By ADAM ZAGORIA
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds and Yale guard Miye Oni both received invitations to the NBA Combine May 15-19 in Chicago, they told ZAGSBLOG Friday night.
The 6-foot-1 Ponds averaged 19.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds as a junior and led the Red Storm to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015.
According to ESPN, the Brooklyn native is the projected No. 51 pick in the Draft, which is June 20 in Brooklyn. Ponds is currently working out in Irvine, Calif.
“The combine invite affords Shamorie an opportunity to show NBA teams that he is the most effective guard in the pick and roll,” said his agent, Ryan Davis.
.@StJohnsBBall star @ShamorieP declares for the NBA Draft. Had a great career there. pic.twitter.com/WWkD344aBa
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 29, 2019
The 6-6 Oni averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for a Yale team that won the Ivy League Tournament and lost to LSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He is the projected No. 54 pick per ESPN.
“The combine invite shows the NBA takes Miye serious as a draft prospect,” said his agent Harrison Gaines. “He now has the opportunity to exhibit why he’s worthy of a first-round selection. He’s currently finishing the last of his school commitments and preparing himself daily for the workout process and beyond.”
Ponds and Oni are among more than 230 underclassmen who declared for the Draft. Only about 50 players are expected to get Combine invites.
Tennessee guard Jordan Bone and Washington guard Jaylen Nowell, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, also receivedinvites.
On the St. John’s front, new head coach Mike Anderson and new associate head coach T.J. Cleveland are here at the Nike EYBL stop in Atlanta recruiting.
With the departure of Ponds and junior college guard Cam Mack decommitting, the Red Storm needs at least one point guard, and possibly two guards.
They may dip into the junior college or grad transfer ranks to add a floor general for 2019-20.
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