By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside basketball sensation Ricardo Gathers has decommitted to St. John’s University, RA coach Timmy Byrd confirmed Wednesday.

Gathers, who earned honors as Louisiana’s “Mr. Basketball” as a junior and is a two-time Class 2A player of the year, committed to the Big East’s Red Storm over the summer.

But Byrd said that the 6-foot-7 forward/center is still considering St. John’s, but decommitted as he is not ready to sign and is not yet fully certain where he wants to go.

“He wants to make a decision in the spring,” said Byrd. “He didn’t want to sign if he wasn’t 100-percent certain in his heart, in his head. It’s not about making a quick decision, it’s about making the right one. He’s going to take his time and not rush.”

Byrd said that Gathers also wants to concentrate on the upcoming basketball season, his senior year. Riverside is a two-time defending state champion and is ranked 18th nationally in an ESPN preseason poll. Riverside tips off tonight at 5 p.m. in its opener, against McDonogh No. 35 at Xavier.

ESPN lists Gathers as the No. 30 prospect in the nation.

Riverside completed last season with a 33-6 record. Gathers has been named the MVP of the state championship game in three consecutive seasons, the first coming as part of Byrd’s 2008 championship team at Reserve Christian.

Gathers averaged 20.7 points, 16.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots as a junior. He can join Greg Monroe as the only two time winners of the Mr. Basketball honor if he secures the award as a senior.