NBA Scouts on Ponds...

firestorm

firestorm

Well-known member
2023 $upporter 2022 $upporter
Interesting take on Shamorie on The Athletic.

https://theathletic.com/1001148/201...try-draft-prospects-from-new-york-new-jersey/

Shamorie Ponds, Guard, 20, 6-1, 180, Junior, St. John’s
The Brooklyn native is a prospect that has talent evaluators split. Some love his ability to score, and others worry about his defensive liability as a smaller guard. Previously on The Athletic, one executive compared Ponds to Brandon Jennings.

NBA GM: I think he was forced into too many tough shots and had to carry a tough load. He was forced and asked to play a little radical. I’d like to see him in a role where he can be a better facilitator. When he’s on the floor, you certainly have to guard him because he can score and get to the rim. He’s not a great shooter, but he makes enough to keep you honest. It wouldn’t surprise me if he outperformed his draft range.

NBA Executive: He can run the pick-and-roll. That’s what I remember about him.

NBA Scout 1: He’s a high volume scorer. As a result, his shot selection isn’t great. Defensively, he doesn’t really defend. Can he adapt to being a pass-first point guard? He’s going to have to become more efficient or a third point guard type that’s more efficient. I think it’ll be good for him to get out of St. John’s and be more disciplined.

NBA Scout 2: Someone is going to get a steal in the draft with Ponds. He’s dynamic enough with the ball to be an impact player, is a good passer and has the DNA of starting point guard in the NBA.

NBA Scout 3: He has some talented moments. He is a scorer. He’s a Kenny Anderson type of scorer. I worry about his attitude and leadership ability. If he goes in there and gets drafted, he’s going to be a third-string point guard, and I’m curious how he’ll handle that.
 
Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]

We were even criticized for raising the same concerns that the last scout brought up: attitude and leadership ability.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]



Only you, Mike Zaun, could read an evaluation that is mostly positive and focus on the negative. I have no idea where Shamorie will be drafted or how he will perform if he makes the league. I thank him for helping to make St Johns relevant over the past three years. He provided many highlights. He made going to games enjoyable.


As for his future, I hope that he continues to work on his deficiencies, gets drafted, and has a productive NBA career.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]

The article 'in sum' makes me think somebody may give Shamorie a 'shot'.
Hope so.
 
There is more positive than negative in the article for sure. Clearly there are NBA scouts & execs who think Shamorie can find a place in the league. I'll be watching the draft June 20th hoping Knicks take Barrett and keep their draft picks and Shamorie gets drafted by a team that is a good fit for him.
 
Panther, no need to make anything personal...I don't with you. I focus on making points not brow beating or character assassination. Many of my critiques of Ponds were exactly what the NBA scouts said (and the few others on here who agreed). Many of the positives were also similar. I'm not focusing on the negatives...I'm clearly pointing out that positives are always going to be accepted because it's easy to. We can all agree that he's a great playmaker but you also have to admit there are real questions about shooting ability, attitude, and defense. It gets very tiring with the "negative" labeling. It's merely being a realist. That's not being negative. Players have pros and cons...mentioning cons doesn't make you a terrible person. NBA scouts agree with me and you're acting like I'm wrong still. Just makes bias all the more obvious. We are both big fans but let some of us be realistic.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=350782]Panther, no need to make anything personal...I don't with you. I focus on making points not brow beating or character assassination. Many of my critiques of Ponds were exactly what the NBA scouts said (and the few others on here who agreed). Many of the positives were also similar. I'm not focusing on the negatives...I'm clearly pointing out that positives are always going to be accepted because it's easy to. We can all agree that he's a great playmaker but you also have to admit there are real questions about shooting ability, attitude, and defense. It gets very tiring with the "negative" labeling. It's merely being a realist. That's not being negative. Players have pros and cons...mentioning cons doesn't make you a terrible person. NBA scouts agree with me and you're acting like I'm wrong still. Just makes bias all the more obvious. We are both big fans but let some of us be realistic.[/quote]


It was a mostly positive piece on one of the top 5-10 players in our school history. He is attempting to take the next step be it nba or europe. And you focused only on the negative and your negative agenda. Must be tough being a negative fan like you All the time. Its ok to try and look at potential good instead of always looking at potential bad. Heres a thought. Before you "claim" to be right on your assessment of ponds, wait until he is not drafted and doesn't make it in Europe to proclaim your wisdom was correct. But why not root for him as he was a fun johnny and chose to stay as a local kid for us
 
[quote="Room112" post=350764][quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]

We were even criticized for raising the same concerns that the last scout brought up: attitude and leadership ability.[/quote]

I think the overall summary is fair, and points to the uncertainty over Shamorie. At best a dynamic scorer and playmaker hampered by a supporting cast whose Jeckyll and Hyde made it impossible for ponds to consistently perform at a level he may be capable of. At worst, an up and down player, whose frustrations resulted in enough technical's for attitude to be questioned.

I don't know about others, but I was critical of those accusing a lack of effort or not caring, which presupposes what's in a kid's head. I believe as the season wore on and his teammates couldn't make wide open looks Ponds helped create, ponds was frustrated by sagging defenses that correctly assessed he wss the ONLY guy you really had to worry about.

The very best of Ponds is scintillating, the rest perhaps below NBA grade. Maybe there is hope for him after all, and I'm with panther in that Ponds supplied a ton of great moments and decided to come here when the roster wss barren.
 
Yeah, Ohiofan, because I'm so "out of line". If you went back you'd see what I said about Ponds was quite similar to what the NBA scouts said. Several positives but also several questionmarks. I love Ponds and I'm so happy he chose to come to our program and he really did make it exciting to watch for the first time in a while so I thank him for that. I wish him the absolute best and hope he becomes a star in the NBA. Many more people who don't know SJ as much as we do now know who Shamorie is because I bragged about him the past few years nonstop. I don't dislike the guy...I merely pointed out he has some stuff to work on and the NBA scouts agreed. I mentioned some critiques, 95% of the board had their pitchforks out for me, and now actual NBA scouts agree with what I said. And no one has eaten crow for it. That's my issue...at least when I know I'm clearly wrong I own it. But instead of that most people double down even when they lost the argument. I said there were some concerns and others said "how dare you?!". Do you say the same to the NBA scouts who said literally the same stuff? Because if not that's called a double-standard. I wish Ponds the best and hope there's a positive surprise in where he is drafted.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=350818][quote="OhioFan" post=350809]Don't feed the animal please.[/quote]

I like the phrase, don't feed blood to a tiger.[/quote]

Paper tiger, in this case.
 
[quote="SJ_NYC" post=350830][quote="Beast of the East" post=350818][quote="OhioFan" post=350809]Don't feed the animal please.[/quote]

I like the phrase, don't feed blood to a tiger.[/quote]

Paper tiger, in this case.[/quote]

Just admit when NBA scouts agree with me not you.
 
Last edited:
[quote="Beast of the East" post=350817][quote="Room112" post=350764][quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]

We were even criticized for raising the same concerns that the last scout brought up: attitude and leadership ability.[/quote]

I think the overall summary is fair, and points to the uncertainty over Shamorie. At best a dynamic scorer and playmaker hampered by a supporting cast whose Jeckyll and Hyde made it impossible for ponds to consistently perform at a level he may be capable of. At worst, an up and down player, whose frustrations resulted in enough technical's for attitude to be questioned.

I don't know about others, but I was critical of those accusing a lack of effort or not caring, which presupposes what's in a kid's head. I believe as the season wore on and his teammates couldn't make wide open looks Ponds helped create, ponds was frustrated by sagging defenses that correctly assessed he wss the ONLY guy you really had to worry about.

The very best of Ponds is scintillating, the rest perhaps below NBA grade. Maybe there is hope for him after all, and I'm with panther in that Ponds supplied a ton of great moments and decided to come here when the roster wss barren.[/quote]

I do remember you being critical of those who spoke out about that. However, I've always gone out of my way to state that I consider Ponds one of the best players we've ever had. Amazing scorer and has been so much fun to watch the past three years. He will definitely be missed. Im really looking forward to draft night with optimism and will root for him wherever he ends up.

That being said, it doesn't take away from the way I feel about how he carried himself this year. Some of which was echoed by pro scouts.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=350831][quote="SJ_NYC" post=350830][quote="Beast of the East" post=350818][quote="OhioFan" post=350809]Don't feed the animal please.[/quote]

I like the phrase, don't feed blood to a tiger.[/quote]

Paper tiger, in this case.[/quote]

Just admit when NBA scouts agree with me not you.[/quote]

Can everyone stop ganging up on Zaun? I don't always agree with his posts, but this is not cool.
 
[quote="Room112" post=350843][quote="Beast of the East" post=350817][quote="Room112" post=350764][quote="Mike Zaun" post=350711]Much of what the scouts just said got posters on here slaughtered. Just noting...but they are dead on IMO in terms of concerns and possible ceiling.[/quote]

We were even criticized for raising the same concerns that the last scout brought up: attitude and leadership ability.[/quote]

I think the overall summary is fair, and points to the uncertainty over Shamorie. At best a dynamic scorer and playmaker hampered by a supporting cast whose Jeckyll and Hyde made it impossible for ponds to consistently perform at a level he may be capable of. At worst, an up and down player, whose frustrations resulted in enough technical's for attitude to be questioned.

I don't know about others, but I was critical of those accusing a lack of effort or not caring, which presupposes what's in a kid's head. I believe as the season wore on and his teammates couldn't make wide open looks Ponds helped create, ponds was frustrated by sagging defenses that correctly assessed he wss the ONLY guy you really had to worry about.

The very best of Ponds is scintillating, the rest perhaps below NBA grade. Maybe there is hope for him after all, and I'm with panther in that Ponds supplied a ton of great moments and decided to come here when the roster wss barren.[/quote]

I do remember you being critical of those who spoke out about that. However, I've always gone out of my way to state that I consider Ponds one of the best players we've ever had. Amazing scorer and has been so much fun to watch the past three years. He will definitely be missed. Im really looking forward to draft night with optimism and will root for him wherever he ends up.

That being said, it doesn't take away from the way I feel about how he carried himself this year. Some of which was echoed by pro scouts.[/quote]

I don't disagree with you, and rarely do on any of your posts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top