Guerrier first appeared as a blip on SU’s recruiting radar when Syracuse associate head coach Adrian Autry powered on his computer one morning in 2016. A Thetford coach emailed Guerrier’s most-recent highlight tape to Autry. Autry knew to temper expectations, but he still grew enamored with Guerrier’s talent: Long arms, effective shot and mature playing style. Some of his dribble moves weren’t fluid, but to even attempt them showcased Guerrier’s “upside,” Autry said. After he watched one workout in Thetford’s gym, Autry told Appiah that he envisioned Guerrier at SU.
By then, Guerrier had grown from a 6-foot-3 high school freshman who didn’t know how to run properly, according to Thetford assistant coach Oscar Lerebeson, to a volume scorer. Guerrier thrived as the best player on an otherwise smaller program
While larger prep schools in Ontario flew teams across North America for tournaments, Guerrier scheduled lunchtime shootarounds with Appiah. Meanwhile, other coaches told Appiah that if Guerrier attended a U.S. school, he’d be a top-25 recruit, not his 247sports No. 122 national ranking.
Larger schools approached Guerrier to transfer and he turned them away. He believed in Thetford’s system and Appiah’s coaching. Appiah grew up with SU alum Kris Joseph, and quickly drew comparisons between their play styles. This allowed Appiah to identify the parts of Guerrier’s game that needed work.
“Especially mentally and physically,” Guerrier said, “(Thetford) really helped me.”
Over the summer, Guerrier honed his shooting stroke by taking 38,000 shots. Corey Henry | Photo Editor
He also grew close with Konan, who was two years older than Guerrier. Konan mocked Guerrier’s rigid jump shot that always seemed to slip through twine. Feeling that a bond had been built, Appiah and Konan decided to tweak Guerrier’s development plan in his junior year.
They held meetings in Appiah’s office and challenged Guerrier to improve. Shoot better? Guerrier was in the gym the next morning. Be a better leader? He’d communicate more in practice. Even his strengths were questioned. As Guerrier received offers from Oregon, Syracuse and other programs, he saw the potential future Appiah, Konan and others laid out for him.
Guerrier regimented his training, constantly shooting alone in the gym. If team meetings ran long and Guerrier had a set time for an individual practice, the high schooler asked to cut them short. Whenever Thetford traveled for road games, he’d ask Appiah for an advanced copy of the itinerary.
When Guerrier arrived at Syracuse on May 18, he brought with him a notebook — another motivational tool from Thetford. To keep track of his progress at SU, Appiah suggested Guerrier document each day. So far, Guerrier has logged every practice, weight-training session, and individual shootaround, even tracking practice free throw percentages.
“It keeps him honest with how hard he’s been working,” Appiah said about the notebook.
