Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard JJ Starling has announced he is transferring to the Syracuse Orange. The former five-star high school recruit spent one lackluster season with Notre Dame and announced his transfer at the end of the season. With Head Coach Mike Brey leaving the program, it makes sense that his recruits would also be leaving the program as well. Starling has decided to return to his home state of New York and play basketball for new Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry. The program can hopefully get his career back on track.
BREAKING: JJ Starling, former McDonald’s All-American and top transfer target, has committed to Syracuse, he told ESPN. New head coach Adrian Autry gets a huge first, local, commitment.https://t.co/bUo1YvVOHE
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 14, 2023
This season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, JJ Starling averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 42.1 percent and a three-point percentage of 29.9 percent. This was not the season that he was expected to have entering college basketball and will want a bounce-back season with Syracuse in his sophomore season.
NEWS: Notre Dame transfer JJ Starling has committed to Syracuse, he told @On3sports.
Former 5?? and McDonalds’ All-American.
Starling goes in-depth on his decision here: https://t.co/NBA8L2UqZu pic.twitter.com/7FxQR9310h
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 14, 2023
The Syracuse Orange have a new Head Coach for the first time in nearly 50 years and expectations will be mixed. Landing a former five-star recruit like JJ Starling is a great start to the program’s new era. The fact that he is a local prospect is even better. With the right development, he could even play in the NBA down the road.
