Carmelo Anthony Helps Syracuse Land Francis Folefac, Third Siena Transfer
carmelo anthony helped Syracuse land another Siena transfer on Monday, with Francis Folefac becoming the third Siena player to follow Gerry McNamara to the Orange. The move adds a defender who earned more responsibility as the season went on and handled a key championship assignment at Siena.
Folefac's rise at Siena
Folefac arrived at Siena as a freshman who played in every game and opened with 11 points in 13 minutes in an 82-66 win over Bryant. He scored in double figures five more times before November ended, then moved into the starting lineup permanently on December 22 in a loss to Indiana.
That night, he scored 19 points. His role kept growing after that, too. He averaged 22.8 minutes per game in the first 12 contests, then 30.8 minutes per game after December 22.
Merrimack scouting test
Siena leaned on him again in the MAAC Tournament semifinal against Fairfield, where he played 36 minutes and posted 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists. After that game, he said, “Just doing whatever I can to help the team win.” He added, “Coach puts a lot of faith in me to be able to do a lot of things on the court, and our staff trusts me, my teammates trust me. I just wanted to come in and do whatever I can to fill that void for us.”
The final tested that versatility. Against Merrimack, he was assigned to guard MAAC Player of the Year Kevair Kennedy and held him to four free throw attempts and 5-for-18 shooting from the field. Ben Lee said, “I trust Francis Folefac guarding anyone at any position,” and added, “(Kennedy) is a handful 15 feet and in. Francis is an elite, elite defender. So just his length and physicality, I thought it was the best look for us.”
McNamara's Syracuse pipeline
Gerry McNamara said after that game, “We challenged him yesterday,” and, “And just like he has all year, he comes in ready. Francis Folefac helped change the trajectory from last year to this year.” Former teammate Gavin Doty called him, “Francis is a dawg, he’s a different beast,” and said, “His length and physicallity, and he can guard a guard, he can really guard a big.”
That backdrop explains why Syracuse wanted him. Folefac reportedly visited Georgia Tech as well, but the Orange add a player who showed he could defend on the perimeter and survive inside the 15 feet and in zone that decided Siena’s season. He joins Tasman Goodrick and Gavin Doty as the third Siena player to follow McNamara to Syracuse.
