PHILADELPHIA — If his freshman year up to this point is any indication, Rysheed Jordan will put on a show Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center in his return to the City of Brotherly Love.
The dynamic 6-foot-4 point guard from Philadelphia, nicknamed “The Prince of North Philly,” has been at his best in St. John’s biggest games, scoring a career-high 24 points in a win over Georgetown, playing very well against No. 1 Syracuse and versus ninth-ranked Villanova in the first encounter between the teams, a 74-67 loss at the Garden on Jan 11.
“Being a great competitor, he tends to be at his best when his best is needed,” St. John’s coach Steve Lavin said on Friday. “Coach [John] Wooden defined that as competitive greatness. He has the opportunity if he keeps developing his game through the years to be a quintessential example of a player who can elevate to the occasion.”
Jordan, who is averaging 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, is expecting up to 40 family members and friends to be on hand for the showdown against Villanova. While Lavin said he has talked to Jordan about keeping even-keeled while playing for the first time in his hometown, and plans to revisit the conversation again before Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. tip-off, Jordan’s teammates didn’t seem concerned.
“I don’t think we have to worry about that,” sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson said. “He’s a poised player. … His game has matured a lot, and he lets the game come to him.
“We’re expecting him to have another big game.”
Jordan didn’t seem nervous on Friday, as he stood to the side in the interview room, listening to teammates talk about his progression, smiling broadly as they did so.
Lavin has yet to make the talented freshman available to reporters, believing it is in his best interest to focus on schoolwork and basketball, as he worries about his mother and grandfather dealing with health issues and being away from his six younger siblings for the first time.
“It was something that was clear to me: We needed to take things off his plate so he can focus on the two most important things, which is his development as a student-athlete at St. John’s,” Lavin said.
The Red Storm’s progression — they have won nine of their last 10 games and six straight Big East contests to get into the NCAA Tournament picture — can be traced to the development of Jordan. It hasn’t just been his scoring and playmaking, but Jordan’s poise under pressure, his understanding of when to attack and when to facilitate, when to look for his shot and when to feed a hot teammate.
“The poise, his temperament, his even-keel, that’s ideal for a point guard,” Lavin said. “When you have a cool customer who has ice in his veins like Rysheed, it goes a long way in terms of having the opportunity to be successful.”
St. John’s (18-9, 8-6 Big East) indeed has enjoyed a lot of success of late. Saturday’s game is another opportunity for the Johnnies, fourth in the conference, to enhance their NCAA Tournament résumé. Despite their hot streak, they are just 1-4 against foes in the top 50 in RPI. A win over the No. 9 Wildcats would no doubt do wonders.
“We know this is a big-time game,” Sampson said. “This can seal the deal for us.”