Class of 2025 PF Francis Folefac (MD) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (4/27/26)

[Red Holzman]

I agree. Similar numbers against Indiana. I think he’s going to be important and unless Sadiq was promised a starting role to get him to re-up, I expect FF to challenge for it. FF can do things in the half court offense that Sadiq can’t. He was strong as bull as a frosh. He may be just as likely to make a jump as Sadiq.

Competition FF vs Sadiq at practice will make both better.
Both win, regardless who starts. Likely that both contribute and get good PT.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Today’s the day! I can folefeel it!

Also - let’s not shame anyone for posting anything at all in this thread. Not since it’s become … whatever this is

Called it! I never predict anything correctly so I’m treasuring this win. I’d like to thank my wife, our dog and Norm Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky”.

 

[Newhouser]

Competition FF vs Sadiq at practice will make both better.
Both win, regardless who starts. Likely that both contribute and get good PT.

I think both will get minutes. Be interesting to see AO develop Sadiq on the box. Jump hook or actual post move. Can Folefac work the post in the ACC like he was at the end of last season? Time will tell. If Folefac does nothing he at least gives us a big with a bicep. Nice change from our beanpole norm.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Low major.

When you realize we had Akir Souare, Bryce Zephir and 3 other guys who didn’t play at the end of the bench this year it’s not difficult to see this guy is a clear upgrade. Doubt any of those guys could even average double figures at Siena. 8th or 9th guy who was a late bloomer and may just be scratching the surface.

 

[Orangezoo]

When is the last time we had two physical wider bodies in the front court on the same team? Rick and AO? Those two played together for short stints but wasn’t a natural pairing. If FF can be efficient enough to make a 3 per game he could play short segments of the game next to Wilson. Kind of intriguing how that might be a a problem for opponents as they both play good defense and both are good athletes despite their size…

 

[Giants1973]

Competition FF vs Sadiq at practice will make both better.
Both win, regardless who starts. Likely that both contribute and get good PT.

I can see both playing at the same time too.

 

[capeorange]

Keeping White and bringing in players like Folefac and Doty along with the other transfers will give us a level of toughness that we haven't seen in 8 to 10 years.
We've been pushed around and bullied by teams over the years. Maybe Nate Oats won't be able to call us soft anymore.

 

[tptcuse]

thats not gonna happen unless its a complete tank job.

You think fans are going to be okay without making the tournament?

 

[Irishsecra1]

very small sample size but Folefac did shoot 37.5% from 3. 2 of 4 in the Duke game I believe.
Something that could develop into even more unexpected dividends.

 

[Irishsecra1]

You think fans are going to be okay without making the tournament?

If we play like last year and are out of it by the end of Feb, there will be a fan revolt.
However, if we just barely miss, I think the fans will forego the pitchforks.

 

[Orangezoo]

You think fans are going to be okay without making the tournament?

This. Goodwill has some legs right now but another year not making the tournament - no way.

 

[PhatOrange]

So what portal offers did he end up having?

 

[newmexicuse]

At last - a loaded baked potato instead of a string bean !!!

 

[Blanko97]

NBA radar. That can’t be. (Some of) our message board gurus have deemed him unworthy of the ACCg

Everyone is in “on the NBA radar” according to someone if we’re being honest. I’m not sure he has a trait that is NBA ready other than his “motor”

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Under 1000 followers. I'm sure this is a high level scout.

How many followers does anyone else on this board have? Based on your logic, he knows more than they do

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

It shouldn't be controversial to acknowledge that until the Siena guys lace 'em up and show that they're ACC players and not MAAC players on a game by game basis, there is an amount of risk greater than zero that expectations for them are too high, collectively.

Not sure either of our returners showed they were ACC players

 

[Blanko97]

If we play like last year and are out of it by the end of Feb, there will be a fan revolt.
However, if we just barely miss, I think the fans will forego the pitchforks.

No excuses, haven’t make the tournament. Can’t pass over other folks to do another in family hire just to kiss the tournament again

 

[SuFTW]

You think fans are going to be okay without making the tournament?

That doesn’t necessarily mean NIL and fan support will dry up as you said.

 

[SuFTW]

Everyone is in “on the NBA radar” according to someone if we’re being honest. I’m not sure he has a trait that is NBA ready other than his “motor”

Hence on the radar vs NBA ready. He has only played 1 year in college.

 

[Niastri]

Does anybody care to link some decent video? I am exhausted just considering looking through 40 pages of this thread.

 

[Blanko97]

Hence on the radar vs NBA ready. He has only played 1 year in college.

Most NBA caliber players have NBA level traits in late high school/early college that just need to be refined. You have a very small amount who obtain those traits during their later college years. Athleticism, finishing ability, shooting, post moves, defense, all of those things have clear indicators late in high school/ early college. He can be a good player for us and not be an NBA prospect. If he’s truly good enough to compete at an ACC level he shouldn’t need endless cheerleading to make us believe it. It’ll show on the court.

 

[sufan59]

Does anybody care to link some decent video? I am exhausted just considering looking through 40 pages of this thread.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Not sure either of our returners showed they were ACC players

Also a fair concern, although both had strong games in conference. They were just inconsistent. Is that because they weren't talented enough? Or because they were freshmen with bench roles? We'll get a pretty good understanding of that next season.

 

[sufan59]

Most NBA caliber players have NBA level traits in late high school/early college that just need to be refined. You have a very small amount who obtain those traits during their later college years. Athleticism, finishing ability, shooting, post moves, defense, all of those things have clear indicators late in high school/ early college. He can be a good player for us and not be an NBA prospect. If he’s truly good enough to compete at an ACC level he shouldn’t need endless cheerleading to make us believe it. It’ll show on the court.

Projecting the Jump: Four Under-the-Radar Prospects With NBA Tools

Chauncey Wiggins, Leon Bond, Bryson Cokley, and Francis Folefac — four prospects, four timelines, and four different pro pathways.

thecenterhub.substack.com

Substack article from the tweet where the account mentioned NBA radar. Everything needs to click for the NBA to become a possibility. And being a good player for Syracuse, doesn't mean he has to be an NBA player of course. Just that when you watch him, as a freshmen, you see major upside by his senior year into what he can become if he continues on the upward trajectory. Also, just a very unique player (that's why I think he is on the NBA radar if he develops into an all around player, sometimes the NBA wants to bring new archetypes into the league) that even at 245 pounds at 6-7, fatigue and not being able to run the floor doesn't appear to be a problem at all.

 

[Niastri]

I am not going to belabor the point, but I am underwhelmed. Statistically speaking, Folefac is a bad rebounder, an average finisher, turns it over too much and doesn't shoot well enough.

He isn't going to bully at the next level the way he did in the MAAC. I was really hoping his commitment was delayed because we were going to get somebody better, to compete with White for starting minutes.

Folefac is a decent 8th man, and I hope we won't need to rely on him more than that.

He gives us another player who weighs more than 240lbs, so that is good. We are highly unlikely to get pushed around in the paint the way we have for many years... But Wilson and Goodrick were already helping with that.

I just have doubts that taking the three best players from a MAAC team is the way to build a good ACC team. And Folefac doesn't look like a guy who will make the leap.

Signing Folefac just continues the trend of the team building overall, and that is hoping that things work out.

Right now, we are hoping for three things, none of which are sure things:

1) Hoping that players make the huge sophomore leaps we grew to expect during JBs tenure. If White and Anthony become way better than last year, and become above average ACC starters, our problems are solved. White in particular looks like he could become all ACC, but it would take a big leap in performance. JB isn't here, and we don't have a long track record of players getting significantly better under GMAC.

2) Hoping that International Men of Mystery become heroes in the United States. I have very high hopes for Mahmutovic and Siby. They might be good right away, they might be good eventually, or they may never be good. Hard to say.

3) Hoping good lower level players make the transition to a higher conference without losing effectiveness. Everybody else fits this category. It is a crap shoot.

Folefac is both 1 and 3.

Hope is not usually a winning strategy.

I'm hoping GMAC and his team are way better scouts than I am.