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We continue along with our Syracuse men’s basketball preseason player profiles with Frank Anselem. To see previous player profiles and more preseason basketball coverage, visit the men’s basketball section here.
Incoming Syracuse Orange men’s basketball freshman Frank Anselem, out of Lagos, Nigeria, was a 3 star recruit according to 247Sports coming out of high school. There’s a reason why schools like Kentucky, Arizona and various other prestigious programs wanted the services of Anselem. His interior presence defensively as a rim protector along with his athleticism is the holy grail of college basketball. If the young prospect develops more range through time, this will look bad for opposing teams.
Initially the 6-foot-10 big man was a part of the 2021 Class before reclassifying into the Class of 2020. He always knew Syracuse was going to be the next chapter for him despite many offers. It was his relationship with Adrian Autry and Jim Boeheim he emphasized in an interview with “The Front Office” that influenced his decision.
Position: Center
Class: Freshman
Vitals: 6-foot-10, 210 lbs.
Background: Anselem was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He left Nigeria to come to the United States in 2016. Prior to arriving in Syracuse, he played for Prolific Prep in California alongside other young talents such as Jalen Green. There he averaged 11.8 PPG.
Strengths/Weaknesses: The Nigerian rim protector can defend at will, but it is his athleticism that stands out in his game. Once you see him display it in a game it will be hard to look away. Things he needs to work on his post game and extending his range. He has a 10-12 foot jumper, but just imagine how much space he can create on offense if he extends his range.
Ceiling: Anselem finds minutes at the backup center behind Bourama Sidibe. He surprises as a freshman, particularly in the paint when he’s blocking shots. If he can keep up with the pace of NCAA basketball and adapt quickly we’re in for a good one.
Floor: Anselem fails to crack the rotation this year, but after reclassifying and moving up one year, not all is lost. He improves, adds weight to his frame and looks to take on a larger role in his sophomore campaign.