In many ways, the game of basketball centers around player development, especially at the collegiate level. With the transfer portal and NIL in the mix, student-athletes are unlocking potential that may not have been attainable before. Take JJ Starling. The Baldwinsville native transferred to the hill from Notre Dame this past March, and Bleacher Report took notice. (slide 8)
Do not get things misconstrued though- it’s not as if Starling had a bad season last year. Sure, he may not have completely lived up to his 5-star status while averaging over 11 points per game, but think about the situation he found himself in. He was on a bad Notre Dame team that lived and died by the three ball with shooters like Cormac Ryan, Dane Goodwin, and Nate Laszewski. That’s not Starling’s bread and butter. He put his athleticism on display with a rim-rattling slam when the Irish visited the Orange last January, showing flashes of what he could do. Now that he’s not in a system that was built upon all or nothing, and that should help take his game to the next level.
Let’s now look at the talent Starling has around him. No disrespect to last year’s Notre Dame squad, but Syracuse has more athleticism and potential up and down the roster. It didn’t reach its potential, but there’s no denying that the Class of ’22 was/is one of Jim Boeheim’s deepest of all time. Now imagine if Starling had come in with them. Yes, it’s a year late, but there’s still tremendous potential. Plus, if you’re an Orange fan how are you not salivating at the thought of a Starling-Mintz backcourt? It’s incredibly early to say this, but it could be one of the most lethal 1-2 punches not just in the ACC, but in all of college basketball.
Finally, somehow this storyline isn’t being talked about enough as the season draws nearer. Starling is playing at his hometown school in front of hometown crowd. His friends and family can come watch him at the Dome anytime they want. While that may not make immediate dividends on the court, what that can do for a player’s mental health and overall well-being is astronomical. Starling is just a quick drive up I-690 away from home, something many collegiate students long for at times. That could prove important in the long run.
Many NBA Mock Drafts have Starling safely within the second round. In many ways, breakout wasn’t the completely correct term since his name was already very much on the map before he entered the transfer portal. But in the same way, breakout was the correct term because Starling could develop into one of the best players in the ACC.
