Joseph Girard III, a four-year starter at Syracuse who scored 1,652 points in four years with the Orange, has entered the transfer portal while also declaring himself eligible for the 2023 NBA draft.
“From the time I was a little kid, I’ve been committed with a relentless pursuit to play the game of basketball at the highest level,” Girard said in a post on Twitter.
“After much consideration and reflection, I am announcing that I will be continuing my dream by entering the 2023 NBA Draft process while at the same time maintaining my college eligibility. With that said, I will also be entering the Transfer Portal to keep my options open and gather as much information as possible in order for me to make the most informed decision about my basketball future.”
Girard averaged 16.4 points a game in 2022-23. He’s 17th on Syracuse’s all-time scoring list, and his 297 three-pointers are third in school history behind only Buddy Boeheim and Gerry McNamara.
He could play a fifth year because the NCAA granted all student-athletes an extra year of eligibility after COVID affected the 2020-21 season.
“I want to express my utmost gratitude to my family, Coach Boeheim, and Orange Nation for the past four seasons. Thank you to every fan and supporter who has impacted me in a positive manner and has helped shape who I am today. I am confident in God’s plan and trust that the next chapter will be amazing. I’m grateful for what has taken place on the journey thus far and am looking forward to what my future holds.”
New Syracuse basketball coach Adrian Autry retweeted Girard’s announcement, writing “I can't thank Joseph enough for the passion and dedication he's shown Syracuse these last four years. I'm excited for him to continue his basketball career, and I am forever grateful for the impact he's had on this program.”
Autry’s comments seem to indicate Girard will not return to Syracuse, though that option remains.
It seems unlikely that Girard will be drafted in the upcoming NBA draft, but his shooting ability could turn some heads as the June draft gets closer.
There is some talk that Girard could end up joining Rick Pitino at St. John’s, though a writer who covers St. John’s said he hadn’t heard Girard’s name come up in early discussions about the Red Storm next year.
With his court savvy and three-point shooting ability, Girard will likely have plenty of schools interested in having him play his fifth year with them.