Syracuse Basketball: J.J. Starling, former recruits soar in transfer rankings

Recruiting services are updating their national rankings of the top players in collegiate hoops who have entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, and there are multiple guys with various connections to Syracuse basketball within some of these latest ratings.

Among those highly placed from recently updated transfer rankings, according to the On3 Web site and 247Sports, is Central New York native J.J. Starling. Starling, a freshman guard from Notre Dame, said last month that he would transfer from the Fighting Irish to the Orange.

Others in these national transfer rankings include Syracuse basketball senior shooting guard Joe Girard III, who recently said he would test the 2023 NBA Draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, as well as enter the transfer portal.

Additionally, Michigan junior big-man transfer Hunter Dickinson and Auburn freshman guard transfer Chance Westry are names to monitor. Both are former ‘Cuse recruits. I’ve confirmed that the Orange coaching staff has reached out to Westry, while 247Sports analysts say that the ‘Cuse could potentially be viewed as a possible destination for Dickinson.

Let’s look at where Syracuse basketball commit J.J. Starling and others reside in new transfer rankings.

When I penned this column, Hunter Dickinson was No. 1 across the country on the On3 Web site. J.J. Starling, at present, is No. 3 nationally per both the On3 Web site and 247Sports. About a week ago, Starling was No. 1 overall in an initial transfer-ratings list from Rivals.com.

Khalif Battle, the younger brother of former Syracuse basketball star Tyus Battle, is in the transfer portal. A former Syracuse basketball recruit, Khalif Battle is a high-scoring guard who competed in the 2022-23 campaign for Temple as a redshirt sophomore. Battle checks in at No. 8 from 247Sports and No. 12 via On3.

Joe Girard III, who has heard from a bunch of high-major programs of late, is No. 20 according to 247Sports and No. 30 per On3.

Chance Westry is rated No. 32 from 247Sports, while On3 has him at No. 38.

Reports recently said that wing Elijah Fisher is entering the transfer portal after his freshman stanza at Texas Tech. Fisher, while starring for a prep school in Canada, was recruited by Syracuse basketball coaches for a period of time.

On3, in its latest transfer rankings, places Fisher at No. 61 across the country.

Last but not least, reports recently said that wing Kamari Lands was planning to enter the transfer portal after his freshman term at Louisville. Lands was at one time verbally committed to Syracuse basketball.

Per On3, Lands was rated at No. 142 nationwide in that recruiting service’s transfer rankings.