With this year’s Syracuse Orange basketball roster featuring plenty of talented and experienced college players, Aaron Womack, a 6-foot-6 freshman, is looking to do whatever Adrian Autry and the team needs.
His shooting ability and high release stand out as his best basketball skill. He’s listed at guard. Interestingly enough, he strikes as a prototypical Syracuse forward of old: long, athletic, and a good fit for a 2-3 zone — capable of anticipating passing lanes, blocks and rebounds.
Womack, however, chose to define himself in a different way.
“I’m just a worker,” Womack said. “I come in the gym every day and I can shoot. I can defend, do whatever the team needs me to do to win. So whatever coach asks me to do I always do it.”
After fielding offers from a variety of low- to mid-majors while in high school, Womack eventually heard from Syracuse. His AAU coach had a relationship with Syracuse General Manager Alex Kline. Assistant Coach Allen Griffin reached out to Womack and set up a visit for September 2024. He went to the Syracuse football game against Holy Cross and was struck at how loud the crowd at the JMA Wireless Dome was.
He committed to Syracuse on the spot. It was announced days later.
“I had a good relationship with coach Griff, everyone on the staff,” Womack said. “Everybody was so nice to me.”
Womack will join a deep backcourt of Nait George, JJ Starling, Luke Fennell, Kiyan Anthony and Bryce Zephir. He and Sadiq White are roommates together. They often drive to practice and classes together.
“Pretty good relationship there,” Womack says. “We talk all the time.”
“That’s my guy,” White said of Womack. “Off the court, we live together. We get a chance to pick each other’s minds. If one (of us) has a rough day the other one picks the other up, just being there for each other.”
While playing time could be hard to come by in year one, Womack is willing to work and prepared to do what Syracuse needs. He has a quiet confidence about him.
“Do whatever I need to do to win. Knock down shots, guard whoever, get steals, get rebounds, get blocks,” Womack said, “and win some games.”
