Position: Guard
Class: Freshman
Vitals: 6-foot-1, 181 lbs.
Stats: Averaged 10 points, 1.3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals during the four-game Italian tour while shooting 40% from the field and 44% from three-point range
Background: Girard III played for Glens Falls High School, where he made national headlines for his scoring ability. Per MaxPreps.com, he averaged 21.7 points per game as an eighth grader on the varsity squad, 33.9 as a freshman, 36.4 as a sophomore, 50.0 as a junior, and 48.6 as a senior. During his junior year, he became New York State’s all-time leading scorer, passing Lance Stephenson’s record of of 2,946 points. Girard III finished his high school career with 4,763 points, a state Class B championship, and two New York Gatorade Player of the Year awards, among other honors. He also played on the Albany City Rocks AAU team with Buddy Boeheim.
How he fits: Girard III provides SU with another knock-down shooter, which is something the Orange have had in short supply in recent years. He also brings a high level of hustle and has experience as a floor general, although we might not see the latter until future seasons.
Ceiling: Girard picks up where he left off in high school and Italy, hitting a high percentage from three-point range off the bench and being a scoring threat every time he touches the ball. If Jalen Carey, Brycen Goodine, or Howard Washington struggle running the point, Girard could see time there, forcing defenses to play him tightly and finding open teammates.
Floor: Similar to Buddy Boeheim’s first half of last season, Girard struggles to find his shooting stroke without regular minutes and receives sporadic playing time at the back end of Jim Boeheim’s game rotation.
Other areas of interest: Girard III has a mentee relationship with Glens Falls native and former college player of the year Jimmer Fredette, as the two have been seen working out together in their hometown.
Girard III won two New York State Class B championships in football as a quarterback for Glens Falls.
Girard III is enrolled in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and hopes to go into broadcasting once his basketball playing career is over.