St. John’s recently landed a pledge from incoming power forward Kassoum Yakwe for 2015, and the addition of Ponds in 2016 would be another huge get for head coach Chris Mullin.
The Johnnies are also involved for 2016 guard Rawle Alkins, who is still in the process of picking a prep school and has at least 10 colleges on his list.
Shamorie Ponds will huddle with his family on Monday night following his official visit to St. John’s and it’s possible a decision could be forthcoming.
“We’re going to sit down, we’re going to have a long, long talk later on today [Monday] over dinner because it was a whole bunch for a 17-year-old to digest,” Shawn Ponds, the player’s father, told SNY.tv Monday morning. “I explained to him that we’re going to sit down over dinner and I’m going to hear him out, what he loves about it, if he can handle it.”
Asked if they could make a decision Monday night, Shawn said, “Yes.”
The 6-foot-2 Brooklyn (N.Y.) Thomas Jefferson guard has official visits set for Providence Sept. 11-13 and then Minnesota Sept. 18-20.
Shawn said right now those visits are still on.
“As far as right now, yeah,” he said. “It could change but right now it’s still yes. As far as as of this moment. yes.”
The St. John’s visit sounded like a huge success.
“He pretty much loved it, he loved it,” Shawn said. “He loved the atmosphere. They treated him well, they treated him nice. They said he’s their No.1 guy [in 2016].”
Asked how that message went over, Shawn said, “Oh yeah, he loved it. He loved that he’s their No. 1 recruit. And it’s the city, its where he lives and things like that.”
Ponds averaged 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists last season and had two 40-point games and 11 30-point games.