Shamorie Ponds announced late Thursday night he intends to sign with an agent and enter 2019 NBA Draft, rather than return to St. John’s for his senior season. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)
After returning to the NCAA Tournament last week, the road for St. John’s begins anew once more, this time without its program cornerstone.
Shamorie Ponds, the dynamic point guard whose natural scoring talent and playmaking ability guided the Red Storm back to the nation’s biggest stage this season, announced via his Instagram account Thursday evening that he will sign with an agent and enter the 2019 NBA Draft, completing a three-year career that transcended even the loftiest of expectations for the Brooklyn native.
“Playing for St. John’s has been nothing less than amazing for me,” Ponds posted as he began his farewell address. “To Red Storm Nation, I thank y’all each and every night for giving me the confidence to be myself and accept me for who I am through my highs and lows.”
Ponds averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in his junior season, one year after winning the Haggerty Award, given annually to the best player in the New York metropolitan area. His exploits led St. John’s to a 21-13 record this year, good enough to earn inclusion as an at-large into the NCAA Tournament, where the Red Storm was defeated by Arizona State in its First Four matchup on March 20. After that game, Ponds was noncommittal on whether or not he would return to Queens, offering a no-comment when asked directly by the New York Post’s Zach Braziller as to what his future held. Ponds’ departure, coupled with the graduation of Marvin Clark II, leaves head coach Chris Mullin with three returning starters, but the remaining core of the team — which includes juniors Mustapha Heron and Justin Simon, as well as sophomore LJ Figueroa — expected back next season.
Ponds is currently projected as a second-round pick in June’s NBA Draft, per Draft Express. St. John’s has not had one of its players drafted since 2015, when Sir’Dominic Pointer was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Coincidentally, Pointer was drafted on the heels of an NCAA Tournament appearance of his own.
Ponds is currently projected as a second-round pick in June’s NBA Draft, per Draft Express. St. John’s has not had one of its players drafted since 2015, when Sir’Dominic Pointer was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Coincidentally, Pointer was drafted on the heels of an NCAA Tournament appearance of his own.
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