Listen. It’s been a rough couple of years for Mike Brey and company. You could be forgiven for thinking this past March that things were approaching an ugly end for Brey’s tenure in South Bend.

But my how things are changing. A reenergized Brey, reconfigured coaching staff, and renewed roster, featuring a much-hyped graduate transfer (Paul Atkinson from Yale) and talented local freshmen class (JR Konieczny and Blake Wesley), give this program a vastly different feel than just six months ago.

Enter Tuesday’s commitment of near-five-star recruit JJ Starling, originally from New York and now attending school in nearby LaLumiere High School in LaPorte. With offers from just about everywhere, Notre Dame went toe-to-toe with Syracuse (which is his de facto hometown school) and Duke (which is Duke), in addition to his other finalists Stanford and Northwestern, and came away with a massive recruiting win.

The conventional wisdom had Duke and Cuse as Starling’s likely landing spots, but Notre Dame always lurked in the background. Starling made multiple visits to South Bend. This, of course, includes one in which Mike Brey picked him up in LaPorte in a Ferrari, clearly signaling that Brey was going all-out for Starling’s commitment.

The all-out pitch got the job done, earning the commitment of one of the very best recruits of the Mike Brey era at Notre Dame. The Ferrari ploy notwithstanding, I think it is safe to say that Brey pledged the keys to the program, as he often does with his top guard recruits, to Starling. With the NBA undoubtedly in his sights, Starling felt that leading the Irish offense was the right opportunity for him, even more than Duke’s NBA pipeline offered.

Let’s not beat around the bush, Starling’s commitment is a flat-out stunner for this program. This is a genuinely program-changing commitment for a program that truly needed one. Starling is a bona fide top recruit in this class, so much so that he is unlikely to be around for four years. He’s just that good. And lucky for us, he’ll be spending his college days running the show in South Bend.

Rankings

247: 4 star – 33rd overall – 7th ranked CG

ESPN: 4 star – 27th overall – 6th ranked SG

Rivals: 4 star – 40th overall – 8th ranked PG

247 Composite: 4 star – 33rd overall – 6th ranked CG

Highlights

 

ELITE scoring threat: I’ve watched a ton of videos on JJ Starling, and he is just an elite, elite, elite off-ball threat. Catch-and-shoot is as pure as you’ll see. Can also get to the basket easily with quick first step and excellent handle. Outstanding finisher around the rim. Elevates easily, finishes with both hands, and uses his long arms to get around defenders. Doesn’t need a midrange game at this level but occasionally shows some ability there as well. Very smooth and polished scorer all around.

Range: Loves to shoot from way behind the arc (NBA range easily on some of these), and it’s effortless. He’s just so pure, especially off the catch but becoming a threat off the dribble as well. I don’t think many freshmen are genuine threats from deep, but Starling almost certainly will be from day one. Plug-and-play shooting guard right out of the gates.

Point guard abilities: Will be interesting to see if he’s truly running point right away or Brey keeps him off the ball for a while. Make no mistake, Starling is a scorer first and can do so at all three levels. Doesn’t show a ton of playmaking for others (from what I’ve seen), other than a fair amount of drive-and-kicks (which this team could really use). I’m betting he’ll be a work-in-progress as a true point guard.

Speed and athleticism: A true one-man fast break. Gets up the floor in a hurry, very sure handle and comfortable through traffic, and obviously an explosive finisher. Makes it all look so easy. Will get a ton of easy buckets off misses and steals, another thing this team desperately needs. Haven’t seen a ton of him on defense (especially on the ball). But clearly likes to be a rover and hunt for steals to get out on the break. Doesn’t always make for the best habits for playing college-level defense but brings outstanding length and athleticism to work with on that end.

Fitting into the Irish Roster

Without question, an instant impact from day one. Honestly, I don’t think Starling commits to Notre Dame without an immediate starting role. So I’d peg him in the starting lineup right away.

That said, when Starling arrives next fall, he will be walking into a pretty interesting backcourt situation. Cormac Ryan and Trey Wertz should be back for their 5th years. Dane Goodwin is already on record as staying for his COVID-freebie 5th year. Plus freshman Blake Wesley comes in with big expectations for steady minutes (remember his Freshman All-ACC talk during last year’s commitment).

How will Brey manage those backcourt minutes? Does he resist his preference for experience in favor of higher upside young guys? Do 4 of those guys start around a big like Elijah Taylor? My way too early prediction is Ryan-Wertz-Starling are in the starting lineup with Wesley and Goodwin coming off the bench. But there’s a long time until then. To be honest, the team desperately needs to see some major steps forward from the older guys this season to even have them in this conversation.

Impact

This is what major talents like Starling (and, to a lesser extent, Wesley) bring to the table. Everyone’s expectations get taken up another level. There is an internal competitiveness that is absolutely necessary to compete with the likes of Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia in the ACC. No one’s spot in the lineup is safe.

It’s very possible that Starling walks in next year, takes the reins of this offense, and heads for the NBA after leading the Irish to a fun, explosive season. That would be a very good outcome for Notre Dame, as it would likely see them back in the NCAA Tournament where they belong and likely competing for more.

But I see him more of a two or three year player, perhaps in the mold of Demetrius Jackson. Better, more recent comps might be Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu or Florida’s Tre Mann from last year’s draft. Both were very highly ranked recruits. But, like Starling, they were in the 20-30 range and with a lot to prove before turning pro. Both were given significant roles early and got better over time with their respective programs. This could be the dream outcome for Notre Dame, getting an incredible talent like Starling but with some time to actually develop and build around him.

No matter what his future holds, JJ Starling’s commitment gives Mike Brey’s program a major lift and could help turn the page to an exciting – and winning – era for the Irish.