CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Forget 14-seeds Georgia State and UAB.
The biggest upset of the NCAA Tournament’s opening day came in Charlotte, where St. John’s sophomore Rysheed Jordan spoke to the media after being shielded from questions for two years.
The talented point guard from Philadelphia was part of the ninth-seeded Red Storm’s press conference — the NCAA mandates all players be made available — on the eve of their second-round game against No. 8 San Diego State in the South Region, as stunning as a No. 1 seed finally falling to a 16.
Jordan walked on the dais with a broad smile and kept that smile prior to answering every question, handling himself well and with poise. The St. John’s sports information department should take a bow for its media training.
It’s been an up-and-down two years for the 6-foot-4 Jordan, who arrived as the No. 1-ranked high school point guard in the country. There have been flashes of brilliance, but also moments of underwhelming, turnover-prone play.
He has lost three people close to him, been suspended for one game, his mother, Amina Robinson, has been ill, and earlier this season he took a four-day leave of absence. He also was disciplined this season for a homophobic tweet. Then there was the odd media ban, up until Thursday.
Jordan had no issue with it.
“I think it’s been a good idea because I’ve been going through a lot, so let my team just do the talking,” he said.
As for why make his media debut on the eve of the biggest game of his career, Jordan said: “Right now we’re on a big stage, and I just want to let y’all hear [me].”
Since returning from a four-day leave of absence, Jordan’s play has been impressive. He’s averaging 14.3 points and 3.1 assists on the season, but in the last 17 games, he’s reached double figures 14 times and has cut down on his turnovers while increasing his assist totals.
An NBA scout told The Post Jordan would be a second-round pick if he declares following this season.
“He has all the tools,” the scout said. “He can score, put it on the floor, he’s athletic, he’s got size, he shoots the ball, and I think he’s pretty athletic.”
The scout, however, also said Jordan is a “tease” because of his lack of consistency and said, “I wonder about his mental makeup.”
As for his future, Jordan said he isn’t thinking about the NBA or coming back to St. John’s for his junior season. He’s living in the moment.
“I’m focused on [Thursday’s] practice and [Friday’s] game,” he said.
Jordan has faced plenty of adversity since he arrived at St. John’s. He lost his grandmother, Roslyn “Bootsie” Walker, over the winter holidays. One of his best friends, Aaron McDaniels, was murdered the summer before his freshman year, and his aunt, Niaja Kane’s, was killed last February.
They never leave his mind.
“It’s real big because those are people that I love and they love me playing this game,” he said. “So each and every time I step on the court I think of them, and it just makes me go harder.”