Syracuse basketball fans, meet your newest defensive weapon: Francis Folefac. The versatile transfer has officially joined the Orange, becoming the third Siena player to follow assistant coach Gerry McNamara to Syracuse. While teammates Tasman Goodrick and Gavin Doty made the move earlier, Folefac took a bit more time—even visiting Georgia Tech—before ultimately choosing to bring his talents to the Dome.
And what talents they are. As a freshman at Siena, Folefac played in every single game, quickly proving he was more than just a roster filler. In his very first collegiate outing, he dropped 11 points in just 13 minutes during an 82-66 win over Bryant. By the end of November, he had already scored in double figures five more times. That's the kind of instant impact that turns heads.
His breakout moment came on December 22 against Indiana. Despite the loss, Folefac scored 19 points and earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup. From there, his minutes jumped from 22.8 per game to a robust 30.8, as the coaching staff realized they had a gem who could do it all.
With Goodrick sidelined and Antonio Chandler ruled ineligible down the stretch, Folefac's role expanded even further. In the MAAC Tournament semifinal against Fairfield, he played 36 minutes, putting up 10 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. When asked about his growing responsibilities, Folefac kept it simple: "Just doing whatever I can to help the team win. Coach puts a lot of faith in me to be able to do a lot of things on the court."
That faith was put to the ultimate test two nights later in the championship game against Merrimack. Folefac drew the assignment of guarding MAAC Player of the Year Kevair Kennedy—a lightning-quick point guard now headed to Wake Forest. It was a high-pressure role, especially after senior guard Justice Shoats had fouled out in just 11 minutes against the same opponent earlier in the season. The coaching staff knew Shoats had to stay on the floor, so they turned to their versatile freshman. Folefac answered the call, showing the kind of defensive versatility that Syracuse fans will love seeing in the Orange uniform.