Former Syracuse guard Joe Girard will have his high school jersey retired by Glens Falls

Joe Girard III

Syracuse Orange guard Joseph Girard III (11) after a three pointerThe Syracuse Orange take on Louisville in the Carrier Dome Feb. 5, 2022 . Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. — Joe Girard III, a former Syracuse basketball guard, will have his No. 11 high school jersey retired, Glens Falls High School said Friday.

Girard is just the second player in his high school’s history to have his jersey retired, joining 2011 NCAA Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette, who recently represented Team USA in the men’s 3x3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The jersey retirement ceremony will take place Feb. 14 in the Glens Falls High School gymnasium at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Girard, who is playing overseas in Lithuania, is expected to travel back to his hometown for the ceremony.

“Having my jersey retired at my high school is a great honor,” Girard III said in a statement issued by the high school.

“This gym, this community, and these fans were the start of everything for me. I hope my story inspires others to work hard and dream big.”

Girard played as a guard at SU from 2019-2023 before transferring to Clemson for his last year of eligibility. In his four seasons at SU, he averaged 13.1 points per game and started a total of 123 games.

During his senior year at Clemson, he averaged a career-high 16.4 points per game and ranked third in 3-point shooting percentage in the ACC. He also holds the ACC record for most consecutive free throws made with 67.

In his only game playing in the JMA Dome since the transfer to Clemson, Girard shushed the crowd and hit the 2,000-point mark for his college career. He helped the Tigers reach the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament last March.

In high school, Girard scored 4,763 points — becoming New York State’s all-time leading scorer.

He led Glens Falls to its first-ever championship, where he dropped 53 points and hit the game-winning buzzer-beater.

Joe Girard's Glens Falls roots

Glens Falls' Joe Girard III, a Syracuse commit, is honored after scoring the 4,000th point of his high school career on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. With his mom, Arleen, and his dad, Joe Jr. Mike Waters | mwaters@syracuse.com

He was also named New York Gatorade Player of the Year (2018 & 2019), National Male High School Athlete of the Year (2019) and Mr. New York Basketball (2019).

“We are extremely proud of Joseph! This is a more than well-deserved honor,” Girard’s former high school coach, Rob Girard, said in a statement.

“There is not much more to say as Joseph’s body of work on and off the court speaks for itself.”

Following his final NCAA season at Clemson, Girard worked out for a few NBA teams and played in the Toronto Raptors' entry in the NBA’s 2024 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Girard currently plays for Nevėžis Kėdainiai in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).

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