Stay in school.
That was the message NBA scouts have for St. John’s talented underclassmen.
The Johnnies are looking to make a strong late-season push for the NCAA Tournament, starting Sunday at the Garden against DePaul, but they could be a force next year — if everyone returns.
It’s unknown, at this point, who will be back, particularly since there still is a shot the Red Storm could make it into the field of 68 and players could impress a few NBA teams.
However, at this moment, one NBA scout said: “My opinion of all the guys is they’re not first round picks right now.” Elan Vinokurov, the president of EZ Hoops, a professional scouting services a variety of NBA teams rely on, said point guard Rysheed Jordan and forward Jordan Sampson likely would be second round picks if they came out.
DraftExpress.com doesn’t have a St. John’s player getting selected at all in this year’s draft, though it projects center Chris Obekpa as a second-rounder in the 2015 draft.
There was some thought the gifted 6-foot-4 Jordan could be a one-and-done-type talent, ranked by ESPN entering St. John’s as the third-best point guard in the country. He got off to a slow start, but has come on of late, despite a myriad of distractions, from his mother and grandfather’s health, to the death of his best friend this summer and, most recently, his aunt.
One of the scouts said it’s easy to read Jordan, when he will attack or look to set up a teammate, which makes him easier to guard.
“I really like Rysheed Jordan, I think he’s a great talent, has great physical tools. The biggest thing with Rysheed is he really needs to learn to play the position,” Vinokurov said. “Until he does that, he’s too predictable.
“I hope he doesn’t declare. I want to see him come back to school and improve. I think he has great upside. I think he’s not ready.”
An NBA scout, who has been impressed by Sampson on occasion, said he needs more time to refine his still-developing offensive game.
“In between position on our level, not really a good shooter [yet], has to get stronger,” the scout said. “Fair athlete at our level. Most definitely, needs another year.
“If you look at our game, if you can’t shoot, you’re going to have a tough time unless you’re a 7-foot center who can protect the basket.”
Vinokurov was higher on D’Angelo Harrison than others. He thinks the Johnnies’ leading scorer likely would land in the NBA’s D-League at first, but could stick eventually.
“This is a kid who’s tough, he’s very aggressive,” Vinokurov said. “He’s a guy who I don’t think gets enough love. He’s got to be a microwave guy [who] can really heat up in a short period of time. Or he’s got to be somebody who prove in the NBA he can play some point guard.”
Senior Director of NBA Scouting Operations Ryan Blake said this upcoming draft potentially could be “very, very deep.”
“You have a lot of people that will declare and it pushes [everyone back],” Blake said. “The thing that I recycle a lot, but it’s true: There are only 30 first-round picks, there are only 30 guaranteed contracts.”
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin certainly will have the discussion with several of his players when the season ends. For now, he is focused on moving forward, as are they.
“We have some players who will be able to earn a living [playing basketball],” Lavin said. “Where that is, is complete speculation at this point.”