Syracuse basketball has a freshman class that is full of new faces this season, and for Luke Fennell, the journey to the Orange started half a world away.
The four-star was ranked as the second-best player out of Australia in his class by 247Sports. Fennell, a dynamic guard, had a very different path to Syracuse basketball compared to other freshmen.
The Melbourne native was a member of the Australia U18 and U19 teams in 2024 and 2025. Fennell reflects on those experiences.
“Representing the country means the whole world,” said Fennell. “Not just being able to represent and do it for everyone back home, but to build the brotherhood with your best mates, playing at the highest level, playing with the best players in the country.”
Those relationships, he says, became some of the most meaningful parts of his journey.
“So just being able to build those relationships,” Fennell said. “It’s probably one of my favorite things that I’m forever going to cherish. To represent a country with your whole family behind you, all your friends are behind you. All that just means the world combined.”
Fennell was a part of the Australian squad that won the gold medal at the 2024 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany.
“I think just winning the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 2024 was my favorite memory,” Fennell said. “Beating Serbia in the Grand Final, just that feeling of winning that game was unbelievable.”
Competing at that level accelerated his growth, and Luke Fennell took plenty from those experiences in preparation for Syracuse basketball.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to control the pace and how to read the game,” Fennell said. “When things aren’t going as well, then it’s time to slow it down, get into a set, or when it’s time to push the pace.”
That pace the freshman notes has changed now that he’s reached the Division I level, compared to what he experienced overseas.
“I would say it’s 100% faster, definitely a lot faster,” said Fennell. “I think the physicality is down a little bit, but the pace and athleticism are definitely up there.”
That adjustment extends beyond speed. Luke Fennell says the energy surrounding American basketball is also quite different.
“Over here in the US, it’s a lot more competitive, I wouldn’t like to say competitive, but it’s a lot more loud,” Fennell Said. “If someone scores or someone does something on you, you’re gonna hear about it, and people are gonna let you know. I feel like, in Australia, it’s a lot of just go about your business and letting your actions talk, which isn’t a bad thing; it increases the love for the game.”
Fennell also noted the environmental differences between playing for Syracuse basketball and his time in Australia.
“The environment and the fans over here are just something else,” Fennell said. “When you walk out into the dome and you have all those people behind you, that is something that’s definitely a lot different, just so much love and care for the game over here.”
In his final year before coming to Syracuse basketball, Fennell also spent time with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL.
“I had a lot of amazing college alumni [on the team],” Fennell said. “Had Derrick Walton from Michigan, Joe Wieskamp came from Iowa, and Matt Hurt from Duke. So a lot of guys that have been through the system, won a lot of games, played on some really good teams. I didn’t really know where I was going at the start of that MBL season, so when Syracuse reached out, those three guys were really helpful, really important to me during my recruitment process.”
This Syracuse basketball team is generating a lot of buzz, with an exciting freshman and transfer class. While the Orange have plenty of raw talent, their success might come down to how well they can come together as a team. Luke Fennell talked about how welcoming his teammates have been to him, even though he came all the way from the other side of the world.
“My teammates have been really, really good,” said Fennell. “Obviously, coming from all the way across the world, it isn’t easy, but all 13 guys have made me feel really welcome and brought me in with open arms. They’ve just really helped me translate my game to adjusting to them, obviously, I’ve never played with or against any of these guys, so just learning everyone’s game styles, and them helping me out, being patient with me, I can’t thank them enough.”
As Luke Fennell settles into his role on Syracuse basketball, Orange fans have a lot to look forward to. For a Syracuse basketball team looking to build something new, that global experience might be just what they need.