JJ Starling facts for kids
| No. 2 – Syracuse Orange | |
|---|---|
| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 16, 2004 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 206 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| League | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jonathan E. "JJ" Starling (born March 16, 2004) is a talented American college basketball player. He plays for the Syracuse Orange team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Before joining Syracuse, he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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JJ Starling's Early Life and High School Basketball
JJ Starling grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. He first went to Charles W. Baker High School. During his second year (sophomore season), he was amazing on the court. He scored an average of 28.6 points per game. He also grabbed 6.2 rebounds and made 1.8 assists per game. JJ even set a new scoring record for his school that year!
After his sophomore year, JJ moved to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana. This school is known for its strong basketball program. In his final year of high school, JJ was chosen to play in two very special games. These were the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game. Only the best high school players get to play in these games.
Becoming a Top Recruit
JJ Starling was considered one of the best young basketball players in the country. Experts who watch young talent called him a "five-star recruit." This means he was one of the top players in the 2022 class. Many big colleges wanted him to play for their teams.
On October 12, 2021, JJ decided where he would play college basketball. He chose to join the Notre Dame team. He picked Notre Dame over other famous schools like Duke and his hometown team, Syracuse. JJ was the highest-ranked player to commit to Notre Dame in many years.
College Basketball Journey
After finishing high school, JJ Starling started his college journey at Notre Dame. He joined the team for summer practices. Many people thought he might even be picked early in the 2023 NBA draft after his first year.
As a freshman at Notre Dame, JJ played very well. He averaged 11.2 points per game. Because of his great performance, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman team. This award goes to the best first-year players in the conference.
After his freshman season, JJ decided to look for a new college team. He entered the NCAA transfer portal. He also announced that he would not be entering the NBA draft that year. Soon after, JJ committed to transfer to the Syracuse team. This meant he would be playing college basketball closer to his hometown.
JJ Starling's College Stats
JJ Starling has shown strong skills in his college career.
- During the 2022–23 season with Notre Dame, he played 28 games. He averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
- In the 2023–24 season with Syracuse, he played 32 games. He improved his scoring to 13.3 points per game. He also averaged 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Overall, in his college career so far, JJ has played 60 games. He averages 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
