Pressure not a problem

[rl]

When Mustapha Heron put down the pen Thursday morning, the five-star shooting guard became the highest-ranked player to sign with Auburn since Rivals.com began its rankings nearly 15 years ago.

Heron, from Sacred Heart in Waterbury, Conn., knows all about it. He already has heard the fact a time or 10. He understands the pressure that comes with being Auburn's first-ever five-star signee. He understands the high expectations.

And he welcomes it all.

"That's the type of player I am," Heron said. "There is going to be pressure that comes with (the ranking) and high expectations, but I'm looking forward to it. That's what you spend hours in the gym preparing for."

Heron has spent his fair share of time in the gym. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard has everything a coach could want in a player.

Heron can do it all. He can shoot from the outside, score off the dribble, rebound and find the open man. He's a fierce competitor, and it shows more on the other side of the court where he has a reputation for being one of the toughest defenders in the country.

Heron is ranked the No. 21 overall player in the 2016 class. He had offers from top basketball programs across the country, including Kansas, N.C. State, Maryland, St. John's, UCLA and Mississippi State.

But he chose Auburn. He chose Bruce Pearl.

"Coach Pearl had a lot to do with it," Heron said. "Everybody knows Coach Pearl, and he's a magician with two-guards. He's a great person and a great coach, and he coaches at a school that has a great atmosphere and a great campus.

"Auburn is small compared to others, but not too small. There aren't a lot of distractions so I can focus on my studies."

And also at improving his game.

Heron is believed to have the talents to be a one-and-done player. He's that good. But he's not putting a timeline on his college career. He's not planning on leaving before he arrives.

"If I play my best and have a really good year where I have the potential to be one-and-done, I would have to sit down and talk to my family and Coach Pearl and see what they think," Heron said. "But if not, I would stay for another year because I see us having a lot of success as a team at Auburn."

The Tigers signed two others so far in the early period, which began Wednesday and ends Nov. 18. Heron is joined in Auburn's '16 class by two standouts from Georgia, Worth County three-star power forward Anfernee McLemore and Pebblebrook four-star point guard Jared Harper.

The trio ranks as the No. 12 class in the country and No. 3 in the SEC. Heron understands why. He sees the potential.

"I talk to Jared and Anfernee a lot," Heron said. "We are doing a good job building our relationship and I think it will make it easier for us when we get on the court. I see us going really far in the SEC Tournament, if not winning it, and going really far in March Madness and winning it. I really feel we will have the talent to do it."

Regardless of pressure or expectations or rankings or stars.

"I think there's pressure for anyone coming in," Heron said. "It will be Coach Pearl's third year when we get there and there will be pressure on everybody to win big.

"I'm ready to get there and feel that pressure. I'm ready to get on campus in the summer and get things going."

Heron's Highlights