New York City is there for the taking. It’s up to Thomas Jefferson’s Shamorie Ponds to grab it and claim it as his.
The super-talented rising senior combo guard becomes the best boys’ basketball player in New York City when the season begins in November now that Rawle Alkins is leaving Christ the King for prep school.
It’s been a long time since the city’s top player resided in East New York at Thomas Jefferson, which has a history of producing great players. Lincoln, Christ the King, St. Raymond — and Rice before it closed — have dominated with city’s basketball landscape in recent years.
The idea of carrying that mantle doesn’t phase Ponds.
“There is no pressure,” he said. “Pressure — it doesn’t affect me.”
He already proved last year that he can excel in the limelight. That spotlight will just be a little bigger this year — and there is also the chance for the fairy-tale ending. Ponds can finish rewriting his legacy from the kid who missed two free throws in the closing seconds of the championship game as a sophomore to the star who finally brought Jefferson its first crown since 1954.
“I’m just trying to go out on top,” Ponds said.
Alkins — the nation’s 15th ranked prospect according to Rivals — joked that as far as he knows he is the “King of New York,” but you have to play here for that to be the case. Once Alkins leaves, the moniker falls to Ponds — and rightfully so.
His stock is rapidly rising. The 6-foot Ponds has worked his way up from a slick shooting sophomore to one of the nation’s top prospects. Ponds is ranked 45th in country by Rivals, but he believes he should be ranked higher, and is out to prove it.
“It’s motivation that they put guys who are not better than me above me,” he said.
Ponds, who is gunning to have bigger schools recruit him, took part in the Adidas Uprising All-American camp last weekend on Long Island. He scored 22 points in the camp’s all-star game at Rucker Park on July 16. Ponds can score the ball in every way imaginable and make it look easy, and his leaping ability allows him to play bigger than he is.
He has offers from the likes of St. John’s, Miami, Creighton, Minnesota, DePaul, Seton Hall, Tennessee, and Rhode Island, among others. He said he will cut his list in the early-to-mid portion of the school year. Add committing to St. John’s or another big time college to Pond’s resume, and city will get even more behind him.
Ponds said St. John’s has made him a top priority. Head coach Chris Mullin and both of his assistants Barry Rohrssen and Matt Abdelmassih were out to watch him play last weekend at the Adidas Uprising All-American camp.
“They tell me I am their number-one recruit in the class of 2016,” Ponds said.
Ponds can be more than that next season. He can be the No. 1 player in New York City, and leave a lasting legacy at Jefferson. New York City is there for the taking. Ponds can make it his.
