Syracuse Basketball: 5-star Jarace Walker, 4-star J.J. Starling shine

A handful of Syracuse basketball prospects are suiting up for high-school teams presently ranked in top-25 polls, and some of those Orange targets are also currently competing in the St. James NIBC Invitational, including 2022 five-star forward Jarace Walker and 2022 four-star point guard J.J. Starling.

Walker, whom the ‘Cuse offered a scholarship to last summer, attends the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., which MaxPreps has at No. 2 in its top-25 ratings.

In its most recent contest at the St. James NIBC Invitational in Springfield, Va., the IMG Academy crushed Houston High School out of Germantown, Tenn., 93-54.

Per statistics provided by legitstats.com, Walker had an efficient performance, to say the least. He logged 14 minutes, 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, while connecting on 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Other college schools have received more buzz for Walker than Syracuse basketball of late, such as fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina.

However, let’s not forget that Orange 2021 commit Benny Williams, a five-star forward himself, also attends the IMG Academy. Williams has talked in the past about heading up to the Hill for a visit down the road, and bringing Walker with him.

Looking ahead in the St. James NIBC Invitational, the IMG Academy has a massive encounter coming up on Sunday, when it squares off with the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., the No. 1 squad in the country per MaxPreps. These heavyweights will go toe to toe beginning at 7:30 pm.

Syracuse basketball prospects Jarace Walker, J.J. Starling starring at prep-school event.

Starling, meanwhile, is playing for the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., after transferring there from Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y. The Orange offered him in the summer of 2019.

The La Lumiere School, No. 20 in the latest MaxPreps top 25, recently went up against No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy from Bel Aire, Kan.

The Sunrise Christian Academy, which features one-time ‘Cuse target and 2021 five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler, defeated the La Lumiere School, 57 to 46.

According to legitstats.com, Starling led the La Lumiere School with 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting from 3-point land. In 32 minutes, he also had six boards.

Next up for the La Lumiere School is a 3:30 pm match-up on Sunday with No. 4 Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. The Oak Hill Academy is the former home of 2022 five-star point guard Dior Johnson, who reneged on his verbal commitment to Syracuse basketball last November.