When Mustapha Heron went down, screaming in pain, the worst was imaginable. A serious injury seemed likely.

Instead, St. John’s got lucky, the senior star suffering nothing more than a sprained right ankle. A week later, the swelling has gone down and progress is being made.

“That’s the best outcome for what took place,” coach Mike Anderson said in a phone interview. “I think we’re fortunate. I know Mustapha will do everything he possibly can to get himself back. This is his senior year and he knows he’s a big part of this team.”

He’s not back yet, unlikely to play Wednesday night against Albany (8:30 p.m., FS1), according to Anderson. The St. John’s coach wouldn’t estimate the likelihood of him playing against No. 16 Arizona on Saturday out west, though if held out, Heron would have an additional 10 days to heal before the league opener against Butler on New Year’s Eve.

His status is dependent on when he returns to practice. One thing is certain: The loss of the 6-foot-5 Heron, second on the team in scoring at 15.0 points per game, creates a void, particularly on the offensive end.

But Anderson has spent the early part of the season creating depth by playing 10 guys. He has yet to decide who will start in place of Heron, but there are options for the Johnnies (9-2).

Cleveland State transfer Rasheem Dunn and sophomore Greg Williams Jr. have become valuable guards off the bench, Dunn the team’s third-leading scorer at 11.3 points per game and Williams is finding his form after a back injury sidelined him most of the preseason. Another option is going big, using LJ Figueroa or Julian Champagnie as ball-handlers.

“I feel like we have a combination of guys who can step in,” Anderson said. “With me, it’s not about the starter, but it’s about playing time. Giving us some quality minutes and efficient basketball. We’ve seen that throughout the year, different guys stepping up.”