Basketball Guide 2023

NEW ERA

BASKETBALL GUIDE 2023

2 basketball guide 2023

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3 basketball guide 2023

Dear Readers, For the first time since 1976, there’s a new face of Syracuse men’s basketball, and Adrian Autry has been vocal about his changes. The Orange will play manto-man on defense as opposed to their coveted 2-3 zone. Autry also wants to play quick and up-tempo, citing SU’s depth this season as the key.

Whatever Autry envisions will likely flow through Syracuse’s backcourt tandem of Judah Mintz and J.J. Starling. A Baldwinsville (N.Y.) native and former McDonald’s All-American, Starling returns to the area after spending his freshman season at Notre Dame. Mintz tested NBA Draft waters in the summer, looking to use his sophomore season with the Orange as another case for going pro.

Like Mintz, SU women’s basketball’s Dyaisha Fair spent the offseason working on feedback she received from professional scouts. She honed in on her defense playing 3x3 with Team USA at the U23 Nations League. Now in her graduate season, Fair is the undisputed leader of a squad that hopes to build on a WNIT Super 16 finish during head coach Felisha Legette-Jack’s first year at the helm in 2022-23.

Along with Fair, shooting guard Georgia Woolley returns as a premier scoring option and forward Alyssa Latham, ESPN’s No. 72 recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, adds a much-needed inside presence.

The Daily Orange’s 2023 Basketball Guide previews a new era of Syracuse basketball with welcome signs of continuity too.

Thanks for reading, Tyler Schiff

4 basketball guide 2023

Dyaisha Fair is ready for the professional game. But heading into her final year at Syracuse, she polished her defensive craft playing 3x3 basketball with Team USA.

By Cooper Andrews

D

Asst. Sports Editor

yaisha Fair’s offseason began inside of a 40-degree gym in Rancagua, Chile.

From July 24-30, she and her Team USA 3x3 teammates competed in the FIBA U23 Nations League. Conditions were harsh. The team left their hotel before noon everyday to arrive at a facility with no heat, and wouldn’t leave until around 9 p.m.

They played 17 games in a seven-day span. In between contests, Fair and her teammates huddled together under blankets and played cards for hours to pass the time.

“It was a basketball die-hard experience,” said Christina Batastini, Team USA’s U23 Nations League head coach. “It was not a vacation, we were there for a reason.”

While Fair had to adjust to 3x3 basketball’s playstyle, she found instant success, leading Team USA to the 3x3 Nations League Final. In March, Fair announced that she would use her fifth year of eligibility and return to Syracuse. But, to round out her game, Fair honed in on her defense with Team USA. “In 3-on-3, there’s no help defense,” Fair said during SU’s basketball’s media day on Oct. 13. “That’s one of the biggest things that I did and it was different. I feel like it helped me.”

There was speculation that Fair would enter her name in the WNBA Draft in April. Her 19.9 points per game and First Team All-ACC selection proved she was a premier guard in college basketball. Fair said that she got feedback from “almost half” of WNBA franchises, and used those conversations to make her decision.

After receiving interest, Fair still opted for one more year at SU, citing her intuition. Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has coached her since 2019 when the two were at Buffalo. The pair’s familiarity with each other played a part in the decision, Fair said.

Cheyenne McEvans, an SU guard and Fair’s teammate since 2020, said the team allowed her to briefly step away while weighing the options with her family.

Fair said she was projected to be picked high, but teams expressed she’d have to progress defensively to have success in the WNBA. Despite earning All-ACC Defensive Team honors in 2022-23, Fair’s 5-foot-5 frame is a disadvantage in the WNBA. “I’m small, I’m undersized for sure,” Fair said. “And everybody in every other league is bigger…I feel like (the WNBA’s) influence has just helped me to make a decision on what I need to do to better me as a player.”

Team USA gave Fair an opportunity to become a better defender. Jay Demings, the director of 3x3 Basketball for Team USA initially asked Fair to try out for the Nations League team in May. But, she had USA Women’s AmeriCup

Team trials at the same time.

Demings said he’d reach back out if a spot opened up on the team. After a spot did open, Demings made the call to Fair.

The United States’ squad consisted of Fair, Hailey Van Lith (Louisiana State), Azana Baines (Seton Hall), Leilani Kapinus (Penn State), Madison Scott (Ole Miss) and Sydney Taylor (Louisville). Batastini said that the team barely got acclimated before flying to Chile. Their training camp lasted just two-and-a-half days and the coaching staff only had eight hours of on-court time with the players.

To make up for lost time, Batastini had two practices a day with film review and team meetings. Instead of doing skill work and drills, the team scrimmaged, as Batastini said adjusting to 3x3’s differing rules was more important.

The Nations League games are 10 minutes long.

Each team gets only one substitute. Shots from outside the arc are worth two points, while shots inside are worth one. Coaches are only permitted to gameplan with their players before the game, meaning no coaches on the sidelines.

“You have to be very mature,” Demings said of adjusting to 3x3 rules. “You have to be very poised to work through things on your own.”

Demings and Batastini both said the playstyle of 3x3 is vastly different from 5x5. There’s no help defense, which makes switching on screens a lot tougher, Batastini said. Demings said it’s a fast-paced game where having good fitness is key.

The lack of help defense in 3x3 meant Fair had to re-learn how she navigated offensive screens. Due to her size, Batastini said Fair needed to be more physical. At times, she switched onto a 6-foot-2 defender and was outmatched. So, she had to rely on her speed.

Fair’s smaller frame made things difficult for her in the screen game, but Batastini taught her how to adjust. She told Fair to go over the top on ball screens, pushing past the pick-setter to stay with the ball-handler. She improved her body control, which allowed her to defend screens more efficiently. Batastini said she held her ground and displayed raised physicality on defense.

see fair page 14

The attributes and the skills that you learn through 3x3 absolutely help you develop to become a better 5x5 player.

Christina Batastini TEAM USA’S U23 NATIONS LEAGUE

veteran presence Dyaisha Fair

2,691

Caitlin Clark

2,717

Kyla McMakin Elizabeth Kitley

2,065

2,233

Career Points

2,048

Haley Cavinder

Dyaisha Fair’s 2,691 points scored are the second-most among active Division I players source: cuse.com

DYAISHA FAIR learned to defend taller, more physical opponents playing 3x3 basketball with Team USA in the offseason. aiden groeling staff photographer

basketball guide 2023 5

Judah Mintz was told to work on his shooting.

Now, he’s primed for a breakout sophomore season after perfecting his perimeter stroke.

L

By Henry O’Brien

Senior Staff Writer

ast season, Jim Boeheim called Judah Mintz one of the greatest freshman point guards he ever had. But last spring, professional scouts told Mintz that he needs to work on his perimeter shooting before transitioning to the NBA. After making the ACC All-Freshman Team last season, Mintz announced on Instagram in March that he would enter his name into the 2023 NBA draft and maintain his college eligibility. Over seven months later, Mintz’s Instagram post is gone. On May 31, Mintz withdrew his name from the draft, announcing he would come back to Syracuse for the upcoming season.

Mintz returns to SU with a new head coach and a chance to increase his draft stock. In the summer, Mintz practiced at various camps and at his old high school to improve on his shooting deficiencies. He’s had shooting success while he played for Oak Hill Academy (Va.), Gonzaga College High School (Washington D.C.) and on the AAU circuit. But now, with another year at Syracuse, Mintz is looking to prove himself. “(I was) really just trying to make it, I was trying to make it to the NBA,” Mintz said. “But I was really just focused on what was ahead of me.”

In May, an anonymous NBA Western Conference scout told syracuse.com that Mintz’s outside shooting was a concern for every team. An Eastern Conference scout added that Mintz was still learning how to play point guard.

“He didn’t shoot it very well from (the 3-point line) at Syracuse, but he did improve throughout the year,” the Western Conference scout told syracuse.com. “You assume he can continue to improve, but the question is how fast or when will you see that improvement?”

Mintz shot 30.3% from beyond the arc last year. He ranked last among the five Syracuse players (along with Joe Girard III, Justin Taylor, Benny Williams and Chris Bell) who attempted at least 40 3-pointers.

The scout noted Mintz’s improvement during the final month of the season, albeit at a low volume. In the Orange’s lone ACC Tournament game against Wake Forest, Mintz went 2-for-3 on 3-pointers and went 4-for-4 against Clemson. Despite the scouts' comments, Mintz already wanted to work on those aspects of his game.

“I mean they really wanted to see if I could play defense

obviously and make shots, be more efficient, all things I would’ve said myself,” Mintz said. “Ultimately that’s what I’ve been working on this summer.”

Mintz practiced during the summer with his childhood best friend and George Mason guard Devin Dinkins. The two practiced at Gonzaga High School — Mintz’s high school before transferring to Oak Hill Academy. Dinkins said the duo attempted 500 3-pointers during workouts along with working on long 2-pointers.

As the friends trained, Dinkins noticed the key differences in their perimeter shooting. With Mintz’s jumpshot, Dinkins said, there’s much more elevation, whereas Dinkins has a quick release.

Mintz also attended both the Nike Skills Academy in Portland, Ore. and the CP3 Elite Guard Camp in Los Angeles, Calif. with scouts in attendance over the summer. Mintz put together a highlight reel that was posted on various social media outlets. In the reel, Mintz showed off his pickand-roll game, while also taking some corner 3s.

After Mintz showed him the clips, Dinkins said Syracuse’s point guard is more confident this year. At ACC Media Day in Charlotte, Mintz said he was “angry” about SU being placed in a lower tier than years past.

Dinkins’ conversations with Mintz, which typically amount to inside jokes and motivational texts, reflect that anger and confidence.

“He says he's ready to dominate this year, and get some wins and go pretty far this year,” Dinkins said.

At Gonzaga, playing under head coach Stephen Turner, Mintz and his shooting didn’t immediately stand out on a Division-I laden roster that eventually won the state championship. But as Mintz became a starter, Turner said Mintz caused crowds to “ooh” and “aah” with his abilities. Turner believes his abilities, particularly in the long range game, will only get better.

“The one thing that continues to keep getting better for him is his shooting…it just keeps growing and growing,” Turner said. “And I think you're gonna be surprised this year.”

Mintz previously practiced shooting with the AAU’s Team Durant under head coach Osman Bangura and thenhead coach of Oak Hill, Steve Smith. Bangura preached a “read and react” philosophy where players follow the flow of the game, whether it’d be fast or slow paced.

Off of screens, Bangura said Mintz had the opportunity to perform a bump-and-fade, a basketball move see mintz page 14

The one thing that continues to keep getting better for him is his shooting…it just keeps growing and growing and I think you’re gonna be surprised this year.

Stephen Turner HEAD COACH AT GONZAGA COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

500 Working out at Gonzaga High School with childhood best friend Devin Dinkins, Judah Mintz attempted 500 3-point shots every time they practiced this past offseason JUDAH MINTZ returned to SU for his sophomore season after working on his jumper following advice from NBA scouts. aiden groeling staff photographer

6 basketball guide 2023

ADRIAN AUTRY has been vocal about switching from a 2-3 zone to a man-to-man defense. He’s added four new transfers to help build Syracuse’s team depth and plans on implementing a faster pace of play during his first year in charge.

aiden groeling staff photographer

Adrian Autry spent his offseason bringing in transfers and implementing a new-look defensive scheme. In his first year at the helm, he just wants his players to be ready.

By Cole Bambini

A

senior staff writer

drian Autry assigned some summer reading for his players. He chose “The Energy Bus” by Jon Gordon, requiring Syracuse — a program with a new head coach for the first time since 1976 — to hold weekly, mandatory group discussions.

The book teaches ways to instill positive energy in a team, the “Orange Standard” as Autry might call it.

“It kind of just proved that he's ready to take on the job,” Justin Taylor said. “We all need to be on the same bus. We all need to bring energy and change the culture and be locked in from the jump.”

The reading was just one small effort in Autry’s first offseason in charge to bring SU back to the level it once was. He made changes in practice and switched from Jim Boeheim’s coveted 2-3 zone to man-to-man. He plans to go deeper into the bench and faster on offense with new additions from the transfer portal.

Still, Autry, who’s more than ready for his new role, also kept a sense of continuity. He returned

last year’s freshman class and made multiple recruiting trips over the past several months. The balance of change and continuity is what filled Autry’s summer, one spent toward building a new and improved Syracuse team.

“I think we all know where we want to be as a team, what we want to be as a program,” Autry said of the “Orange Standard” at his introductory press conference on Oct. 13.

In Autry’s first team meeting as head coach back in March, the message was clear. “Be ready,” guard Quadir Copeland said. The standard wasn’t changing and the players needed to buy in.

Though SU lost starters like Jesse Edwards (West Virginia) and Joe Girard III (Clemson) to the transfer portal, Autry retained 10 players in total.

Taylor described the team as a little bit “shell-shocked” once the coaching switch happened in March. But their decision to return reflected the confidence and trust the squad has in Autry, Taylor said. Copeland said the past several months haven’t even felt like a transition.

“There was really no pitch,” forward Chris Bell said of the conversations with Autry. “It was ‘Do you really want to be on this train? Do you

want to win?’ That's really what it was for me and I chose to stay here and compete.”

The same applied to star point guard Judah Mintz, who tested NBA Draft waters before coming back for his sophomore year. In weekly conversations, Autry never tried to persuade him to return, Mintz said. Autry would accept either outcome. When Mintz called to let him know his decision, Autry said elated would be an understatement. Autry had secured potentially one of the top backcourt duos in the country, after Baldwinsville native J.J. Starling transferred from Notre Dame in March.

Autry hit the transfer portal hard. In addition to Starling, Autry brought in center Naheem McLeod (Florida State), guard Chance Westry (Auburn) and guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. (Kansas). And like his conversations with returning players, Autry told the transfers when recruiting they needed to buy in. There wasn’t a pitch, Westry said.

When McLeod entered the portal, he said Syracuse was the second school that contacted him. The difference was that all coaches on SU’s staff talked to him, McLeod had been used to speaking with just one coach. After one visit —

basketball guide 2023 7

Head Coach

2023

Source: cuse.com

Syracuse

Assistant Coach

Virginia Tech

20

20

-2 08

20

20

Assistant Coach

Virginia Tech Assistant Coach

-2 17 0

23

Paul VI High School

10-2

1 01

-2 07 0

20

20

-2 06 0

16

Associate Head Coach

11-20

0 01

Bishop Ireton Catholic High School

Director of Basketball Operations

08

colebambini@gmail.com @ColeBambini

Syracuse

climbing to the top

07

the only one — to Syracuse, McLeod committed.

“When (Autry) preached to me that this team is built around me and I fit the play style for here, I was like it's no doubt that I wanted to stay in the ACC,” McLeod said.

McLeod noticed an immediate difference in practice. At FSU, the practices were longer, contained more drills and more running.

Under Autry, it’s more conceptual, taking the time to understand the playstyle Autry plans to implement.

As for the returners, they’ve noticed a change, too. Practices are longer and more detailed. Six a.m. workouts started when Autry took over, Taylor said. Intensity and energy have ramped up, but simultaneously, Autry spends more time to thoroughly explain the concepts and changes he wants.

“It's always been about the work,” Autry said.

“Being in the gym and being more detailed and more organized on what we need to accomplish.

We got a lot more things to work on because we have changed our style of play, where in the past, it was just different.”

Mintz said the style of play has changed “dramatically.” The switch from the 2-3 zone to manto-man defense is the most obvious. Autry hasn’t been “shy” about that.

Bell said Autry has put emphasis on defensive pressure. Cuffe Jr. said it’s a switch they’ve worked on since June and center Mounir Hima said it’s sped up play.

“We’re trying to get away from the 2-3 but we still have implementations of the 2-3,” Cuffe Jr. said after SU’s exhibition win over Daemen on Oct. 27. “But man-to-man is what the game is today, just being able to guard yours and knowing that you’re going to have help side in the back.”

Offensively, Syracuse wants to push. Bell said speed was a point of emphasis, comparing the Orange’s pace to Kansas’ ability to transition.

Mintz said SU’s quickness is the one thing that can make it dangerous this year, especially with depth in the backcourt.

Taylor said Autry wants to “bring the Syracuse bench back” and become a team known for its depth.

“We have a lot of versatility on both sides of the ball and we have talent so we will play more than six or seven guys this year,” Autry said.

“We’ll have the ability to put four, sometimes maybe five guys out on the floor that can dribble, pass and shoot.”

As for future depth editions, Autry made various recruiting trips over the offseason such as Peach Jam in Georgia and Adidas 3SSB in South Carolina. So far, four-star forward Donnie Freeman committed to Autry and four-star guard Elijah Moore reaffirmed his decision for the 2024 recruiting class.

Autry and his staff have also hosted recruits, including Kiyan Anthony, the son of Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony, who was on campus in October.

Moore said it wasn’t a “big deal” when Autry took over. He said people always thought he was going to decommit, but that was never the case.

Moore wasn’t surprised that Autry came to watch him play at Adidas 3SSB in July. The coaching staff tells Moore everytime if they’re coming. Moore said it was an “amazing” feeling to have Autry there.

The two share frequent conversations about Moore’s arrival next year. Autry wants to make sure Moore is mentally and physically prepared for the next level. Moore needs to work on his defensive positioning and work on his physical build, Autry would tell him.

Moore recalled a dinner he had with Autry in New York over the summer. The message, “be ready,” matched what he said in his first team meeting.

“He was like ‘I just want you to come and know that I need you to play and I need you to be ready. I want you to come in ready to go…. I need you to be ready right away.’

It definitely stuck with me,” Moore said.

Autry said he doesn’t use any tactics to motivate his players, he already knows they’re naturally motivated and ready. He said the team’s ceiling is to be determined, but he feels his squad has plenty of potential. “I’m very confident,” Autry said.

He’s ready to be the driver of his bus. He has fueled it with tactical changes and picked up some new passengers for the ride. All his “stops” — or objectives — during his offseason were part of his route to get Syracuse to a different gear, a different energy.

Still, the destination of being a tournament team — the “Orange Standard” — remains the same. And being on the sideline coaching in SU’s 81-68 exhibition win over Daemen, Autry felt like an experienced driver.

“I kind of felt normal,” Autry said postgame.

“I kind of felt normal.”

Syracuse

Associate Head Coach

Adrian Autry has an expansive coaching career spanning decades before stepping into the role of head coach at Syracuse source: cuse.com

changing of the guard

Adrian Autry 2023-Present

Roy Danforth 1969-1976 Marcel Guley 1951-1962 Jim Boeheim 1977-2023 Edmond Dollard 1912-1924 Fred B. Lewis 1963-1968 Lew Andreas 1925-1950

A.R. Scott 1904-1911

Adrian Autry enters the 2023-2024 season as the eighth head coach in Syracuse men’s basketball history source: sports-reference.com

defensive switch

Syracuse has ran the 2-3 zone for years under Jim Boeheim but Adrian Autry has been vocal on switching mainly to man-to-man during his first year as head coach

8 basketball guide 2023

dailyorange.com

basketball guide 2023 9

Georgia Woolley is ready to be one of SU’s top scorers in 2023-24. Her development stemmed from training with various coaches in her native Australia.

By Justin Girshon

I

asst. digital editor

n 2019, 64 campers from 18 different countries in the Asia Pacific region competed in a four-day Basketball Without Borders camp — a program meant to maximize the potential of international youth talent.

During the camp in Tokyo, Japan, players received guidance from professional players like Ashley Battle, Allison Feaster, Yolanda Moore, Kevon Looney and Robin Lopez. At the end, one of them was named MVP. Australia’s Georgia Woolley took home the honor.

Now a top-scoring threat for Syracuse, Woolley’s path to Division I basketball was unique. Instead of playing high school and AAU like most of her teammates, Woolley had to make a name for herself through other opportunities. To earn the necessary exposure, Woolley improved her game with numerous coaches and trainers in Australia before joining Felisha Legette-Jack’s University at Buffalo program in 2021.

At the U14 level, Woolley played with the Brisbane Representative Team. Its coach, Penny Bairstow, helped spur Woolley’s development, despite only coaching her for one season.

“It all started with Penny Bairstow,” said Adam, Woolley’s father. “When she was able to get charged into that team there, from then on she had the exposure and the opportunities were there for those training with better coaches.”

Woolley was the youngest and one of the smallest on the team. But, anchored by Bairstow’s coaching, her ball-handling, shooting and finishing skills improved quickly against more developed players.

Now standing 6-feet, Woolley has the physical traits of a taller guard but the skill of a smaller one. During her first season with the Orange in 2022-23, Woolley recorded the second-most 3-pointers made (42) and steals (62) on the team.

Around the time Woolley turned 14, she started working w ith former National Basketball League (NBL) player Derek Rucker.

Rucker was the NBL MVP in 1990 and founded Derek Rucker Basketball in 2016, where he mostly trains young Australian basketball players.

“Initially when I saw Georgia, I thought, ‘Oh boy, this girl has a lot of potential,’” Rucker said. “She has a good feel for basketball, her movement is pretty good for how gangling and lanky she GEORGIA WOOLEY improved her craft by working with high-level coaches in Australia to was even at a young age.” become one of SU’s top shooting threats. aiden groeling staff photographer Once Woolley turned 15, her parents allowed her to embark on an hour-long commute,

mostly by train, to the city of Brisbane. She would meet Rucker there to train before school once or twice a week.

Woolley built on what she learned from Bairstow when training with Rucker. He helped Woolley improve her positioning and timing on both sides of the court.

Rucker always saw Woolley as an elite scorer. He worked with her to elevate her shooting and touch.

Mechanically, the pair focused on elbow placement and basic drills from within the key.

Then, Rucker helped Woolley get comfortable from midrange, not letting her step out beyond the 3-point arch until she mastered tempo, timing and her follow-through.

“We just chipped away and chipped away,” Rucker said. “It was a very, very long and tedious process.”

Woolley trained alongside some of the other 26 Division I players Rucker has trained. This summer, Woolley spent time training with Dani Bayes (Boise State), Grace Ellis (Cleveland State), Audrey Fuller (Campbell) and Kate Deeble (Wake Forest).

Woolley’s frame enhanced as she grew older, but the level of competition she faced also amplified. After moving up to the U16 level with Brisbane, she eventually earned a spot on the U18 team, coached by Bronnie Marshall. There, Woolley learned the essentials of how to compete and how to intelligently use her body.

Despite her skinny frame — which was a main critique from Australian scouts — Woolley was a topscoring threat. She constantly faced box-and-one defenses from opposing teams attempting to keep her quiet. Battling tough defenses pushed Woolley’s offensive game to the next level.

Additionally, Marshall helped Woolley with her decision-making and understanding the right moments to shoot.

“From the age of 16, she’s been training and competing against women bigger, stronger, more experienced than her,” Marshall said. “That’s something that really goes in an Australian’s favor when they’re looking to go to college because they haven’t only competed against girls their age, they’ve competed against women.”

42

Georgia Woolley made the second-most 3-pointers during her first season with Syracuse in 2022-23

Once Woolley began looking at schools in America to play college basketball, Legette-Jack was the reason she committed to play for the Bulls. Following Woolley’s freshman season, Legette-Jack departed Buffalo for Syracuse, leaving Woolley with an easy decision.

“Coach Jack was who I came to America at the end of the day to play for,” Woolley said. “I wanted to continue to play for coach Jack, so that’s why I made the change to Syracuse.”

Along with Woolley, three players transferred from Buffalo to Syracuse. As one of the leaders from Legette-Jack’s former squad, Woolley was SU’s second-leading scorer in 2022.

Heading into her second year at Syracuse, Woolley sees “nothing but success” for the Orange in 2023-24.

But she knows that’s dependent on her development.

“Everybody’s working, so (it’s like) ‘What are you going to do that’s going to get you that step further than everybody else?’ And that’s what I try and do,” Woolley said. jgirshon@syr.edu @JustinGirshon

10 basketball guide 2023

J.J. Starling is home. Raised in Baldwinsville, he spent his last three years in Indiana, playing at La Lumiere and Notre Dame before transferring to Syracuse.

By Tyler Schiff

I

sports editor

t almost seemed rehearsed, a perfectly orchestrated storybook beginning. The prodigal son had returned, marking the end to a three-year absence. J.J. Starling locked eyes with his choked up father, Patrick, on the doorstep of their house.

“Hometown hero,” Patrick said to Starling. “How does that sound?”

Starling didn’t need to answer. His beaming reaction punctuated the start of a new chapter. Following an underwhelming freshman year at Notre Dame, questions arose about his future. He had struggled with nagging injuries. Mike Brey, the coach who led his recruitment, was gone after 23 years at the helm. And, Adrian Autry, who Starling has known since he was 7, was appointed as Syracuse’s new head coach.

“All the stars aligned for J.J. to go back home,” said Patrick Holmes, Starling’s head coach at La Lumiere (Ind.) School. “It all made perfect sense.”

Starling entered the transfer portal days after Notre Dame’s season ended. The Baldwinsville (N.Y.) native and former McDonald’s All-American committed to Syracuse within 24 hours. His decision wasn’t surprising. He wanted to be close to his family and play for the program he grew up 15 minutes away from.

“I mean it’s been a little while since there’s been a kid from the 3-1-5 who’s in that starting lineup,” said Jim Hart, Starling’s AAU coach with Albany City Rocks. “Right?”

Starling was the stereotypical, obsessed young athlete, who barely missed on his Little Tikes hoop and murmured the word “basketball” while falling asleep. At 8, he attended a camp at SU, ran by then-assistant coach Mike Hopkins. He

Once Red (Autry) took the position, we knew there was a 99.9% chance he was coming home. He was coming to play for Red. Satonya Starling j . j . starling’s mother

built early relationships with SU’s staff and excelled.

“I’m a coach and I see a lot of kids play,” Satonya, Starling’s mother, recalled Hopkins telling her. “I don’t know how to explain it, but J.J. has it. He has the ‘It’ factor.”

Word spread quickly. Tyler Smith-Lewis, Starling’s brother, said every high school in the area wanted Starling, who entered 10th grade with a year of varsity experience under his belt.

Starling decided to attend Baldwinsville’s Baker High School, where he became a 1,000-point scorer in under two seasons. Baldwinsville’s Athletic Director, Chris Campolieta, said Starling spearheaded Baker’s first run to the sectional finals in decades.

“Baldwinsville loved him,” Smith-Lewis said. “Like they was calling him a legend. So he was already making history at that point.”

Campolieta said Baldwinsville basketball is “automatically associated” with Starling’s name and students around the district still wear No. 1 because they “want to be the next J.J.” Orange emojis flooded Starling’s Instagram comments when he announced Syracuse as one of his top-five collegiate choices on Sept. 9, 2021. The idea of Starling playing anywhere other than SU was seemingly unfathomable to the local community. It was familiar. He was the hometown kid. Why would he want to go anywhere else?

Starling recalled staying up late and seeking frequent advice

while weighing his decision. Smith-Lewis offered his two cents.

“Bro, the world is big. Experience life. Go experience life. Syracuse is going to be here. We’re from here,” he told Starling.

Naturally, people were confused when Starling committed to Notre Dame. Smith-Lewis said they assumed the then-four star guard was a lock to boost Jim Boeheim’s 2022 recruiting class, which finished 14th best in the country, according to Sports Illustrated. Some checked in with Smith-Lewis, questioning if he did enough to persuade Starling to stay.

But choosing the Irish wasn’t the first time Starling had left home.

Entering the 2020-21 season, he transferred to La Lumiere — a preparatory basketball powerhouse in La Porte, Ind. — amid worry that Baker wouldn’t play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starling was also in search of better competition.

“He kind of outgrew his situation where he just wasn’t challenged enough in practices and workouts,” Holmes said.

“For him to get where he wanted to get to, he knew that you have to kind of be uncomfortable and make that leap.”

Starling had garnered interest from preparatory schools since eighth grade, Satonya said. She refused to let him go back then. It was too early. But when her son pushed the move, Satonya was on top of everything.

She heavily researched all of Starling’s potential suitors.

She looked into their educational offerings, weighing the balance between athletics and academics, and even studied the dining options at each school. Then, she and Patrick let Starling have the final say.

When Starling left for La Lumiere, the household went quiet, Satonya said. She recalled days hugging her youngest daughter Janeé and the two of them crying. She didn’t want to miss his prom and “those little extra milestones” throughout the last two years of high school.

“I could tell we were all missing a big piece,” Satonya said.

“The laughter wasn’t quite the same. We had to learn to keep our unit tight and try to find happiness with him gone. It was hard.”

For Starling, there was the obvious transition period.

Holmes and his wife occasionally helped by hosting team dinners. During Starling’s junior season, La Lumiere played in a couple of quasi-bubble tournaments for 10 days at a time. Patrick and Satonya couldn’t go to the games with fans not allowed. The pair missed watching Starling so much that they consistently drove two hours in spring 2020 to Albany, just to see him practice with City Rocks.

Starling’s college decision stemmed from his close relationship with Brey. Notre Dame is just an hour-drive from La Lumiere, and Holmes said Starling saw Indiana as a second home. In his freshman year with the Irish, Starling started 24-of-28 games, averaging 11.2 points and 2.8 rebounds. But in January, Brey abruptly announced his resignation from the program.

Patrick and Satonya presumed Starling would follow suit.

He told Satonya he didn’t want to think about transferring until after the season. When ND lost in the Atlantic Coast

homecoming 2022-2023

2017-2020

University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN

Baker High School Baldwinsville, NY

source: cuse.com

2020-2022

La Lumiere High School La Porte, IN

2023

Syracuse University Syracuse, NY

After playing in Indiana with La Lumiere High School for two years and Notre Dame for one, J.J. Starling is coming back to where it all started at Syracuse

Conference Tournament, effectively eliminating it from postseason contention, realities of entering the portal heightened. Then, Autry — who initially recruited Starling out of high school — was named Boeheim’s successor at Syracuse a day later.

“Once Red (Autry) took the position, we knew there was a 99.9% chance he was coming home,” Satonya said. “He was coming to play for Red.” During Starling’s spring break, he spent a couple days at home. Rumors had already started to swirl, but he let his parents in on the decision first.

“There’s only one thing to do now,” Starling told them. “Put my name in the portal and come home.”

Satonya ran through the steps again. On her way out for a dentist appointment, she saw Starling lounging in the living room with his two sisters. She reminded him to contact Notre Dame’s Athletics Compliance Office to notify them of his departure.

They agreed on discussing further when she returned.

Laying down in a dental chair, Satonya couldn’t reach her phone. It had been buzzing like crazy. A mother of four, she immediately assumed the worst. Yet, after picking up her phone, she found multiple college coaches had called and texted. But Satonya knew none of the coaches reaching out had a chance.

On March 14, Starling announced his commitment to Syracuse. “I’m coming home,” his Instagram post read. Autry said the first time he reached out, both had a mutual desire and understanding. It felt like a reunion.

“It was short and sweet,” Starling said. “There was no trying to sell me on anything. (Autry) was someone I knew I wanted to play for. That was an easy decision.”

Smith-Lewis said the “town is hype” and Starling’s decision felt natural and genuine. Patrick and Satonya can now attend every home game. Campolieta gets “chills just thinking about it.” Hart, Starling’s old AAU coach, said the attraction of playing in front of his hometown crowd meant there wasn’t need for much discussion.

“The hometown hero realized his true home is Syracuse,” Hart said. trschiff@syr.edu @theTylerSchiff

basketball guide 2023 11

Alyssa Latham realized her childhood dream playing for Homewood-Flossmoor as a freshman in high school. Her length and tenacious defense helped the Vikings to a regional title.

By Zak Wolf

I

asst. sports editor

n fourth grade, Alyssa Latham wrote a book outlining her future goals. On the back page, Latham scribbled that she wanted to play for coach Anthony Smith at Homewood-Flossmoor high school.

Latham watched her sister, Arianna Damper, play for Smith.

Damper said Latham’s desire to play for Smith was funny.

“For someone who didn’t know coach Smith that’s all she talked about,” Damper said. “Coach Smith probably spoke two words to her but he was all she talked about.”

Latham stepped into the Homewood-Flossmoor gym five years later as a lengthy, uncoordinated ninth grader. She wore two knee braces but flashed potential in open runs as an athletic shot blocker. Under Smith, Latham transitioned into a versatile offensive weapon and was ranked ESPN’s No. 72 recruit in the 2023 class. Now, a freshman at Syracuse, Latham looks to make the same instant impact she had in high school.

Latham attended Homewood-Flossmoor’s annual summer camps since she was in elementary school, Smith said. Entering her freshman year in 2018, Latham had shot up to 6-feet after growing six inches over the summer.

“We see this kid roll into summer camp and we're like ‘Who is this kid’, we don’t recognize her,” said Evan Bercot, an assistant with Homewood-Flossmoor.

Campers ranged from third to 12th-graders and focused on sharpening fundamentals. All participants trained during the day but only varsity players returned for open runs at night. Latham was invited to play with the varsity team.

Bercot said the runs were a “proving ground” where players could see where they stood. By the end of the first night, Latham had “earned her stripes” with the team, Bercot said.

“Most ninth graders are not ready to run with the mindset because it's a little bit more physical,” Smith said. “But there are ones who can handle it, we know they’re going to be special.”

Latham was one of those players. Her success stemmed from the work she put in with her family. She was in the gym for one-and-ahalf to two hours almost everyday from middle school through high school. Latham used to watch from the sidelines, dribbling a basketball herself, when her father, Johnny, trained Damper in high school.

Damper started giving Latham tips when joined the Midwestern Elite, a prominent AAU program in the Chicago area, in fifth grade. Damper pushed her younger sister to dribble two basketballs while performing crossovers, going between-the-legs and behind-the-back. The workouts built up Latham’s guard moves before she hit her growth spurt.

Damper tweaked her training regiment once Latham grew, catering them towards a post player. To help Latham’s rebounding, Damper threw the ball off the backboard, teaching Latham to catch the ball at its highest point before putting it back up.

At times, Latham struggled with her finishing. To help her improve, Damper told Latham she’d have to bear crawl across the floor if she missed two layups in a drill. When Latham missed, she burst into tears at the thought of her punishment. But it was all a part of the process.

“If I'm being honest, I didn't see her being the best player on her high school team when she was young,” Damper said. “I didn't know if that was a part of her destiny.”

Damper knew what it took to play for Smith. She emphasized to Latham that Smith assigned roles to each of his players. If Latham could carve out a role of her own, she could play.

As a freshman, Latham entered a senior-filled team with Division I players like Grace Hall (Penn State), Tia Morgan (Arkansas-Pine

Bluff ) and Isis Fitch (Bradley). Because of her length and size, Latham became a “Dennis Rodman type player,” Smith said, tasked to solely defend and rebound.

Latham earned a spot in the starting lineup. She had already received an offer from DePaul before her first game, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Latham. Her first few games were rough, full of traveling violations and missed layups, Johnny said.

Latham was forced to play small forward despite being a natural power forward. When teams pressed Homewood-Flossmoor, Latham wasn’t used to having the ball in her hands which led to the traveling.

“We just tried talking to her, getting an understanding and not really letting her get frustrated with herself. Because we've all been there, it happens,” Morgan said.

Bercot said Homewood-Flossmoor’s coaching staff helped Latham simplify the game. He said Latham moved awkwardly, a byproduct of her still growing into her body, which led to problems finishing through contact. To combat the struggles, the coaches pushed her around with pads down low during practice, simulating a game situation.

Johnny said Latham came into her own throughout the second half of the season. Bercot said Smith traditionally views the first half as a test to see who’s built for games down the stretch. Though Latham didn’t score at a high rate, she always guarded the opposition’s best player.

When Hall suffered an injury around playoff time, Latham was thrown into the spotlight. Bercot said the injury was “untimely” for the team, but “timely for Alyssa.”

“You can see that by early mid January, coming out of Christmas break, (Latham) had kind of absorbed everything,” Bercot said. “And now it was starting to click.”

Smith said Latham went from scoring five to six points per game to averaging nearly 15 while being a defensive stalwart. Latham’s biggest challenge came in the sectional final against Marist High School. She was forced to guard Iowa commit Sydney Affolter.

Latham proceeded to play one of the best games of her HomewoodFlossmoor career, Johnny said. She dominated Affolter, blocking her on numerous occasions. With the Vikings down one in the final seconds, Latham sent the game to overtime off a free throw. In extra time, Latham registered the game-clinching block to seal Homewood-Flossmoor’s first regional title since 2017.

Latham’s postseason run was a springboard for her development. Bercot said she wasn’t an offensive option as a freshman, but became one for the next three years.

She learned how to beat defenders off the dribble and shoot 3-pointers, leading one of Johnny’s friends to call Latham a “unicorn.”

Latham’s skillset garnered the attention of numerous D-I schools and she ultimately chose Syracuse. Now, she’s back in a familiar situation — a freshman looking to prove herself. But this time, the stakes are higher.

“Even though it’s the same experience, I feel like now I'm in a much better headspace now,” Latham said. “I know my mission. I know my goal.

I know what I'm here to do. And I'm gonna go do it.” zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22

freshman phenom

Alyssa Latham was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 72 prospect in the class of 2023 coming out of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois

12 basketball guide 2023

rare talent

retention rate

Michael Carter-Williams: 2011 ALL AMERICAN

J.J. Starling: 2022 Malachi Richardson: 2015 Dajuan Coleman: 2012 Rakeem Christmas: 2011

Adrian Autry returned 10 players from last season, including six from the Orange's 2022 recruiting class, which ranked No. 14 at the time, per Sports Illustrated source: cuse.com

Fab Melo: 2010 Jonny Flynn: 2007 Donté Greene: 2007

6 returning players from 2022 recruiting class

Eric Devendorf: 2005 Carmelo Anthony: 2002

J.J. Starling is one of just 10 McDonald’s All Americans since 2002 to play for Syracuse. Pearl Washington and Adrian Autry were also McDonald’s All Americans in 1983 and 1990, respectively. source: cuse.com

Cole Bambini

Henry O’Brien

Tyler Schiff

on the bubble record: 19-12 mvp: judah mintz x-factor: depth

year one surprises? record: 18-13 mvp: judah mintz x-factor: man-to-man defense

promised land record: 23-8 mvp: j.j. starling x-factor: naheem mcleod

It’s a new era for Syracuse basketball, but at the same time, there’s plenty of continuity, too. Autry has made it clear. The style of play will change. On offense, it’ll be much fasterpaced.

SU has a lot to prove with its nonconference schedule.

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be an indicator of where Syracuse could compete in Atlantic Coast Conference play, as will games against LSU and Oregon.

Autry also plans to use his depth, something that can be the difference maker for Syracuse. Mintz will likely star once again, but having Starling, Justin Taylor, Kyle Cuffe Jr. and Chance Westry add depth that the Orange haven’t had recently.

I see Syracuse as a much better team than in the past couple of years and will probably be on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. It’s just a matter of if SU can hang with the top echelon of the ACC.

There has been much more of a buzz around Syracuse basketball following Autry’s appointment. He’s confirmed the transition away from a 2-3 zone defense, switching to man-to-man.

When it comes to nonconference opponents, SU will likely struggle against teams like Tennessee, Gonzaga or Purdue. Matchups against the top tier of the ACC like Duke, North Carolina, Virginia and Miami will likely be very challenging as well.

Mintz and Starling will make for one of the better backcourts in the ACC, while 7-foot-4 McLeod should be proficient at center. But a question mark is at the forward position. Can Chris Bell and Benny Williams be good enough to make SU a cohesive starting five? If Syracuse even wants a shot at March Madness, can players like Taylor, Quadir Copeland and Maliq Brown lead its depth?

Could this team get to 20 wins? Absolutely. But don’t be surprised if Autry needs another year to make Syracuse a prominent power again.

Syracuse begins Autry’s tenure by returning a 2022 recruiting class that ranked No. 14 nationally, according to Sports Illustrated. The Orange have arguably one of the best backcourts in the country in Starling and Mintz, and brought in McLeod — SU’s tallest player in program history.

Bell and Taylor are dynamic, trigger-happy wings, while Williams is primed for a long-awaited breakout junior season. Cuffe Jr., Copeland and Brown will serve as vital depth pieces, all capable of considerable production.

The pieces are all there. Autry has doubled-down on the trust he has in his team's athleticism to execute manto-man defense. Barring Duke, North Carolina and couple of tough, nonconference matchups in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Orange are more than capable of beating every team they face.

SU has never suffered three straight seasons away from NCAA Tournament play. And following its absence over the last two years, Autry won’t make history.

basketball guide 2023 13

on fire

74.21 points per game

In 2022-23, the Orange ranked second in the ACC in scoring offense, notching 2,449 points through 33 games

dynamic backcourt Following a season together playing for the Univeristy at Buffalo, Dyaisha Fair and Georgia Woolley led SU to a breakout 2022-23 season in their first year with the Orange source: cuse.com

Player

Minutes per game

Points per game

Field goals

3-pointers

Dyaisha Fair

35.9 (1)

19.9 (1)

228 (1)

88 (1)

Georgia Wooley

30.4 (2)

12.9 (2)

133 (2)

42 (1)

Zak Wolf slowly but surely acc record: 10-8 mvp: dyaisha fair x-factor: frontcourt

Cooper Andrews fairly improved acc record: 11-7 mvp: dyaisha fair x-factor: sophie burrows

Justin Girshon dancing, yeah acc record: 11-7 mvp: dyaisha fair x-factor: kyra wood

The 2022-23 season was a building block for Legette-Jack.

In her first season with the Orange, the team showed flashes, but ultimately had mixed results culminating in a WNIT Super 16 finish. Last season, SU struggled getting over the hump against the ACC schools, with its only ranked win coming against North Carolina. Despite the inconsistency, Legette-Jack set the foundation. With so many returning pieces, Syracuse has the potential to make some noise in a strong ACC. Fair’s return is obviously the biggest story of the offseason, but SU’s team is much more than that. Georgia Woolley and Alaina Rice provide experience and a secondary scoring spark. The addition of Michigan transfer Izabel Varejao and freshmen Latham and Marilena Triantafylli give the Orange stability in the frontcourt after losing Dariauna Lewis and Asia Strong. If Syracuse gets consistent frontcourt play, they’ll be able to take a step forward in the ACC.

Last season was a valiant effort for Legette-Jack in her first campaign, setting the program-record for wins in a debut head coaching season (20). While SU’s defense was one of the worst in the ACC (67.9 points against per game), Syracuse’s offense was the second-best in the conference, averaging 74.2 points per game. Legette-Jack brought over four transfers from Buffalo, including Fair and Woolley, to help build SU. With eight returners and a few new additions, 2023-24 will look more like the finished product.

While SU can rely on Fair to carry the team, it also has shooting threats like Woolley and freshman Burrows to help match Fair’s production. Guard Kennedi Perkins, who shot 42.9% in limited opportunities, leads a deep bench for the Orange. Plus, Varejao and Triantafylli round out the team with their height, standing at 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, respectively. Legette-Jack has built the Orange into a contender in year two and they are primed to return to the NCAA Tournament.

After improving from 11 wins for the 2021-22 season to 20 last year, Syracuse fell just short of the NCAA Tournament.

Despite upsetting then-No. 14 North Carolina on Feb. 9, the Orange faltered in their ensuing games against ACC foes Notre Dame and Florida State and failed to make a run in the ACC Tournament.

Even though SU ended last season on a rough note, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic this year. Fair is back for her graduate season and should be a shoo-in to score at least 20 points per game.

With a Syracuse core still intact from Legette-Jack’s first season at the helm, expect the Orange to come out of the gates strong and make improvements against their ACC foes. With new additions and an improved sense of familiarity, Syracuse is in a great spot to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.

14 basketball guide 2023

from page 4

fair

“The attributes you need to have to be a great 5x5 player, they don’t necessarily make you a great 3x3 player,” Batastini said. “However, the attributes and the skills that you learn through 3x3 absolutely help you develop to become a better 5x5 player.”

Batastini said it’s hard for players to change their playstyle when it's ingrained in them. Fair and her teammates had to work diligently to improve situationally, constantly running through various scenarios, Batastini said.

Fair said she worked on playing “freely.” She learned to read offenses with more detail, as Batastini said she could “anticipate” what her opponents were going to run. from page 5

mintz mastered by LeBron James, while with Team Durant. Or when defenders are locking down the single and double gaps on the court, Mintz could go to the corner and shoot a corner 3.

But Bangura emphasized that the flow of the game mattered in these situations, giving Mintz the freedom to react.

Mintz got competitive in four-on-four or fiveon-five shooting drills, Smith said. He added Mintz always had a shot quota and always made it during practice.

“He shot a lot of 3s in practice,” Smith said.

“Whether it was off the catch, coming off screens, off a dribble move…He shot pull ups, which he is very good at…that's kind of what he's known for offensively.”

“When you play free, you make quick decisions,” Fair said. “You don’t think.”

Once Team USA landed, they had a set schedule. They all ate breakfast together before attending team meetings and film sessions. Afterward, some girls rested or received treatment prior to leaving for tournament play. Then, they stayed in the 40-degree facility for up to 10 more hours.

“They spent almost every waking hour together in circumstances that probably weren’t ideal for them,” Batastini said.

Defensively, Fair was more vocal than she’d ever been on the court. Batastini said she started recognizing what opposing teams were doing in the screen game. Fair adjusted well to player screens and on-ball screens by muscling her way over the top of the pick, just like how Batastini taught her. Batastini added

that Fair’s ability to invade passing lanes and quickness to stay with her player made her a threat to get steals.

While on offense, Fair also drove to the basket with consistency, often finishing through contact. She also became one of the premier 3-point shooters on the U23 squad.

“She got better every single time she played,” Batastini said. “And she really started asserting herself on the offensive end the deeper she got into the tournament.”

Fair’s performance led Team USA to the 2023 FIBA U23 Nations League Americas Conference title. The squad dominated, winning 5-of-6 three-game tournaments — known as “stops” — and 15-of-17 total contests played while outscoring its opponents 332-181.

Since returning to Syracuse, Fair’s instilled her knowledge from 3x3 basketball

into her teammates. McEvans said that Fair has transformed into a vocal presence. Fair’s also emphasized getting Syracuse’s freshmen prepared, McEvans said, often pulling them aside in practice and “correcting them when they’re wrong.”

“She’s been communicating with me all the time,” said freshman forward Alyssa Latham.

“It’s really helped me a lot.”

Batastini said she believes Fair’s time playing 3x3 will “accelerate” her learning process. After playing with Team USA, Fair can think on the defensive end like she has never before.

“Her game is just going to be that much sharper,” Batastini said of Fair, “with much more basketball IQ having played 3x3.”

Bangura said Mintz’s stronger skills include finishing at the rim, phenomenal footwork and aggressive defense. But when Bangura coaches players like Mintz, whose shooting needs improvement, he doesn’t want to minimize the skills that make the point guard great. Bangura believes Mintz’s shooting improvement will come from simply taking more shots.

“It wasn't that he wasn't a good shooter, he just didn't shoot the ball as often as people would like,” Bangura said. “But when he shot the ball, I think he made shots.”

Smith shared a similar sentiment to Bangura, calling Mintz’s shooting “selective.” Smith said Mintz has the range to become a good shooter but doesn’t have a high shooting percentage.

Mintz has shown off strong perimeter shooting before. While playing for Oak Hill in December 2021, Mintz went 3-of-6 from 3 during a loss

to IMG Academy. He kept the Warriors in the game with his 3-point shooting, at one point calling for the ball at the top of the key and nailing a shot with the shot clock winding down.

He’s had similar performances at Syracuse, too. On Feb. 22 against Clemson, Mintz made two 3-pointers in the first half. He sank an open 3-pointer after Jesse Edwards drew three defenders and on his next attempt, he got open via an Edwards screen and drilled one from the right wing. Mintz made two more 3s in the second half, finishing the evening with a make from Clemson’s giant paw at center court.

According to Smith, Boeheim would tell Mintz not to shoot 3-pointers unless he was wide open. During the Clemson game, Mintz was open or partially open on all four attempts.

With a new head coach at Syracuse, though, Mintz has a new approach. Adrian Autry

believes that Mintz’s abilities have only grown since the start of the offseason. Autry gives him confidence to shoot from distance, awarding him with compliments when he shot well, Mintz said.

Fellow SU guard JJ Starling said he gets “goosebumps” when he thinks about sharing the backcourt with Mintz. Mintz’s teammates know his talent, and with the compliments being dished out, it’s not a coincidence that Autry has noted an uptick in Mintz’s game.

“He's improved a lot,” Autry said. “I think the one thing that everyone will see — in the way we play right now — is how disruptive he can be on a defensive side of the ball but he's improved overall. Decision making, jump shot has improved.

He’s just an improved player.”

ccandrew@syr.edu @cooper_andrews

henrywobrien1123@gmail.com @realhenryobrien

basketball guide 2023 15

16 basketball guide 2023

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