Syracuse men’s basketball: JJ Starling and Donnie Freeman announce return to Orange

Syracuse’s top-two scorers from this season will run it back

Syracuse Orange stars JJ Starling and Donnie Freeman will return to SU in 2025-26, per release.

Starling, the Baldwinsville native who will be going into his senior season, averaged a team-high 17.8 points per contest in 2024-25. He wasn’t just Syracuse’s go-to guy, he was the player who unlocked everything for the Orange offense. SU struggled badly when he missed time with a hand injury in December, and Starling made an immediate impact upon his return with 20-point performances pulling Syracuse over the line against Georgia Tech and Boston College. Despite the Orange’s 7-13 finish in ACC play, Starling was named to All-ACC Honorable Mention.

“It’s an honor getting to play in front of Orange Nation and especially my family and friends who live in the area,” Starling said in the release. “I’m blessed to be able to put on for my city. I want to continue to be a part of this program and what it stands for. So ‘Cuse Nation, Let’s Do It.”

Meanwhile, Freeman was averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his freshman season before a lower-body injury held him out for the rest of the season. His final game was on January 4, which was Starling’s first game back from injury. The Orange only played seven games with both Starling and Freeman together all year, going 4-3.

The 6 foot 9 DMV product is a dynamic scorer down low and has the ability to stretch the floor with his jump shooting. However, he lagged behind defensively in his freshman campaign, and will need to improve on that end of the floor in order to realize his sky-high potential.

“My injury cut my season short and I can’t wait to get back in the gym with my guys and show what I’m capable of,” Freeman said in the release. “I feel like I owe it to Orange Nation to run it back and get things back to the Orange Standard, where we belong. I trust Coach Red’s plan for ‘Cuse Basketball and I’m ready to return to work!”

Freeman and Starling attended an event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY last Friday during the NCAA Tournament, both wearing Syracuse gear, and taking photos with their uniforms.

The Orange have lost four players to the transfer portal, and five players to graduation, so keeping continuity of the team’s top two scorers is huge. In fact, it’s the first time that SU will return its top two scorers from the previous season since Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett in 2018-19. That season ended in Syracuse’s highest KenPom finish (39) since the 2016 Final Four team, and the best NCAA Tournament seed (8) since SU’s first season in the ACC.

The only other player that SU is waiting on news of a potential return at this point is Petar Majstorovic. Additionally, Syracuse has four freshmen signed to the program, bringing the scholarship count up to six or seven, depending on Majstorovic.

Having a guard and a forward locked in is huge. Now, it’s time for the SU staff to find a few key pieces in the transfer portal. Namely, a starting point guard, a shooting wing, and a true big man. SU has contacted a few potential pieces — Jacari White, Treysen Eaglestaff, and Kobe MaGee — in the portal already.

The next few weeks are absolutely crucial to the future of the program both short term, and long-term.