Former St. John’s basketball standout signs with professional team

Former St. John’s basketball guard Mustapha Heron has signed a professional contract. 

Mustapha Heron has a new home across the pond as the former St. John’s basketball guard inked a professional contract with the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League.

Heron inked deal on February 26 after not being selected in the 2020 NBA Draft nor being signed as an undrafted free agent.

The Waterbury, Connecticut native played two seasons in Queens after transferring in from Auburn where he was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2016-17 and the Second Team All-SEC in 2017-18.

Mustapha Heron joined for formidable St. John’s team where he was able to help lead the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.

ALSO READ: St. John’s still has very important games left in regular season

In his first season as a Johnnie, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 14.6 points 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 44.0-percent shooting from the field and 40.3-percent from three-point range.

Heron opted to remain at St. John’s in the midst of a coaching change from Chris Mullin to Mike Anderson and the guard’s senior season was plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 21 games which was culminated with season-ending ankle surgery.

The former five-star recruit averaged 13.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in his senior season.

Former St. John’s basketball guard already making an impact

Mustapha Heron joined the Leicester Riders in season as the team is sitting at the top of the British Basketball League standings with a 14-2 record.

In the two games in which Heron has played, he has started both and is averaging 26.0 minutes per game while posting 6.5 points per game and is working to get his shots to fall, only firing at a 26.3-percent clip from the field.

The Riders have spit its two games since Heron joined the squad, winning securing a one-point victory over the Worcester Wolves and then falling to the Wolves with on a buzzer beater in overtime.

Heron provided an update on his acclimation to the professional game after his two outings.

https://twitter.com/RidersBball/status/1367111034381754372?s=20

St. John’s (14-10, 8-9 Big East) will return to the court on Wednesday, March 3 against the Providence Friars (12-11, 8-9 Big East) while Mustapha Heron and the Leicester Riders will play Cheshire Phoenix (8-9) on Friday, March 5 at 1:00pm EST.