Syracuse Basketball: J.J. Starling pushing 4-star PG target to pick the Irish

Syracuse basketball coaches reportedly offered a scholarship to 2023 four-star point guard Aden Holloway back in the summer of 2019, according to the Verbal Commits Web site.

That recruiting service’s bio of him suggests that the ‘Cuse was the first to offer the 6-foot-1 Holloway, who is having a really strong junior season for the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind.

ESPN recently refreshed its national ratings for the 2023 cycle, and Holloway jumped up to No. 31 overall, as well as the No. 7 point guard in this class.

At the time of this writing, he had landed within the top-50 overall, at No. 48, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, which also had Holloway as the No. 10 point guard.

We’ve detailed how Holloway has caught the attention of national analysts and scouts for his stellar performances for the powerhouse La Lumiere School at several recent events, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he makes a run at five-star status in the 2023 class when all is said and done.

Syracuse basketball got in early on with four-star point guard Aden Holloway.

Given his play of late, and his rise in the 2023 national rankings, Holloway is understandably seeing his recruitment heat up, which means increased competition for the Orange coaching staff.

According to recruiting services, media reports and Holloway’s own Twitter page, his other offers include from Auburn, Creighton, LSU, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Wichita State, Cincinnati and Winthrop.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that one of Holloway’s teammates at the La Lumiere School is Central New York native and 2022 four-star guard J.J. Starling.

"Starling had the ‘Cuse among his five finalists before picking Notre Dame. In a recent interview with 247Sports national basketball director Eric Bossi, Holloway said that Starling is “pushing me to go there (Notre Dame). I don’t blame him because they are a really great school in general and in a great conference in the ACC. Mike Brey lets his guards play.”"

Without question, I could foresee the Fighting Irish being a significant contender in Holloway’s recruiting process. A crafty playmaker and a lights-out shooter from beyond the arc, Holloway told Bossi, “I definitely love the schools that I have recruiting me now but I’m still waiting to see who else is in contact so I feel like I’m going to wait until my senior year to make a decision.”

That Syracuse basketball coaches offered Holloway early on, hopefully, will help the Orange here. However, this elite 2023 prospect is competing at an ultra-high level, and his number of top-flight suitors is only going to increase.