In spurts, they flashed their sky-high potential. An effortless ability to score and make shots from deep. 

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Between them, Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon scored 29 points in the regular-season opener on 15 shots. That was the warmup act for fifth-ranked St. John’s high-upside sophomores. 

Saturday afternoon at the Garden is their first real test, an early barometer for these two guards. Alabama and its lights-out backcourt is in town. This isn’t Quinnipiac. It’s several steps up in competition. A different league of opponent — the 15th-ranked Crimson Tide. Scouts representing 16 NBA teams have been credentialed for this top-20 showdown. A big crowd is expected. 

Really, St. John’s entire team will be pushed by the SEC power, and it could be without Dylan Darling, the lone traditional point guard on the roster who is dealing with a calf strain. The guards will be the unit under a microscope, in particular Jackson and Sanon, transfers from North Carolina and Arizona State, respectively. If Darling can’t go, they may need to handle additional ball-handling duties.