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Post on Ponds; Matthews Off the Board

Ponds 9.20

Recruiting news should come fast and furious over the next month. On Saturday the New York Post provided an interesting look into the recruitment of top 50 guard Shamorie Ponds, while a power forward previously mentioned with the Friars is off to Towson.

Zach Brazillier of the Post wrote how it has been believed that Ponds to St. John’s was “in the bag for the better part of a month” in an article that delved into how Ponds could become the recruit who stops the trend of NYC stars looking outside of the city for their college experience.

Recently hired Chris Mullin has recruited Ponds by selling his experience of being the local star who spurned the likes of Duke and Virginia to stay close to home, according to Brazillier.

Yet there is a dynamic developing leading some to believe that Ponds to St. John’s isn’t the foregone conclusion many previously believed:

Several sources The Post spoke to on Friday said Ponds wants to pick St. John’s, has wanted to commit there for some time, has told friends his intentions, but members of his family feel leaving home would be a better choice for his growth and development.

Furthermore, Providence has pitched Ponds on replacing likely lottery pick Kris Dunn at the point, while St. John’s will likely have two point guards on its roster — current freshmen Marcus LoVett Jr. and Federico Mussini — when Ponds arrives.

Pollard thinks he would succeed at St. John’s, and likes the idea of his family attending all his games.

“He definitely is a kid that can stay home and thrive in New York,” Pollard said.

There is more on the line here for Mullin and company than merely adding a quality four-star prospect. On talent alone, Ponds spurning the Johnnies isn’t a death blow because of the presence of Mussini and LoVett, but it would be a major chink in the Mullin armor after all the talk of recruiting locally.

“They need this very badly, just for the perception of what getting the best New York City player would mean,” a local AAU and high school coach told The Post.

All three schools visited with Ponds at Jefferson on Thursday, perhaps delivering one final recruiting pitch.

The Providence staff had major ground to make up over the past month and it appears as though they’ve given themselves a chance where most thought they had little a few weeks ago. They visited with Ponds the first day coaches could meet with prospects on Sept. 9 and hosted him on campus a few days later.

It may still be an upset if Ponds chooses Providence, but the decision has become far more intriguing of late.

* * *

Virginia power forward JJ Matthews committed to Towson on Saturday. Matthews is a physical and skilled power forward who is a tremendous get for Pat Skerry and Co.

Matthews, who will miss the upcoming season due to a torn ACL, was reportedly going to visit Providence with AAU teammate Maliek White in October.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

12 Comments

  1. John Cotugno

    September 20, 2015 at 10:12 am

    David Craig Allan landing Ponds would be huge not just cus he’s a great player, top 50ish pg, but for all the guys St Johns (vitamin water ) have stole from under us #GoPC

  2. David Desroches

    September 20, 2015 at 11:12 am

    I read the article yesterday. Seems like his parents think it would be better for him if he was out of ny

  3. John Cotugno

    September 20, 2015 at 11:18 am

    Jorge

  4. Allan Petteruto

    September 20, 2015 at 11:53 am

    this would be great for several reasons: a) Chris Mullin owned PC when he played them..payback; b) in the early Big East days, SJU would sweep in at last minute & grab kids who were ALMOST at PC; c) spark a new feud

  5. Mike Baffaro

    September 20, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Just adds to the PC – St. John’s rivalry. Would be nice to steal one from them though. Ponds is underrated being that he’s ranked #41 right now.

  6. Matt Maisen

    September 20, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Ed P. Maisen

  7. Bobby Townsend

    September 20, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    REALLY!!!! I am not buying that for one second. Most of St. John’s roster then came from the NY City area and decided to stay home. They didn’t steal anybody. That rediculous!!!

  8. Allan Petteruto

    September 20, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    we disagree..thats a 1st..NOT

  9. Susan Moore Wagner

    September 20, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Go Friars!!

  10. Bobby Townsend

    September 20, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    Start naming them then… I followed that program very closely in the 70s and the only player in question was Bob Miscavicus out of Power Memorial who narrowed it down to St. John’s or Providence and decided on the latter. That was not a big deal to anyone associated with St. John’s they just dealt with it. They thought they had Albert King (best HS player out of NY City) around 1977) Lefty swooped in and swept him. They never complained, Looie never did.. Believe me, there were absoutely NO player St. John’s stole from another school. Not ever!!! You obviously do not like St. John’s that’s your perogative so I will leave it that.

  11. Allan Petteruto

    September 20, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    dear lord….I appreciate your passion for SJU..not arguing w/you today..not happening..just keep going if it makes you feel better

  12. James Lewis

    September 20, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    Go Providence Friars Men’s Basketball

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