In 2021, Gianna Santacroce marked the last Southold women’s basketball player to head to college, just after her sister Francesca committed to Ave Maria, the same institution.
“When I was scouted and learned my sister was already there, they said, ‘We definitely want you here to keep this tradition alive,’” Francesca shared.
She added, “They even wanted to know if I had any younger siblings to bring along.” Francesca plays point guard for the Greenport-Southold combined team.
The athletic talent runs deep in the Santacroce family. Gianna recently completed her fourth season at Ave Maria as a small forward. In addition to Gianna, their brother Kevin was a quarterback at Pace University in 2016, and their sister Melina played as a forward at Misericordia University from 2019 to 2023.
Francesca expressed, “My goal has always been to grow while playing sports in college. I felt it was a necessity for me, but honestly, I wanted it too,” adding that she also plays soccer at North Fork.
She reminisced about watching her siblings’ games when she was younger. “Even now that we’re older, we still shoot hoops together in the driveway… My sisters and I even won an adult league recently.”
huge fork in the road
Francesca mentioned that it was quite difficult to stand out as a basketball player in the East End.
She pointed out that smaller schools located east of the Long Island Expressway, like Greenport with only around 300 students in grades 7 through 12, often fall off the radar for recruiters.
Being the only senior on her combined team, she’s also one of just four Southold players on the roster.
“It takes about an hour to reach the basketball training facility,” she commented. “It requires a lot of effort, and many people may not have the transportation they need or the time available.”
Francesca’s parents, Kevin and Linda, worked hard to make sure she caught the attention of college scouts.
“They made countless sacrifices,” she said, explaining how they drove her to faraway training sessions and games, even canceling family vacations. “But getting to this point makes it all worth it.”
double dribble
Gianna faced some challenges during high school as she navigated through several competitive schools before settling at Porters for her senior year.
“She was in a really tough situation… It was hard for her, but she pulled through,” Francesca reflected. Gianna is now looking to major in business while also pursuing a finance degree.
“I always admired her for taking every opportunity and giving it her all. I’m really proud of what she’s achieved,” Francesca added.
Gianna’s mindset has influenced Francesca, who enjoyed the privilege of starting on the same varsity team throughout high school.
“The games may differ, but the mental toughness, the competitive spirit, and the desire to win are the same,” Francesca remarked.
Excitement bubbled over for Francesca as she mentioned her daughter was thrilled about attending the same school as her sister. This enthusiasm adds to Francesca’s motivation, especially after a standout 30-point game in the Porters’ win over Miller Place.
However, Francesca is determined to tackle one last challenge before they switch uniforms in 2026. Having been part of the 2023 Porters team that lost to Center Moriches in the Suffolk final, she declared, “I want to win a championship. I aim to go out as much as I can.”
