WHile I can appreciate the regard for Ponds as a pre-season AA, there is enormous refinement that Ponds has to attain in order to play his way into the first round of the NBA draft.
First, the NBA will favor bigger guards between 6'4" and 6'7". All things being equal, they will choose a bigger guard.
Second, while I'd say Ponds has the quickness to slip inside, he doesn't possess the incredible quickness that would be an equalizer for his lack of height. He can penetrate on college front lines, but in the pros the talent gets bigger, longer, quicker and stronger.
Third, Ponds needs a faster trigger. At his size, he must be catch and shoot, and be deadly at it. Watch the Warriors, and while that's a high bar, they have lights out shooters who don't need any daylight to sink money shots. Right now, Ponds has to load up to shoot, and at the shorter college distance, isn't money in the bank. IS he a shooter or a scorer. If a scorer, the NBA may discount him, but if he is seen as a great shooter, someone may take a shot on him. He has to improve dramatically though, definitely into the 40s from three at least.
Fourth, Passing. While Ponds is capable of the show stopping great passes, he doesn't seem to make a lot of simple great passes. You know, the type that breaks down defenses, and in almost computer like fashion, identifies all the 3 on 2's or 2 on 1's that exist in a half court offense. In short, the stuff that you really want a great point guard to do. At present, Ponds as a combo, isn't even a great college point guard, and that is a role he'd have to assume in the pros at his size.
Fifth, Rebounding. In college, Ponds has a nose for the ball. Watch him in isolation. A shot goes up, and Shamorie has his eyes on the shot, especially when he is on the weak side, and goes where his defender, or the man he is covering doesn't - towards the rim. Often he get great, unimpeded, position, where he is a surprisingly good leaper. It remains to be seen if NBA scouts will undervalue his college rebounds as an anomally due to less athletic players giving him the space to sneak him unguarded for rebounds. Not saying he couldn't do this against bigger competition, but saying it's doubtful.
Ballhandling - already stated above, he has to be more careful with the ball, and show that he isn't just safely bringing the ball upcourt, but the conductor of the symphony. To that extent, as Ponds goes, St. John's goes, especially as the competition gets better.
All that being said, I hope he puts it all together and has a fantastic season. The better Ponds does, the more we will win, and that will help everything, from attendance, to rankings, to recruiting. At this juncture, more than likely will be his last season here, but Nova has at least one 4 year player go in the 1st round, no?
