Sports

St. John’s snags elite Philadelphia PG Jordan

The Prince of North Philly spurned the City of Brotherly Love for the Big Apple.

Elite Philadelphia point guard Rysheed Jordan of Robert Vaux High School verbally committed to St. John’s Thursday, picking the Red Storm over his hometown school, Temple, and UCLA, and becoming the highest-rated prospect Steve Lavin has landed in his St. John’s tenure.

“Throughout the recruiting process it became clear St. John’s is the best fit for me,” Jordan said. “I developed a strong relationship with Coach Lavin, the staff and players, and I believe I can contribute to the program immediately.”

When UCLA fired head coach Ben Howland, it turned into a two-horse race, said Kamal Yard, the director of Jordan’s AAU program Philly Pride. Jordan plans to sign April 17 and will take summer classes at St. John’s, Yard said.

Though Jordan’s home is technically part of Temple’s campus — there are five Fraternity houses on his street — and he has attended several Owls games, he also wanted a new experience at the college level.

“He’s been here his whole life,” Yard said. “For him, it was ‘I got to get away.’ ”

Nabbing the 6-foot-4 point guard, the 29th-ranked prospect in the Class of 2013 by Rivals.com and a five-star recruit, is a major coup for Lavin and assistant Tony Chiles, who led the recruiting charge for Jordan. Not only did Lavin beat out his former school, UCLA, but St. John’s attained one of Philly’s top prospects from one of its charter programs.

“I’m a Philly native and love my city, and I can’t wait to represent in the Big Apple,” Jordan said.

Talent evaluator Tom Konchalski said Jordan “is right there” with the top players Lavin has brought to Queens, along with sophomore guard D’Angelo Harrison, reigning Big East Rookie of the Year JaKarr Sampson and former standout Maurice Harkless, a rookie with the Magic who was taken 15th overall in last year’s NBA Draft.

“It’s a major commit for them,” Konchalski said. “He has tremendous athletic ability.”

The explosive and multi-talented Jordan will add needed scoring punch to the Red Storm backcourt, and could form a dynamic duo with Harrison, given the combustible standout returns.

Jordan averaged 24.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals this winter while leading Vaux to the PIAA Class A state championship.

“He’s definitely the missing piece,” Yard said. “They needed somebody to penetrate and get to the lane. That’s what he does best.”