Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s
As a preseason All-American, it’s safe to say that Shamorie Ponds has made a name for himself on the national level. In his three years at St. John’s, Ponds has proven to be one of the best iso players in the nation. In his last two seasons, he is averaging over 20 points per game, and is no stranger to a 35+ point game. To say he is the engine that runs St John’s basketball would be a bit of an understatement.
I was hard pressed to find a current NBA comparison for the lefty guard, but after watching some film the comparison seemed telling. The way he is able to score at will slashing to the rim, but without deep range hesitation, Ponds has shown flashes of a style similar to All-Star Victor Oladipo. Despite being a former All-Star, Oladipo had a bit of a rocky start to his career in Orlando and Oklahoma City. Once he found his home in Indiana, he has become one of the most dominant guards in the game.
While it is not expected that Ponds will enter the NBA next season and put up 20+ points per game, it is not far fetched to think that he could play an immediate role in a depleted Sixers rotation. As a 39 percent shooter from beyond the arc, Ponds is another potential pick that could alleviate the Sixers shooting woes.
Most draft boards have Ponds falling very late in the draft, but I would be a bit surprised if it stayed that way. Nevertheless, the tough-nosed, hard-working Ponds would become a Philly fan favorite almost overnight if he suits up next year as a Sixer.