Syracuse basketball target J.J. Starling will have stellar prep-school career
By Neil Adler
Syracuse basketball has made J.J. Starling a high-priority target, but the point guard will receive tons of offers while shining at the La Lumiere School.
J.J. Starling, a point guard in the 2022 class whose stock is soaring, received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball nearly a year ago. The Orange has long thought that the 6-foot-3 Starling, a Central New York product, possesses a versatile skill-set and is an extremely talented prospect.
Now, as the ‘Cuse coaching staff assumedly continues its pursuit of the four-star player, Syracuse basketball will likely face even stiffer competition moving forward to secure Starling’s services.
That’s because the top-60 guy according to ESPN.com has elected to transfer from Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y., to one of the country’s powerhouse prep-school programs, the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind.
Starling will undoubtedly perform at an elite level for the La Lumiere School during his final two seasons of high-school ball. While there, he will team up with 2022 four-star small forward Kamari Lands, another Syracuse basketball target who is rated No. 23 nationally by ESPN.com in this recruiting cycle.
According to an article from Mike Curtis of Syracuse.com, Starling’s final two prep-school options amounted to the La Lumiere School as well as the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., a squad that has sent multiple prospects to the Hill in recent campaigns, such as 2020 four-star combo guard Kadary Richmond.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCek3GHp0KO/?utm_source=ig_embed
A tremendous shooter from beyond the arc who also has terrific court vision, Starling is ranked as four stars by ESPN.com and Rivals.com at this juncture. Across the 2022 class, he is No. 57 overall at ESPN.com and No. 91 via Rivals.com.
When 247Sports updates its ratings for the class of 2022 players, it would prove a pretty big surprise if Starling isn’t then ranked by that recruiting service, too.
So far, in addition to Syracuse basketball, one of the first crews to offer Starling, he holds other scholarship offers from teams including Connecticut, Providence, Marquette, Washington, Alabama, Miami, Wake Forest, St. John’s, Siena and Bryant, according to a review of the primary recruiting services.
Furthermore, and this pains me to acknowledge, but Starling’s bio on the 247Sports Web site indicates that Duke is showing interest in him, but the Blue Devils haven’t made an offer – yet. As Starling settles in at the La Lumiere School and showcases his abilities there, expect many more offers to arrive for him.
On the one hand, it’s a positive thing that the Orange has recruited him for a while, but picking up Starling will prove a tall task now that he’s at a top prep school.
One interesting tidbit here is whether Syracuse basketball commit Dior Johnson, a 2022 five-star point guard, reclassifies into the 2021 class.
If Johnson does, that could entice a 2022 guard like Starling to view the ‘Cuse as an appealing destination, since Johnson could move to the pro ranks after one stanza. That being said, the possibility of Johnson and Starling, who can suit up at shooting guard, joining forces for perhaps one year with the Orange is also intriguing.