BURNT HILLS— Joseph Girard III’s college search has entered the final week.

On Thursday, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and assistant Gerry McNamara traveled to Glens Falls to give a final pitch to Girard III. They arrived Thursday afternoon, watched the end of Girard III’s football practice and then sat down with the basketball recruit and his parents.

They sat around a table, where Girard III asked questions about his fit in the program and what their plans for him are. He said that McNamara highlighted Syracuse’s ability to develop combo guards, like McNamara himself, who was a four-year starter at SU from 2002-06.

Thursday’s visit was McNamara’s second to Glens Falls in six days. He also attended Girard III’s senior night on Sept. 28.

Girard III, the all-time leading scorer in New York state high school basketball history, has been a five-year varsity starter at Glens Falls.

He first received interest in the eighth grade, when he scored 31 points and hit a game-winning shot in his first high school game against Fonda. Girard III announced he’d received an offer from Syracuse on Feb. 2. And SU isn’t the only school closely following Girard III.

Four members of Penn State’s coaching staff, including head coach Pat Chambers, visited Girard III three weeks ago. Boston College head coach Jim Christian has visited Girard III this fall as well. Girard III has narrowed his final list to six schools: Penn State, Notre Dame, Boston College, Duke, Michigan and Syracuse.

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Girard Jr. said that he thinks his son has narrowed it down to two or three schools in his mind, but Girard III said all six schools remain in consideration. Girard III plans to decide by Oct. 14 so he can focus on the football sectional playoffs, which start on Oct. 20.

“Coach Chambers and Penn State are on the right track right now,” Girard III said. “My motto is always to be different, and I can boost them to the next level from the NIT to the NCAA tournament.”

Michigan head coach John Beilein, who coached Girard Jr. at Le Moyne, is a family friend.  Girard Jr. played from 1990-94, and tallied the fourth-most three-pointers in school history, with 695.

“I don’t know if it’s still true,” Girard Jr. said. “But shooting was the one thing where I would always get him. He’s better at everything else.”

His father said Girard III considered going to a preparatory school to face better competition but ultimately decided to stay at Glens Falls and lead the football team for four years and the basketball team for five.

In high school, Girard III plays on the ball for the entire game. In college, he’s expecting that to be different. Beilein, Boeheim and Duke head coach Krzyzewski all told him he’ll be used as a combo guard.

“I want to play right in the beginning obviously, but you have to think of your fit, of academics, who’s around you,” Girard III said. “I’m a competitor.”

Girard III has taken two official visits, Syracuse and Boston College, because he wanted a second look at both schools. Girard Jr. said he plans to study either communications or business, and he toured both the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Martin J. Whitman School of Management in his visit to SU.

If Girard III chose SU, he’d be joining up with City Rocks AAU teammate and incoming SU freshman Buddy Boeheim. The two have played together for years.

Basketball season starts in December, but for now, Girard III is focused on football. On Saturday, he showed why he’s also a Division I recruit on the gridiron. He quarterbacked a shorthanded Indians’ offense, pioneering four touchdowns on the first five drives in an eventual 55-27 loss to Burnt Hills.

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He holds Division I offers from Tulane and Massachusetts. Girard III’s father said that Penn State also wanted him to throw in front of their football coaching staff, though Girard III said he only wants to play basketball in college. Midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s game, two Burnt Hills defenders had a free rush to Girard III. He juked both of them and rolled to his left, throwing an off-balance 35-yard strike on 3rd and 10.

Early in the second quarter, Girard III made a tackle down near the goal line that caused the receiver to flip in the air. Girard III, though, took a knee to the ribs and stayed down. He walked gingerly to the sideline, but remained in the game when the offense came back on the field.

“As long as it’s not a knee,” his father said.

It wasn’t a knee, but Girard III was in some pain and discomfort after the game. He played through pain, and he eventually exited the game because the result was decided.

He said he’s not worried about getting injured any time he steps on the field.

“I’ve always been taught that,” Girard III said. “If you go out there thinking you might get hurt, that’s when it happens.”

As he walked off the field, the Burnt Hills student section chanted: “JG3!, JG3!, JG3!”

Published on October 7, 2018 at 10:27 pm

Contact Anthony: amdabbun@syr.edu | @AnthonyDabbundo