Frantz Massenat scored 21 points and netted six assists during a 75-61 win over Tennessee State on Dec. 7, 2013. (Staff photo by Samantha Sciarrotta).
It took Frantz Massenat a few years to grow into his 6-4 frame.
As a “big man,” the Trenton Catholic Academy alum fumbled sometimes and had a little bit of trouble hitting his stride.
“Probably until his senior year, maybe he wasn’t as talented,” TCA boys’ basketball head coach Fred Falchi said, “but he always worked hard.”
What he may have lacked in finesse, though, he made up for with his on-court intelligence.
“He could be a coach one day,” Falchi said. “His knowledge really, really helped him. He’s basically a coach on the floor. He’s really grown into his body. We’ve been watching him from a young age. He always knew his limitations. He really doesn’t try to do things that he shouldn’t.”
Falchi said once everything meshed, though, Massenat became a force on the court.
“We started seeing results,” he said.
It wasn’t just the TCA family who noticed. Scouts from Drexel University, Boston University, Niagara University, Princeton University and Rider University caught wind of the guard’s newfound court presence.
Soon enough, Massenat committed to Drexel. Now in his senior year at Drexel, he’s been named to two All-Colonial Athletic Association teams and was a CAA All-Rookie team selection as a freshman. He started his final season with the Dragons at sixth in school history in assists (406), at 24th on the school’s career scoring list and tied for 16th in three-pointers.
“His talent has caught up to his knowledge,” Falchi said. “It’s not something we’re surpised about. He always talked about this and he’s always wanted this. He worked hard at it, and he did what he said he would do.”
Massenat, a Ewing resident, started playing basketball when he was in kindergarten with a push from his father, Frantz, who had always wanted to see him on the court.
“Everything I am now is because of him,” he said. “He’s able to come to the games and be proud and say, ‘Wow, that’s my son.’ Now he’s like, ‘Okay, let me see what you can do.’”
He has family in the stands at every home game. In fact, he said he’s not ready to play until he spots them in the crowd.
“I think they’re happy for me,” he said. “They tell me every time they text me. We talk all the time. To be able to make them proud just makes me want to keep doing it.”
Massenat couldn’t be happier—and he shows it. He is vocal and intense on the court, qualities that have always come naturally to him.
“It’s like a passion, it just happens automatically,” he said. “If someone makes a shot, I’m so happy for him. I think that’s the way I have to play. My team feeds off of that. I’ve always been like that. When I’m not like that, that’s when i play bad. My father always told me to love the game. If you love it, then it’s just going to show.”
Falchi said Massenat is like that off the court, too.
“He’s just always been the same type of kid,” he said. “He just has personality. People just like him. Drexel administrators were over here talking to us. They said he’s like the president of Drexel. That’s just the type of personality that he has. He lights up the room.”
Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint said Massenat’s personality was one of the things he initially liked about him.
“I liked his size and the fact that he could play a couple of positions,” he said. “It was a nice combo. He’s just really good with the guys and good for what we wanted.”
Now, he said, Massenat has developed into a solid shooter with laser focus and can definitely attract the attention of professional teams, either in the NBA or overseas.
“He’s become a much better shooter,” Flint said. “We questioned that, but he’s been able to do that. People come to see him. We see pro scouts. He’s a good size and a good leader on the court.”
Massenat and Flint have developed a bond over the last four years. Massenat said coaching at the collegiate level is always something he saw in his future, and developing a relationship with Flint has only solidified that desire.
“Being so close with your coaches, you get to learn so much more,” Massenat said. “We have a good bond on the court. It may not seem like it because he does a lot of yelling, but we have a good bond and a good understanding. I’m learning from him and being able to learn that much makes me want to coach.”
He also keeps in touch with his AAU, high school and youth coaches from back home.
“Growing up, they were like people I looked up to,” he said. ” I go home, I go to their houses. I’m friends with their sons. We talk a lot. We talk about how they used to coach me. We talk about how I’m being coached now. We talk about games, family. It’s really like a family.”
He goes back to TCA and to other area programs as often as possible to talk, coach and observe.
“I knew those kids,” he said. “They look at me and they’re like, ‘Wow,’ but I’m just like, ‘No, I know you just how you know me.’ It feels good. I would love to see more kids. I tell my coaches all the time to go back to where I’m from and look for kids. I always want to see them progress. I’m happy to see now that a lot of kids like playing basketball.”
It’s that hope for the future of the game that has Massenat striving to coach professionally.
Flint said it’s entirely possible.
“He loves it,” he said. “He goes to all kinds of AAU events. He loves that stuff. People tell me all the time, ‘Hey, I saw your boy Frantz at so-and-so.’ He loves it.”
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