Based on recent interviews and comments from recruiting insiders, Syracuse basketball 2022 high-priority target J.J. Starling is taking his time with his recruiting process, and it may prove a while before he makes a decision on his ultimate collegiate destination.
He’s taken official visits to multiple teams, including the Orange, Maryland, Connecticut and Alabama. In the past, the 6-foot-3 guard has said that he’s in regular communication with the ‘Cuse coaching staff.
Starling, a four-star prospect and consensus top-50 player in the 2022 cycle, is a Central New York native who previously starred at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y.
He is presently a junior at the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., and runs on the AAU circuit with the Albany City Rocks. During recent AAU competitions, including the 2021 Peach Jam tournament, Starling has shined, and some analysts believe that he’s well on his way toward five-star status in the 2022 class.
To date, I haven’t seen any official predictions by analysts for Starling, and it doesn’t appear that there is any particular favorite or favorites for him at this juncture.
However, one of the best national recruiting analysts in the business did recently say that three teams currently stand out to him in Starling’s recruitment.
Syracuse basketball has a solid shot at landing four-star guard J.J. Starling.
Eric Bossi, the national basketball director for 247Sports, wrote in a recent piece that the Orange, Duke and Stanford could be emerging as “prime competitors” for Starling.
Bossi adds, “A few others that I would maybe keep an eye on as programs in shouting distance are Maryland, Northwestern, Notre Dame and UConn.”
When the Blue Devils offered Starling not too long ago, that concerned me. If he ends up taking an official visit to Duke, that worries me even further.
Starling also holds offers from other top-notch squads like Kansas and Ohio State. He could bring in additional stellar offers in the near future, given his strong showing at the Peach Jam.
Syracuse basketball coaches are pursuing other point guards in the 2022 cycle, such as four-star Quadir Copeland. Copeland has been getting some buzz in the direction of the Orange, and he could make a commitment announcement before Starling.
Then again, Starling has said that the ‘Cuse is recruiting him at point guard and shooting guard, so we’ll have to see how this all plays out with both four-star players. However, it could be a way to go before Starling is ready to make a final decision.