Shamorie

Ponds

They needed to make this move in order to create a roster spot for Paul Watson.

He’ll spend most of the season with Toronto’s G-League affiliate.

Ponds was signed to a two-way deal in early-September. Ponds, Spalding and Maker will all likely end up with Houston’s G-League affiliate.

Ponds was one of the top prospects that went undrafted on Thursday. We are still waiting on confirmation as to where he will end up. He’s likely been offered a few two-way contracts. The St. John’s point guard came in at under six feet without shoes at the NBA combine, but he did put up a 36-inch vert. Ponds also really came on last year with a 5.4 TS% boost from his sophomore year to his junior season, averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 boards, 5.1 dimes, 2.6 steals and 2.0 treys on a 45/35/84 shooting line.

Ponds averaged 19.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.0 treys per game for St. Johns last season. He can score in bunches but is not overly efficient. He’s also undersized and can be a defensive liability. Ponds has a chance to land in the second round of June’s draft.

Ponds led the Big East in steals (2.6), was second in assists (5.2) and third in scoring (19.8), but has been inconsistent on both ends of the floor at times this season. A strong performance in the Big East Tournament or NCAA Tournament could help make up his mind. Per the New York Post: “A source within the program said the expectation is the 6-foot-1 Ponds will go pro, which is why the coaching staff signed junior college point guard Cam Mack.”

St. John’s was once again without Mustapha Heron, meaning that even more of the scoring load rested upon Ponds’ shoulders. But unlike the Red Storm’s Feb. 23 win over Seton Hall, when he scored 27 points, the junior guard was held in check by Xavier. Ponds is projected to be a late-first to early-second round selection in June’s NBA Draft should be decide to forego his final season of eligibility.

Ponds (6'1/180) will be hiring an agent, thus ending his college career after three seasons at St. John’s. As a junior the Brooklyn native earned first team All-Big East honors, as he averaged 19.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per game. Ponds shot 45.3% from the field, 35.3% from three and 83.6% from the foul line as he helped lead the Red Storm to their first NCAA tournament appearance in five years. He’s projected to be a mid-second round pick in this June’s draft, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony having the point guard going to Orlando (via Brooklyn) with the 46th pick.

After posting phenomenal stats as a sophomore at St John’s, Ponds entered last season as a potential first-round selection. However, he wasn’t quite as impressive on both ends of the floor as a junior and ended up going undrafted. Houston is a good situation, as their offensive system suits his strengths. However, Ponds will likely spend most of the season in the G League (assuming the Rockets regular stay relatively healthy) and is not on the fantasy radar.