The most highly touted recruit of the Steve Lavin era at St. John’s, Rysheed Jordan, was the talk of media day on Thursday.
The freshman point guard from Philadelphia, a five-star prospect ranked among the top players in the nation as a high-school senior, was the first player Lavin specifically mentioned in his press conference. St. John’s players raved about his potential, his playmaking ability, unselfishness and toughness. In the words of junior guard D’Angelo Harrison, he’s “freakishly athletic.”
He was also the only member of the Red Storm not present.
A quote sheet was distributed to reporters in Jordan’s stead. Lavin is bringing the gifted 6-foot-4 guard along slowly, and he doesn’t plan to make him available to the media until late December.
The oldest of seven siblings, Jordan’s the lone freshman on the team, a fact Lavin compared to being an only child or a unicorn needing to be nurtured. His mother, Amina Robinson, is ill, Lavin said, and “there are some other personal items” he’s dealing with. Jordan is just getting used to college life, balancing living on his own for the first time and staying on top of his academics while adjusting to college basketball.
“It’s being mindful of what we can do to best position Rysheed to have the kind of fantastic career he’s capable of having at St. John’s,” Lavin said. “He’s going to be central to what we do this year. He’s going to have an opportunity to elevate everything we’re doing as a basketball program.”
As a point of reference, Lavin pointed to Dwayne Polee II, who transferred out of the program after his freshman year three years ago. Polee joined a veteran team, as Jordan has, as the only freshman, and Lavin doesn’t want history to repeat itself.
“You learn about kids and pressures and people,” Lavin said. “He’s really in a good place now. It’s a little like with your children. You have a sense, you have a feel. It’s instinct, teaching and coaching. You know what’s best for them.”
Jordan figures to play a prominent role for St. John’s this season in alleviating ball-handling and playmaking duties from scoring guards Phil Greene IV and Harrison, and sharing point-guard responsibilities with junior Jamal Branch. Jordan’s presence could create a logjam of minutes, but Lavin doesn’t expect that to result in chemistry problems.
“They went through the other extreme, so they’ve seen the other alternative of not having depth, and they know it’s ugly because nobody wants to lose,” Lavin said. “Especially when you’re at St. John’s and you’re getting pounded.”
Branch, whose playing time figures to be affected the most, said, “I just want to win this year.”
Jordan, nicknamed “The Prince of North Philly,” averaged 24.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year for Vaux High School, leading the Philadelphia public school to its first PIAA Class A State championship. Jordan scored 40 or more points three times in the season and was the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletics Association (PIAA) State Player of the Year.
“He’s definitely going to help our team,” said Harrison, the high-scoring guard who was suspended late last year but is now back in Lavin’s good graces. “He’s going to be big. I can see it in practice — everybody can see it. He’s the type, he can change the game on his own.”
Jordan is one of three new pieces Lavin has added, alongside sharpshooting Harvard transfer Max Hooper and multi-talented forward Orlando Sanchez, both eligible after sitting out last season. It creates newfound depth, a previous St. John’s weakness, as the Red Storm return last year’s entire team, minus wing Amir Garrett, who transferred to Cal-State Northridge. That group includes Harrison, last year’s Big East rookie of the year JaKarr Sampson, and forward Chris Obekpa, who led the nation in blocks per game (4.03).
“If we take care of business, play to our potential, we’re going to be dangerous,” Harrison said. “We’ll make the tournament. … We’ll be able to compete for a Big East title.”