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 Eric "JJ" Starling was born on March 16, 2004. He is an American college basketball player. JJ plays for the Syracuse Orange team. This team is part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Before joining Syracuse, he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
JJ Starling grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. He first went to Charles W. Baker High School. In his second year of high school, he was amazing at basketball. He scored an average of 28.6 points in each game. He also grabbed 6.2 rebounds and made 1.8 assists per game. During this year, he even set a new scoring record for his school!
After that school year, JJ moved to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana. 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 young 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 players ranked him as a "five-star recruit." This means he was one of the top players in his class for 2022.
Many big colleges wanted him to play for their teams. On October 12, 2021, JJ decided to play college basketball for Notre Dame. He chose Notre Dame over other famous schools like Duke and his hometown team, Syracuse. He was the highest-ranked player to choose Notre Dame in many years.
College Basketball Journey
After finishing high school, JJ Starling started playing for Notre Dame. He joined the team for their summer practices. When he began his first year, some people thought he might even be chosen in the 2023 NBA draft one day.
In his first year at Notre Dame, JJ played very well. He scored an average of 11.2 points per game. Because of his great performance, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman team. This team honors the best first-year players in the ACC.
After his first season, JJ decided to look for a new college team. He also announced that he would not enter the NBA draft at that time. Soon after, he decided to transfer to Syracuse. This meant he would play for his hometown team.
Career Stats in College
JJ Starling has played in many college basketball games. Here's a look at his performance:
- 2022–23 Season (Notre Dame): He played 28 games and started 23 of them. He averaged 11.2 points per game.
- 2023–24 Season (Syracuse): He played 32 games and started all 32. He improved his scoring to 13.3 points per game.
- 2024–25 Season (Syracuse): He played 26 games and started all 26. He had his best scoring year yet, averaging 17.8 points per game. He also grabbed more rebounds and made more assists.
Overall, in his college career so far, JJ has played 86 games. He has started 81 of those games. He averages 14.0 points per game, showing he is a consistent and strong player.
