Before heading to St. John’s this summer, Shamorie Ponds is closing out his high school career with a series of high-profile All-Star games.
The 6-foot-1 Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson product will play Thursday night in the Capital Classic at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and will then fly to California for the Ballislife All-American Game on Saturday in Long Beach.
Ponds is coming off a 17-point performance as the West lost to the East in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 15 in his home borough of Brooklyn.
“I just want to continue displaying my talent and cap off my high school career on a good note,” Ponds, who led Thomas Jefferson to the New York State Federation Tournament of Champions title, said by phone from D.C.
Some of Ponds’ teammates on the U.S. All Stars in the Capital Classic include fellow Brooklyn native Rawle Alkins (Arizona). T.J. Gibbs (Notre Dame), Jagan Mosely (Georgetown) and Lamar Stevens (Penn State).
As for the Ballislife Game, Ponds will be joined by Alkins, Terrance Ferguson (Arizona), Michigan State signee Miles Bridges and UCLA-bound T.J. Leaf and Lonzo Ball, among others.
When Ponds arrives at St. John’s after Memorial Day, he will be joined by transfers Justin Simon (Arizona) and Marvin Clark (Michigan State).
“Yeah, I kind of heard about the transfers,” Ponds said. “Coach [Chris Mullin] said we got some good leaders coming in that will be great practice players because they have to sit out this year.”
Ponds believes that should make practices tougher for him and fellow incoming recruits Bashir Ahmed and Richard Freudenberg, along with the returning core of Federico Mussini, Malik Ellison and Kassoum Yakwe, as well as Marcus LoVett, who sat out last season as a partial qualifier.
“I think the practices are going to be intense,” Ponds said. “They’re going to be game-like so the games will be easier.”
He added: “[Mullin] told me that we have two new transfers who are going to be good leaders for us.”
FREE THROWS
St. John’s hosted Class of 2018 Archbishop Stepinac forward Aundre Hyatt on Wednesday and will host Arkansas State transfer Anthony Livingston on Thursday. The 6-8 Livingston averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds last season. He would be immediately eligible to play.
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