Malachi Richardson, Chris McCullough headline ABL exhibition in Syracuse
Former Syracuse basketball players and NBA first round draft picks Chris McCullough and Malachi Richardson will lead SU alumni team Orange 8 against Dawgtalk, a Georgetown alumni squad on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. at the SRC Arena & Events Center in Syracuse.
The matchup exhibition is part of several Alumni Basketball League Summer Rivalry games that are being held across the country from June to August, with the SU/Georgetown matchup as the penultimate ABL game of the year.
Eric Devendorf is the general manager of Forever Orange, and the roster is rounded out by John Gillon, CJ Fair, Rick Jackson, Paul Harris and Tyus Battle. Dawgtalk will feature former Hoyas Chris Wright and Greg Monroe.
"I’m just excited to team up with my brothers and compete vs one of our biggest rivals," Devendorf said to The Juice Online. "Hope everyone can come and support."
Tickets are on sale and more information about the ABL can be found on their website.
Dawgtalk played College Park Boys (Maryland) in an ABL game last summer, with the Georgetown alumni team winning in a rout.
"(Dawgtalk) deserved another game," ABL Director of Operations Ricky Goings said. "We know that Syracuse had a TBT team that won a championship a couple of years ago and it all kind of lined up."
The TBT team Goings is referring to is Boeheim's Army, and every player rostered on Forever Orange has played for that team at one time or another.
The difference between the two leagues is every player in the ABL must be an alumni of the respective school, and as of right now, the games are one-offs and not in tournament format.
But if things go well, there is discussion about making it into an elimination bracket in the future, Goings said.
The ABL is compensating each player regardless of the outcome, and also offers a path to the National Basketball League based in New Zealand.
The league was co-founded by former NBA star Kareem Rush, currently the co-owner and commissioner of the ABL, and Jake Jackson of Denver-based Jackson Sport Ventures, who also serves as a co-owner.
The 2023 ABL series will wrap with a game between Kansas and Kansas State.
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