Rysheed Jordan came to St. John’s hailed as the next great point guard, following in the footsteps of celebrated floor generals such as Erick Barkley, Mark Jackson and Boo Harvey.
Less than two underwhelming years later, the Johnnies’ second-leading scorer — ranked among the top high school prospects in the country when he signed with St. John’s — may never reach those lofty expectations.
Friday night, St. John’s announced the 6-foot-4 Jordan was taking a leave of absence from the program, returning to Philadelphia to deal with “personal and family circumstances,” according to head coach Steve Lavin in a statement.
After Saturday’s 73-69 loss to Butler, Lavin declined to go into specifics of any kind, other than to rule out Jordan for Tuesday’s game against No. 6 Villanova at the Garden.
The fifth-year coach said he didn’t have any information to add to Friday’s ambiguous press release.
“It’s so immediate,” Lavin said. “It wouldn’t be wise to try and expand on it.”
There were times Lavin and Jordan’s teammates mentioned him in the past tense. Asked if Jordan has played his last game at St. John’s, Lavin said, “At this point, it’s too soon [to say].”
Multiple sources told The Post repeated disciplinary issues contributed to Jordan’s leave of absence, though Lavin declined to say whether there have been issues with Jordan this year, citing the previously released statement. Jordan was suspended one game last year by Lavin for a violation of team rules.
It is believed Jordan, an electric talent with an improving perimeter jump shot, has been planning to attempt to make the jump to the NBA this spring, although his name doesn’t appear on many mock drafts or top 100 lists. He was selected to the Big East preseason second team.
Prohibited from speaking to the media because Lavin felt it was in his best interests, Jordan had yet to find consistency, averaging 14 points per game but also 3.3 turnovers and just 2.9 assists. Lavin sent him to the bench nine games ago after committing 16 turnovers over two games in the NIT Season Tip-Off, and he struggled to find his way as the team’s sixth man.
His teammates received a group text message Friday night informing them of Jordan’s absence.
“It sucks,” senior D’Angelo Harrison said. “It hurts. … We don’t control stuff that goes on outside.”
St. John’s (11-3) finds itself in a difficult situation, without one of its best players, in an 0-2 hole in the Big East and sixth-ranked Villanova coming to the Garden coming off its loss at Seton Hall. Lavin said he would like to use more of his bench than he did on Saturday.
His five starters played at least 34 minutes, with Harrison and Sir’Dominic Pointer playing 40 minutes apiece. Lavin said they may practice less, watch more film and utilize a zone more often to save their legs. That may not translate into on-court success, though, as the Red Storm’s strengths are playing up-tempo, pressing and getting out in transition.
“I know we have to get in a little bit better shape to compete at a high level every possession,” Harrison said. “We’re up for it.”
Even before Jordan’s absence, St. John’s was thin. Prior to the season, key recruit Keith Thomas, a power forward from Westchester Community College, was ruled ineligible when it was found his transcript was tampered with before his arrival, while Adonis De La Rosa, a freshman big man from Christ the King in Queens, is awaiting word on his status from the NCAA. At the moment, he has been deemed a partial qualifier, allowed to practice but not play in games.
“When you’re going with five guys, it’s difficult,” Lavin said. “We are going to have to make the adjustment that gives us the best opportunity to be competitive.”