Syracuse Basketball: National rankings for J.J. Starling and Chance Westry

Recruiting services and media outlets continue to update their national rankings of the top players in the NCAA’s transfer portal, with Syracuse basketball commits J.J. Starling and Chance Westry making several recent updates.

In new national transfer rankings from David Cobb of CBS Sports, the 6-foot-4 Starling checks in at No. 18 overall, while the 6-foot-6 Westry, who didn’t play much in his freshman season due to injury, didn’t make the top-40 cut.

Last month, Starling, a Central New York native and freshman guard at Notre Dame, said he would transfer to the Orange. Earlier this week, another talented guard, Westry, said he was transferring from Auburn to the ‘Cuse.

Both Starling and Westry are former long-time targets who were recruited heavily by Syracuse basketball coaches in the 2022 class. Starling was a five-star, top-25 player in that cycle, and Chance Westry was a four-star, top-40 prospect in this class.

In new national transfer ratings from 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham, J.J. Starling resides at No. 5 around the country. Westry is No. 64 overall.

Syracuse basketball has stabilized its backcourt by adding transfers Chance Westry and J.J. Starling.

The On3 Web site, in its national transfer rankings, has Starling at No. 5 and Westry at No. 71. Over at Rivals.com, J.J. Starling resides at No. 11, while Westry comes in at No. 58 nationally.

These various ratings also include senior center Jesse Edwards, who a few days ago said he would transfer from Syracuse basketball to West Virginia, as well as senior shooting guard Joe Girard III, who is in the NCAA’s transfer portal, will test the 2023 NBA Draft waters, and is maintaining his college eligibility.

Girard, per media reports, has heard from a bunch of teams since entering the transfer portal. He recently took a visit to LSU, according to his Twitter page.

Cobb of CBS Sports has Edwards at No. 8 and Girard at No. 20. Branham, meanwhile, places Edwards at No. 4 nationwide, while the 247Sports analyst puts Girard at No. 38.

Via the On3 Web site, Edwards is No. 13. On3 rates Girard as the No. 34 transfer across the country at this juncture.

As far as the Syracuse basketball 2022-23 roster is concerned, senior guard Symir Torrence is also in the transfer portal, as is redshirt junior forward John Bol Ajak.

Separately, freshman point guard Judah Mintz is testing the 2023 NBA Draft waters while maintaining his collegiate eligibility.