ACC Basketball: 10 early impact transfer pickups from 2023 offseason

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: The ACC logo on the floor before the second round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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ACC Basketball J.J. Starling #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

J.J. Starling (Syracuse)

A former five-star recruit, J.J. Starling was the top-ranked player in the transfer portal when he chose Syracuse as his new home. Landing him for the Orange has been a coup for first-year head coach Adrian Autry, giving Syracuse fans hope that life will be good in the post-Jim Boeheim era.

Starling averaged over 11 points per game for the Fighting Irish as a freshman, displaying flashes of ability that have led many to believe he could be a first-round NBA draft pick in 2024. Making the move to play for Syracuse was an easy decision for the combo guard, as the university is just 20 minutes from his hometown of Baldwinsville, New York.

Last year Syracuse ranked in the bottom half of the country in adjusted tempo, but Autry plans to move the Orange to a fast-paced attack, a change that should work well with Starling’s athletic abilities.

Starling will fill the void left by outgoing transfer Joe Girard, but the big question is if freshman sensation Judah Mintz will return or stay in the NBA draft. If he returns, Autry can boast arguably the best and most exciting backcourt in the ACC.