honor the duo at halftime of the Orange’s matchup against North Carolina on February 22 - a fitting tribute, considering the Tar Heels were the team Lee stunned with a buzzer-beater in one of the most iconic moments in program history.
For Lee, the news came in the most unexpected of places - standing in the checkout line at a Wegmans in Syracuse. When he saw Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack’s name pop up on his phone, he knew it wasn’t just a casual call. Moments later, he was pushing his cart out of line, eyes welling up as Wildhack delivered the news: He and Hackett would be honored at the Dome this season.
“I hope no one’s looking at me,” Lee told Wildhack. “Because I’m almost in tears.”
Hackett, who got the call separately, wasted no time texting his old teammate: “Hey Jim, it’s official now. We’re in.”
The moment has been a long time coming. Despite being the heart and soul of the team that put Syracuse basketball on the national map, both players had quietly watched their contributions fade from the spotlight over the decades.
Their jerseys - No. 10 for Lee and No. 45 for Hackett - never made it into the rafters alongside other Orange greats. Until now.
Hackett’s Dominance Deserved a Place in History
Rudy Hackett’s senior season was nothing short of dominant. He averaged 22.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game - a stat line that still stands tall in Syracuse history.
No SU player has averaged more rebounds in a season since. And only Billy Owens, who posted 23.3 points per game in 1991, has scored more in a single season.
To put Hackett’s numbers in perspective, here’s how they stack up against some of the most celebrated names in Orange history:
- Derrick Coleman: 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds
- John Wallace: 22.2 points, 8.7 rebounds
- Hakim Warrick: 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds
All three have had their jerseys retired. Hackett, who paved the way for their success, had been waiting in the wings.
Lee’s Moment of Glory - and a Legacy That Endures
Jim Lee’s path to Syracuse stardom wasn’t linear. He started only one game as a sophomore and averaged 13.7 points as a junior.
But by his senior year, he had become the team’s go-to shooter, averaging 17.2 points per game and becoming one of the most reliable free throw shooters in the country. As a sophomore, his free throw percentage ranked fifth nationally - and he literally wrote the book on it: Fifteen Feet for Free.
But his defining moment came in the 1975 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
Syracuse was a heavy underdog against a North Carolina team loaded with future NBA talent - Phil Ford, Walter Davis, Mitch Kupchak, Tommy LaGarde. With the Orange trailing 77-76 in the final seconds, Hackett received the ball in the post and, drawing defenders, kicked it out to Lee. With ice in his veins, Lee rose and hit an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Syracuse a 78-76 win.
He’s never seen video of the shot. But ask any longtime Syracuse fan, and they’ll tell you: that shot changed everything.
It wasn’t just a game-winner. It was a program-definer.
It took down Dean Smith’s powerhouse Tar Heels and sent the Orange to their first-ever Final Four. In the pantheon of great Syracuse moments, only a few rival it - Hakim Warrick’s block in the 2003 national title game being perhaps the only one with more at stake.
Pearl Washington’s half-court buzzer-beater against Boston College? Iconic, but regular season.
Gerry McNamara’s Big East tournament heroics? Legendary, but not a national tournament.
Jason Cipolla’s overtime-forcing shot in 1996? Memorable, but still not quite the same.
Lee’s jumper was the shot that put Syracuse basketball on the national stage.
A Long-Awaited Honor, Finally Delivered
For decades, Lee and Hackett quietly carried the legacy of that 1975 team without much fanfare. Their contributions, while foundational, were overshadowed as the program grew, evolved, and produced new stars. But now, with this long-overdue recognition, the university is making it clear: their place in Syracuse basketball history is secure.
“Let’s face it, when you get something, it always means something,” Lee said. “Whether you got it right away or you had to wait for it, it means a lot. I’m very happy.”
And so are Syracuse fans, who will finally get the chance to stand and cheer for two players whose impact has echoed through generations. On February 22, the Dome won’t just be honoring two former players - it’ll be celebrating a legacy that helped shape the very fabric of Orange basketball.