Class of 2026 C Abdramane Siby (Mali) COMMITTED TO SYRACUSE (4/15/26)

[sufan59]

This roster is going to have insane length. We may have to break the zone out.

Boeheim when he sees the size and wingspans of these guys

 

[granthath9]

Nothing in the hightlights seems to prove he has much of an offensive skillset, but man does he have physical abilities. If the free throw percentage jump means something, he could be getting better offensively.

As long as he's a lob threat and running the floor like he is some of these videos, thats more than sufficient for a defense first big.

 

[orangemass]

He can dunk

 

[RF2044]

I don’t know this isn’t Pascal we are talking about. Go watch Pascals tape in HS then watch this. This dude can move and seems coordinated.

Agree.

But take video like this with a grain of salt. I remember back when we recruited Bourama Sidibe when he was in high school. This was pre-injuries, which really derailed him.

In his film, Sidibe would get rebounds, handle the ball in the open floor [just like Siby's footage], and dish it off with nifty passes to teammates in transition or dunk on people. Defenders would try to steal the ball, and he'd go around his back, etc. and keep pushing it upfloor.

My first impression was -- geez, this guy handles the ball like Derrick Coleman.

We obviously saw NONE of that capability when he arrived at Syracuse.

Siby's footage 100% reminds me of Sidibe's.

What DID pop for me was the athleticism, the court vision, the reasonably good offensive foundational skills, the shot blocking. This is a decent prospect, he just might need time.

 

[Franz69]

 

[qdawgg]

 

[phil77]

Defense and rim running if you are elite at it you can make it to the NBA doing that. Not having an "offensive game" isn't the end-all, be-all.

 

[Wrinkle]

I'm not sure how you can watch videos of him and think that. Go pull up videos of 7 footers playing CBB last year and show me one moving better than him in the open court. There will be very few

I'm gonna disagree on that, think this guy can be OK but he's not jumping off the tape

 

[Cusesky8214]

He can dunk

Foul shooting % ?
Running the floor/defense/blocks
Some nice passes in there.
Looks like he can chew gum and walk at the same time. (Cant say that for some of the projects we've brought in over the years)

But yes, he can dunk too.

 

[RedtheGOB]

A 7 footer that shoots over 80% from the FT line is unheard of at Syracuse.

Most of our team couldn't get close to that last year including our SHOOTING Guards

For people saying he has no offensive game just remember that we couldn't put 80% of our roster on the court in late game situations just because they would foul us and it would be an empty possession.

 

[Cuse12]

I love this pickup. Gerry said in his interview “I look for positional size”. He wants big guys to be bigger than most other teams big I suspect. I absolutely love what I see in those highlights. We have been through our fair share of minimally coordinated bigs, and this guy seems to be able to move, dribble etc.

 

[Caleb8800]

I'm gonna disagree on that, think this guy can be OK but he's not jumping off the tape

I'm not jumping over the moon either but to call him "lumbering" couldn't be more inaccurate. Does that mean he'll be good? No, but he's not lumbering by any means

 

[boog7]

If there is not an Inspector Gadget or Stretch Armstrong, or pterodactyl night, the marketing folks are missing out.

Kid has some long ass arms. Barely has to jump to dunk.

 

[orangefog]

Typing on my phone while in a meeting lol

I understand, I’m getting my SU fix in while on the third day of jury selection here in Jacksonville. I’m surprised I can spell at all. I’ve never had jury duty like this.

 

[Cuse99&01]

Comments about his limited offensive game and all he does is dunk....serious question what did Kyle do offensively other than dunk?

 

[RF2044]

Foul shooting % ?
Running the floor/defense/blocks
Some nice passes in there.
Looks like he can chew gun and walk at the same time. (Cant say that for some of the projects we've brought in over the years)

But yes, he can dunk too.

Agree, he's got some foundational offensive skills. Another thing to consider: we have Arinze on this team as an Assistant Coach.

Arinze is one of the best [if not THE best] low post offensive centers we've ever had. He'll be able to do things in practice against Siby at 6-9 and BIG that other coaches can't. He'll also be able to help him refine his low post skills, by teaching him the tricks / techniques that made Onuaku himself so effective on the block.

Hopefully, this isn't just a kid who "only" ends up being a pogo stick / rim protector. Would love to see a guy like this develop into an NBA prospect here, solidifying the center position down the road.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Granted they're highlights, but they look good.

Yes, but you can see he looks comfortable out there. Much different than seeing highlights of a shooter making shots. He is coordinated, already some semblance of a post game. Fundamentally sound. Passing skills show good instincts and awareness. Great physical specimen.

Looks like Gerry's Scranton coal-mining skills travel. This kid is a diamond.

 

[Cusesky8214]

Comments about his limited offensive game and all he does is dunk...serious question what did Kyle do offensively other than dunk?

He had the ugliest foul shot in the history of Syracuse basketball...so there's that?

 

[Wrinkle]

I'm not jumping over the moon either but to call him "lumbering" couldn't be more inaccurate. Does that mean he'll be good? No, but he's not lumbering by any means

I mean from the little I've seen he moves about how you would expect for his size in open floor and in the post he looks like he's in slow kotion

 

[Orangezoo]

Agree.

But take video like this with a grain of salt. I remember back when we recruited Bourama Sidibe when he was in high school. This was pre-injuries, which really derailed him.

In his film, Sidibe would get rebounds, handle the ball in the open floor [just like Siby's footage], and dish it off with nifty passes to teammates in transition or dunk on people. Defenders would try to steal the ball, and he'd go around his back, etc. and keep pushing it upfloor.

My first impression was -- geez, this guy handles the ball like Derrick Coleman.

We obviously saw NONE of that capability when he arrived at Syracuse.

Siby's footage 100% reminds me of Sidibe's.

What DID pop for me was the athleticism, the court vision, the reasonably good offensive foundational skills, the shot blocking. This is a decent prospect, he just might need time.

all fair points. I’d say the leagues he is playing in are a bit higher level than Sidibe at St Benedict’s. Also if Sidibe did not have injury issues from day 1 - his impact could have been much bigger so it’s hard to sift through that comparison on health grounds too but I get you. The draft express guys chiming in about him being ready im intrigued by the most.

 

[General20]

Well all you have to do is watch 10 seconds of video to know exactly why we signed him. A little digging and I found his numbers are great when he plays against kids his own age, but he sat the bench on a team with 23 and 24 year olds. No surprise there. What I dont know is the quality of the team/league. Anybody have any insights here?

 

[Orangezoo]

I mean from the little I've seen he moves about how you would expect for his size in open floor and in the post he looks like he's in slow kotion

Might want to check your video quality…

 

[PeteCalvin]

According to Mike M article he had pretty dang good stats at lower level leagues but then in the better Serbian/Adriatic League was a 3pt/3reb guy. But honestly those are some of the best leagues outside NBA so nothing to be that discouraged about

And he’s only 19, so there’s that too. He’s playing against grown men in those upper leagues, right?

 

[Red Holzman]

Agree.

But take video like this with a grain of salt. I remember back when we recruited Bourama Sidibe when he was in high school. This was pre-injuries, which really derailed him.

In his film, Sidibe would get rebounds, handle the ball in the open floor [just like Siby's footage], and dish it off with nifty passes to teammates in transition or dunk on people. Defenders would try to steal the ball, and he'd go around his back, etc. and keep pushing it upfloor.

My first impression was -- geez, this guy handles the ball like Derrick Coleman.

We obviously saw NONE of that capability when he arrived at Syracuse.

Siby's footage 100% reminds me of Sidibe's.

What DID pop for me was the athleticism, the court vision, the reasonably good offensive foundational skills, the shot blocking. This is a decent prospect, he just might need time.

Sidibe didn't have AO to coach him up-
Expect that to be a big factor for Siby.

 

[Orangezoo]

Agree, he's got some foundational offensive skills. Another thing to consider: we have Arinze on this team as an Assistant Coach.

Arinze is one of the best [if not THE best] low post offensive centers we've ever had. He'll be able to do things in practice against Siby at 6-9 and BIG that other coaches can't. He'll also be able to help him refine his low post skills, by teaching him the tricks / techniques that made Onuaku himself so effective on the block.

Hopefully, this isn't just a kid who "only" ends up being a pogo stick / rim protector. Would love to see a guy like this develop into an NBA prospect here, solidifying the center position down the road.

Arinze did wonders for Folefac. If this kid listens well and is coachable don’t count out AO making a big impact.