Syracuse Basketball: Joe Girard III is hearing from ton of big-time teams

Syracuse basketball senior shooting guard Joe Girard III, who is testing the 2023 NBA Draft waters while entering his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal, is reportedly receiving a lot of interest from a boatload of high-major programs.

The 6-foot-1 Girard, who hails from Glens Falls, N.Y., said on Twitter not too long ago that he would put his name into the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility, as well as enter the transfer portal.

Girard does have the option to return to the Orange, but I don’t see that happening. Rated as one of the top transfers out there at this juncture, he is hearing from a variety of teams, according to recruiting analysts and national writers.

In a recent tweet, college basketball insider Adam Zagoria said schools that have reached out to Joe Girard III include Indiana, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Auburn, Butler, LSU, Florida, Ohio State, Loyola Chicago, Stanford, Clemson, Nebraska and BYU.

Syracuse basketball senior shooting guard Joe Girard III has one season of eligibility left.

On Monday, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein said in a tweet that Girard says he’s receiving interest from nearly 20 college squads, including Indiana, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Auburn, Butler, LSU, Florida, Ohio State, Loyola Chicago, Stanford, Clemson, Nebraska, BYU, Arkansas, Mike Hopkins-led Washington, Notre Dame, Maryland and Oklahoma.

That’s a mighty impressive list, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Joe Girard III keeps hearing from more and more programs. In the 2022-23 campaign, when the Orange went a disappointing 17-15 overall, he led the ‘Cuse in scoring, at 16.4 points per game, while connecting on 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Over his four-year career with Syracuse basketball, Girard helped lead the team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

A top 20 all-time scorer in the history of the Orange program, Joe Girard III for the entirety of his ‘Cuse tenure has averaged 13.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds per affair, while hitting on 37.8 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from downtown, and 86.3 percent from the charity stripe.

On Sunday, Rivals.com national analysts Rob Cassidy and Travis Graf published their initial list of the top-30 college players who had entered their names into the transfer portal through this past Saturday. The analysts rated Girard at No. 9 across the country.

I’m a fan of Joe Girard III. I thought he was unfairly criticized by some Orange fans during his time in Central New York. He’s not likely to return to the ‘Cuse, but hey, maybe he’ll end up at another squad from the Atlantic Coast Conference or with Coach Hop!

As far as the Syracuse basketball backcourt ahead of 2023-24 is concerned, besides Girard, senior Symir Torrence is in the transfer portal. Freshman Judah Mintz has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

We’ll have to see what the future holds for fellow freshmen Justin Taylor and Quadir Copeland. The Orange has also picked up a commitment from Central New York native J.J. Starling, who is transferring to the ‘Cuse after his freshman stanza at Notre Dame.