Kendall native Roosevelt Bouie one of the greatest recruits in SU men's basketball history

Kendall native Roosevelt Bouie was one of the biggest recruits in Syracuse basketball history.

At 6 feet, 11 inches, his ability to physically dominate opponents was undeniable, but his impact as the centerpiece for head coach Jim Boeheim's first season with the Orange helped set the foundation for the years of success that followed.

Bouie was more athletic than most players his size, and his ability to run the court allowed the Orange to play with a bigger front court than most teams could handle.

He made an immediate impact, averaging 10.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. Bouie was an aggressive defender with a wingspan that discouraged opponents from attempting to come inside. If you got too close, he'd swat your shot away. If you pulled up to shoot, he'd be there to get the rebound.

At the other end of the court, Bouie had a knack for working his way inside for high percentage shots, drawing defenders away from his teammates on the perimeter.

Bouie and teammate Louis Orr were the cornerstone of a team that won 100 games and lost just 18 over four seasons. Nicknamed "The Bouie and Louie Show," the pair helped lead Syracuse to four straight NCAA tournament appearances.

Bouie ranks second in SU history in blocks (327), seventh in rebounds (987), 18th in points (1,560) and his 65.4 field-goal percentage as a senior is third best. He was also first-team All-Big East in 1980.

Winning was nothing new for Bouie. At Kendall High School in Orleans County, his basketball team lost only one game in four seasons.

Bouie was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks after graduating from SU, but the prospect of playing for an NBA expansion team wasn't very appealing. He opted instead to head for Europe, where he became a five-time All-star player in the Italian League. He won a European Championship in 1992 and also played for teams in Spain and Switzerland.

In February 2015, Bouie's and Orr's jerseys were retired in front of a crowd of 30,000.

"It's kind of difficult to put into words ... that's the most important, to receive (this honor) with a great player and friend like Louis," Bouie told Jeff DiVeronica in a 2015 Democrat and Chronicle story.

In fall 2023, Bouie launched the Bouie Foundation, which focuses on two things — 50 Winks and Anglers with Aspiration.

50 Winks provides beds and study spaces for underprivileged kids in western and central New York, according to the website.

Anglers with Aspiration provides a free education on the sport of fishing to youths, and affords inner city kids opportunities to practice fishing, the website says.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Roosevelt Bouie one of top recruits in Syracuse Basketball history