By RYAN McMULLEN
Joe Girard III, the 6-foot-1 combo guard from Glen Falls (NY) and the Albany City Rocks, announced his commitment to Syracuse on Sunday night, during a press conference.
He picked Syracuse over the likes of Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State.
“If you want to be the best, you’ve got to play against the best and play with the best,” Girard said in a pre-produced video, according to Syracuse.com. “That’s why I’m going to play in the best conference in the country, the ACC, with the best venue in the country and the best fans.”
Girard then announced his decision to the ballroom full of people.
“With that being said, I’ll be staying home like I did in high school and playing for coach (Jim) Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange,” Girard said, per Syracuse.com
The 2018 Gatorade New York Player of the Year, he is the all-time leading scorer in New York State history with 3, 306 points and counting. He averaged 50 points per game last season.
According to 247Sports, Girard is a three-star prospect, ranked No. 180 nationally, and is the No. 4 player from New York.
Girard joins four-star guard Brycen Goodine and three-star center John Bol Ajak for the Orange’s 2019 class.
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