I’ve read a lot of comments from Syracuse basketball fans on social media and in chat rooms of late where they opine that the Orange isn’t likely to land 2022 four-star point guard J.J. Starling. We’ll have to wait and see about that.
The 6-foot-3 Starling, a Central New York native who is a junior at the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., is ranked in the top-60 nationally within his class by numerous recruiting services.
He holds a range of high-major offers, including from the ‘Cuse, which offered a scholarship to Starling back in August of 2019. In fact, Syracuse basketball was one of the first college teams to offer Starling, who formerly suited up at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Starling had a strong junior season for the La Lumiere School, which is often one of the top prep-school squads around the country. As we detailed in a recent column, he had an excellent performance at the Team Final Scrimmages event in Wilmington, Del., according to 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London.
On the AAU circuit, Starling suits up for the Albany City Rocks, whose alumni include current Orange guards Buddy Boeheim, Joe Girard III and Symir Torrence, who recently transferred to the ‘Cuse from Marquette.
So Starling, given his ties to CNY and the Albany City Rocks, likely has at least some familiarity with the Syracuse basketball program, and I think that can only help the Orange’s chances during his recruitment.
Syracuse basketball is in constant contact with 2022 four-star point guard J.J. Starling.
Mike McAllister, the publisher of SyracuseOnSI, recently noted that he believes the main competition for the ‘Cuse as it pertains to Starling is Alabama, Ohio State, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Notre Dame and Washington, which is led by former long-time Orange assistant coach Mike Hopkins.
In an interview with Rivals.com basketball recruiting director Rob Cassidy, Starling had some interesting things to say about his relationship with the ‘Cuse.
"“I talk to Syracuse the most. We talk on the phone the most,” Starling told Cassidy. “We both call each other a lot. Like I said, there’s a lot of colleges that have already offered and talk to me, but I just talk to Syracuse the most probably.”"
Cassidy writes that Starling hasn’t trimmed his list nor named a front-runner, adding that Starling “may still elect to take an official visit to the in-state program when it’s time to make that call.”
Starling said, “I have a lot of friends back at home and around Syracuse. They tell me I can come in and play right away – be a scorer for them.”
You never know what will transpire in the often fickle recruiting world, but it does appear that the Orange remains in a solid position with Starling.