J.J. Starling Steps Into the Spotlight as Syracuse’s Go-To Guy
Even after the biggest win of the Adrian Autry era - a gritty, resume-building victory over No. 13 Tennessee - the 2025-26 Syracuse Orange still have a few questions to answer.
But one thing is becoming clearer: when the game is on the line, the ball needs to be in J.J. Starling’s hands.
Syracuse nearly let a nine-point lead slip away late against the Vols, but when the moment called for someone to step up, Starling delivered. First, he came off a screen and calmly buried a three to put the Orange back in front, 58-56. Then, with under a minute to play, he found his spot in the mid-range and knocked down another jumper, pushing the lead to 60-56 and helping seal a massive early-season win.
That sequence wasn’t just clutch - it was a reminder of who Starling is and who he needs to be for this team.
A Rocky Start, Again
Starling’s season didn’t exactly start on steady footing. For the second straight year, he was sidelined early due to injury.
Last season, he missed all of December. This year, he barely made it three minutes into the opener before going down again.
He returned just in time for Syracuse’s tough trip to Las Vegas - a three-game gauntlet against Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State - but clearly wasn’t at full speed.
In Vegas, Starling looked like a player still finding his rhythm. He shot just 40% from the field across the three games, went 4-for-12 from beyond the arc, and struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 3 of 9 attempts.
Even his 12 points against Tennessee marked a season high - not exactly the kind of stat line you'd expect from a team’s top scorer. But context matters.
He’s been working his way back from injury, adjusting to a new cast around him, and carrying more offensive responsibility with Donnie Freeman sidelined.
Mid-Range Mastery
What made Starling’s late-game heroics against Tennessee so encouraging wasn’t just the timing - it was the type of shots he hit. The three-pointer was big, no doubt, especially for a player who’s hovered around 30% from deep throughout his college career.
But the mid-range jumper? That’s his bread and butter.
Starling’s pull-up game inside the arc is smooth, confident, and efficient. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective - and in crunch time, it’s exactly the kind of shot you want from your senior guard. Defenders still have to respect his ability to get to the rim, and if he can continue to show even modest improvement from three, that mid-range space will only open up more.
Leadership Matters
Beyond the Xs and Os, Starling is the most experienced player on this roster. He’s the senior.
The leader. The guy who’s been through the ups and downs and knows what it takes to win at this level.
This team was rebuilt around him and Freeman over the offseason, and with Freeman out, the responsibility to carry the offense - and the moment - falls squarely on Starling’s shoulders.
And that’s not a bad thing. He wants it.
He’s shown he can handle it. Now, it’s about consistency.
Other Options, but One Clear Choice
Syracuse isn’t short on talent. Freeman, when healthy, has been electric, averaging nearly 18 points per game before the injury.
Freshman Kiyan Anthony has flashed serious scoring ability and could grow into a bigger role as the season progresses. Naithan George and Nate Kingz, the other starting guards, each bring something to the table - George with his playmaking, Kingz with his shooting and slashing - but neither has shown the ability to create their own shot in crunch time the way Starling can.
That’s the difference.
In a close game, with the clock winding down, you need a player who can get to their spot and rise up with confidence. That’s J.J.
Starling. He proved it against Tennessee.
And if he hadn’t missed time early in the season, who knows - maybe Syracuse comes out of Vegas with a win or two.
The Road Ahead
The Orange still have plenty to sort out. Freeman’s return will change the offensive dynamics.
Younger players will continue to develop. But one thing is clear: when Syracuse needs a bucket, when the moment is big and the pressure is on, the ball should be in Starling’s hands.
He’s earned that trust. Now it’s time to keep proving it.