Rysheed Jordan’s commitment to Steve Lavin and St. John’s last spring was billed as a major recruiting coup.
Sunday afternoon, Red Storm fans got to see what all the fuss was about.
After a quiet first seven games, the Philadelphia product — the highest-rated recruit of the Lavin era — performed like the difference-making point guard he was portrayed as, scoring a career-high 13 points to go along with three assists, getting the better of highly touted Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis for most of the second half of the Orange’s 68-63 win at the Garden.
“Rysheed’s been in a nice groove here for the last two-plus weeks of showing progress, improving, positive momentum,” Lavin said, “and today was another example of that at both ends of the floor, the way he can influence the game.”
Jordan energized the St. John’s comeback, scoring nine of his 13 points in the second half, limiting Ennis to just six of his 21 points after the break and showcasing the dynamic penetrating and play-making ability St. John’s fans had been anticipating.
“That’s what we’ve been waiting for the whole year,” St. John’s forward Sir’Dominic Pointer said. “He had his best of the year. He made free throws, he made shots. That’s what we look for in Rysheed, attack the rim and draw fouls.”
Ennis’ team got the win, and he did hit the basket that put Syracuse ahead to stay, a layup with 4:11 left, but Jordan made his mark. He consistently got into the lane, breaking down Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone, drawing fouls and freeing up teammates for open shots.
“That’s what we need him to do for the rest of his carer,” St. John’s forward JaKarr Sampson said.
It was certainly an impressive coming-out party — against one of the best freshman point guards in the country no less.