New York City high school basketball prospects may no longer be picking the colleges in their backyard, but St. John's is looking to change that.
Newly hired head men's basketball coach and one of the school's best players ever, Chris Mullin secured a commitment from Shamorie Ponds, a four star shooting guard from Brooklyn. Ponds' commitment is part of Mullin's recruiting approach to keep New York City's best high school ballers in the city, ESPN reported, and - preferably for Mullin - at St. John's.
247 Sports gave Ponds a 0.9761 composite score and ranked him in the top 10 at his position.
Ponds ranks 41st on the 2016 ESPN 100 and third among prospects in the state of New York and second overall in the city. NYC's top prospect, a five-star small forward from Brooklyn named Rawle Alkins, has an offer from St. John's but does not appear to be considering committing there.
Ponds is Mullins' first recruit in the class of 2016 and is also the highest rated NYC high school basketball player to commit to St. John's since Maurice Harkless did so in 2011. Kassoum Yakwe was set to be part of Mullin's 2016 class, but reclassified to the class of 2015.
Ponds will join a crowded backcourt St. John's is shaping up to field in 2016, ESPN noted, but his versatility should allow for him to play well with Marcus Lovett and Federico Mussini, both entering their freshman season.
