St. John’s had been waiting for the Joson Sanon to emerge that had NBA chatter around him entering the program 11 months ago.
There had been glimpses with big games earlier in the season and clutch shots in a win over Villanova in Philadelphia, but the former Arizona State guard has lacked consistency.
However, when the No. 18 Johnnies needed somebody to step up next to Zuby Ejiofor on Tuesday night against Georgetown, he was ready for the challenge.
Sanon scored 15 points in the 72-69 victory for the Red Storm, manufacturing all of his points in the final 12:08 of the game. His deep jumper with 6:17 remaining pushed the last to four, 61-57, which was the largest lead of the game at the time for St. John’s and, again, extended the lead with a 3-pointer with 5:50 remaining.
“That’s the Joson that we need each and every night,” Zuby Ejiofor explained. “That’s exactly how he is in practice, one of the better shooters on our team…He’s a deadly shooter.”
Sanon’s layup with 1:30 left gave the Johnnies a five-point lead, 70-65, before it needed to hang on in the final seconds for the victory.
He finished 5-for-11 from the floor and 3-of-8 from 3-point range with six rebounds, the most since he pulled down nine in a win over DePaul in December.
“I’m never hesitant,” Sanon said. “My shot’s cold blooded…When the big moments come, it don’t bother me as much.”
In back-to-back games St. John’s has gotten major contributions from Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon, something the team has been waiting for all season and figures to be its biggest question mark entering the postseason.
“He could be a really special player,” Ejiofor continued about Sanon. “Tonight, you saw a more aggressive Joson. We need him in those moments…When he’s aggressive, especially on both sides [of the ball] and really engaged, especially on defense, it sparks his offense.”