Top 2022 Notre Dame Target JJ Starling Making The Rounds

JJ Starling‍ is making up for lost time.

In the past month, the elite 2022 combo guard took official visits to Maryland, Alabama, Syracuse and UConn. The New York native also made a pair of unofficial visits to Notre Dame while at La Lumiere School.

“Like a lot of guys in his class, he utilized the June period to go out and visit a lot of schools,” La Lumiere head coach Pat Holmes said. “He was over here for the three weeks at La Lu helping work our basketball camp and working out and training to get ready for the July Live period. During that time, he went over to Northwestern. He went over to Notre Dame a couple times.

“He's just using this time to try to get some more information on schools and get out and visit some spots because he really hasn't done that for the last year and a half.”

Holmes doesn’t think players in the Class of 2022 are being pressured to make visits following the extended dead period as much as they’re eager to do so.

“I think kids just want to get out there and see schools, just like college coaches want to get out and evaluate as many prospects as they can and get their eyes on kids and see them in person, instead of just film,” Holmes said. “So kids are making the most of the opportunities and being efficient with their time. Kids can go out and do colleges at the end of July, beginning of August. I'm sure you'll see an uptick of kids on campus that time as well.

“But for the 2022s, it's trying to see as many spots as possible before kids start narrowing their lists down and trying to figure out where they're going to go to school next year.”

Holmes spent multiple years as a student manager and intern with Mike Brey’s basketball program, but keeps his personal relationships and feelings for the Irish staff members separate from Starling’s recruiting process.

“Those guys really talk to JJ about that stuff,” he said of Notre Dame’s pitch to Starling. “I try to stay out of it as much as possible and be neutral.

“I think based on the track record that those guys have had at Notre Dame over the last 21 years, Coach Brey has had a lot of talent, a lot of talented guards. He allows guys to have the freedom to play and play a lot of minutes right away.

“I'm sure that's probably part of it. JJ's a high-academic kid, high-character kid, very good IQ and feel, talented player. Guys like him have had a lot of success at Notre Dame in years past.”