St. John’s has now lost two players in as many days.
Sophomore forward Ian Steere has been suspended indefinitely by the university, the team announced Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the Red Storm announced senior guard Mustapha Heron would likely miss the rest of the season after aggravating a right ankle injury.
Steere, a 6-foot-9 transfer from North Carolina State who saw very limited playing since becoming eligible in mid-December, “failed to meet standards expected from a member of our basketball program,” coach Mike Anderson said in a statement released to The Post before the Johnnies hosted Providence at Carnesecca Arena.
There were high hopes for Steere, a four-star recruit who appeared in just one game for the Wolfpack last year before opting to transfer to St. John’s. After sitting out the first semester as per NCAA transfer rules, Steere was supposed to help the Johnnies as a low-post option and rebounder. But he has rarely played, appearing in just five games and scoring a total of four points.
Steere’s work habits and inability to perform up to expectations in practice have underwhelmed the coaching staff and were factors in his limited action on the court, according to sources.