Syracuse Basketball: J.J. Starling, William Patterson are officially Orange

Notre Dame transfer J.J. Starling, a Central New York native, and 2023 three-star prospect William Patterson have officially signed to suit up for Syracuse basketball, according to SU Athletics.

Per cuse.com, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Starling has signed a financial-aid agreement with the Orange. Last month, the guard said he would transfer to the ‘Cuse after spending his freshman season with the Fighting Irish.

Patterson, a 7-foot-2, 220-pound center from New York City, has signed a national letter of intent to enroll at Syracuse University and play for the Orange beginning with the 2023-24 season, according to SU Athletics.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., William Patterson has spent his senior year at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J. To date, he is the sole high-school player who has committed to the ‘Cuse in the team’s 2023 recruiting cycle.

Guard J.J. Starling and big man William Patterson have signed with Syracuse basketball.

In taking a look at the Orange’s potential backcourt in 2023-24, senior guards Joe Girard III and Symir Torrence are in the NCAA’s transfer portal. Girard and freshman point guard Judah Mintz have also declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining their collegiate eligibility.

As such, new Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry and his staff landing a commitment from J.J. Starling is a key development. Starling was a standout for Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y., before playing his junior and senior terms at the powerhouse La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind.

While in high school, J.J. Starling had the ‘Cuse in his final five before picking Notre Dame. In 2022-23 for the Fighting Irish, Starling averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, and he made the Atlantic Coast Conference’s All-Freshman team.

However, long-time Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey, who recruited Starling, moved on from the program. J.J. Starling hit the transfer portal and then quickly said he would commit to Syracuse basketball.

Starling, on the AAU circuit, was a member of the Albany City Rocks in Nike’s EYBL league. In the 2022 class, J.J. Starling was a consensus five-star, top-25 national prospect and earned McDonald’s All-American honors.

In February of this year, William Patterson verbally committed to the Orange. His offer sheet also included teams such as TCU, Oklahoma State and Rutgers.

Not long before his verbal commitment, Patterson took an official visit to the Hill. Syracuse basketball coaches offered him a scholarship in late August of 2022, around the time of the team’s annual Elite Camp.

Rivals.com has William Patterson as a three-star player in the 2023 cycle. On3, meanwhile, rates him as three stars, No. 33 at center and No. 9 in New York within the senior class.

As far as the Syracuse basketball roster this off-season, redshirt junior forward John Bol Ajak is in the transfer portal. So, too, is senior center Jesse Edwards. That leaves William Patterson, sophomore Mounir Hima and freshman Peter Carey at the center spot.

Orange coaches are showing interest in big-men transfers Hunter Dickinson, a junior at Michigan, and Abou Ousmane, a junior at North Texas.