Steve Lavin has a number of nicknames for Sir’Dominic Pointer, St. John’s rugged, athletically gifted and versatile sixth man.
Batman, Plumber, WD-40, Basketball Renaissance Man, Costco, are among them.
Here’s another: X-Factor.
When Pointer plays well — the Red Storm won seven of the 10 games he reached double figures in scoring last year — St. John’s often wins.
“If you go back the last three years, he’s been the catalyst that’s spearheaded every big rally, every big win, and usually put the exclamation point on a victory or is the one to put the final nail in the coffin,” Lavin said of Pointer, who is coming off his best performance of the season, a brilliant 12-point, 11-assist, nine-rebound, four-steal, three-block effort in Saturday’s 104-58 rout of improved Fordham. “We call him our Batman, because he’s saved the day, he’s saved Gotham City so many times.”
Lavin felt the 6-foot-5 Pointer, a Detroit product, would be a special player his freshman year, after the 6-foot-5 forward single-handedly shut down Lehigh star C.J. McCollum in his second college game, igniting a big comeback. Lehigh and McCollum would reach the Sweet 16 that year, upsetting Duke in the first round.
“Dom came in a like a plumber and shut the water off,” Lavin said.
Pointer will be of particular importance in Sunday’s noon showdown against No. 2 and undefeated Syracuse, when he will likely see plenty of time guarding Orange senior star C.J. Fair, the ACC preseason Player of the Year. When the teams met last season, Pointer drew point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who now is thriving in the NBA with the 76ers.
“[Pointer is] just one of those unique players that has the ability to harass or disrupt, discombobulate opponents with his foot speed, his length, his physicality, his ability to anticipate, and just his tenacity he brings to the court,” Lavin said.
The 6-foot-8 Fair is averaging 17.8 points per game and is dynamic for a player his size, a southpaw with 3-point range who can handle the ball and facilitate. Pointer is looking forward to matching up against Fair on Sunday, though Lavin made it clear he will give Fair plenty of different looks.
“I pride myself on defense, and I feel I’m one of the best defenders in the country,” Pointer said. “I have to step up and take the challenge, and our team does, too.”
Lavin said Pointer has met every challenge and scouts at the next level are taking notice.
“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Lavin said. “I think his future here and beyond is really bright. We’ve known that all along, maybe now more casual observers or people at the next level are beginning to take notice.”