St. John's University Athletics
RedStormSports.com Q&A: Rysheed Jordan
10/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 10, 2013
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's nationally-rated No. 3 point guard Rysheed Jordan was not available to the media on Thursday per a freshman interview rule instituted by Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin. Earlier in the week, however, the 6-4, 185-pound explosive scorer and five-star playmaker ranked as high as No. 17 by national recruiting services, sat down with RedStormSports.com to discuss preparation for the 2013-14 season.
Jordan, a gifted and versatile floor general from Philadelphia, Pa., joins a core of Red Storm returners built upon the foundation of Lavin's No. 3 nationally-ranked Class of 2011 and his No. 8 class from 2012. After signing 19 student-athletes in his first two full seasons with St. John's, Lavin's addition of Jordan brings the Red Storm's scholarship count to the NCAA men's basketball maximum of 13.
Ranked 17th nationally in the ESPN 100, Jordan is now the highest-rated recruit Lavin has signed since coming to St. John's in March of 2010, and Jordan represents the highest-rated rookie prospect headed into the new BIG EAST Conference. St. John's basketball players recruited by Lavin have claimed the last two BIG EAST Rookie of the Year awards - Moe Harkless in 2012 and JaKarr Sampson in 2013. Jordan's signing adds to a Lavin recruiting legacy that includes two No. 1 ranked classes (1998, 2001), the 1997 No. 2 class, the 2011 No. 3 class, the 2012 No. 8 class and a total of eight McDonald's All-Americans.
A three-time all-state performer and the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletics Association (PIAA) State Player of the Year in 2012-13 after averaging 24.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, Jordan authored one of the most prolific and galvanizing senior campaigns in Philadelphia's storied high school basketball history. Nicknamed "The Prince of North Philly" by national and local media outlets, Jordan built a substantial following in the City of Brotherly Love while leading Roberts Vaux High School to a 24-8 record and its first PIAA Class A State championship. Named the City Player of the Year by the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer, he was also the recipient of the Phoenix award, presented to top high school male athlete in the Philadelphia Public League (PPL).
A first team PPL all-conference team member as a sophomore, junior and senior, he led Vaux high to the 2013 PPL finals, where he scored 46 points with six rebounds, six steals and six assists in a 67-66 loss to Imhotep. The performance, which has already been etched into local lore in Philadelphia, was his third 40-plus point effort of the season.
Jordan also authored several prolific performances during the Red Storm's two-week European Tour in August. He played in three games with a 2-1 record, including a 10-point, six-assist effort against Spanish professional ACB squad Basquet Manresa.
Freshman Guard Rysheed Jordan
On what he's learned about his game since he got to St. John's:
"I think that I learned that attacking the basket more will help the team out. Finding shooters and just pulling up mid-range instead of just driving straight to the basket and getting an offensive foul."
On the difference between being a point guard at the highest college level compared to high school:
"In high school, passing the ball, the hole was pretty open. Now in college, everyone is more mature and knows the game better so the holes close up. You have to watch how fast you throw the ball, how to put the ball there and which way to pass it."
On his everyday college schedule:
"Sometimes we have 6 a.m. practice or sometimes we just go straight to class and have practice in the afternoon. Then I go to tutoring, study hall and the training table, then most likely my day is over."
On the adjustment from the high school to college schedule:
"I wasn't used to it. In college your body is more dead because you work hard in the gym, then you work hard in the classroom. Then you go to study hall and work hard there, then tutoring I work hard, then after that the day is mainly over and you're just dead and ready to get some sleep."
On the coaching staff:
"I think that we have a great staff, great coaching. This year we should do what New York City wants us to do... win. Win big."
On playing in front of thousands at Madison Square Garden:
"It's going to be live. Philly is going to take the trip up every home game and come support me so it's going to be like high school over again but at a higher level."
On his family:
"I have a big family. My mom cares for my four brothers and two sisters. We all grew up together and looked out for each other. I'm the oldest of all of them. It took a lot out of my day. You have to pick them up from school, help them out with their homework while mom's at work, feed them, then at night time wash them, put them to bed, then it's time for school the next morning."
On being a role model for his family:
"I'm the first one in my family to go to a Division I college. For them it's big, and for me it's big. It just makes me happy to see I'm doing something that's good that makes my little cousins follow in my footsteps. It's like I'm really accomplishing something and they're trying to grow up to be just like me."
On being able to represent New York City:
"I think I can handle it!"
