Auburn coach Bruce Pearl scored a huge and unexpected recruiting coup on Sunday when he landed Mustapha Heron.
The 6-foot-5 wing out of Sacred Heart (CT) High School and onetime Pittsburgh commit had been working with a top five of St. John’s, Auburn, Mississippi State, Marquette and Alabama. He was on an unofficial visit to Auburn on Sunday.
“I had no idea,” Heron told Scout’s Evan Daniels when asked if he knew he’d commit on the visit. “But I got a vibe here that I didn’t get at any other schools that I visited. It was a family-oriented thing.”
NY Rens coach Andy Borman compared Heron to a young James Harden, even if he is not the long-range shooter that the Houston Rockets star is.
“Mustapha is a program changer,” Borman told SNY.tv. “He is a power two guard in the mold of James Harden. He’s a willing and committed defender and rebounder.
“He will be one of the most productive freshmen in the country at Auburn.”
Heron joins point guard Jared Harper and power forward Anfernee McLemore in Auburn’s 2016 recruiting class.
St. John’s fans had hoped for a package of Heron and his New York Rens AAU teammate, Rawle Alkins, but that won’t happen now unless Pearl can somehow land the 6-5 Alkins, who doesn’t have Auburn listed.
Bryan Heron, Mustapha’s father, played pro ball overseas with Red Storm assistant Barry “Slice” Rohrssen, and Red Storm fans though that connection might ultimately pay off.
Heron had been slated to take an official visit to Mississippi State on Sept. 27, which won’t happen either.
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