Shamorie Ponds Garners Two Awards Post Upsets

Jamaica, NY—Coming off two upset victories over the Duke Blue Devils and Villanova Wildcats this past week, Brooklyn native Shamorie Ponds has been awarded with both a Big East and national recognition for the second-straight week.

Ponds was named to Andy Katz’s (NCAA.com) National Player of the Week, along with being named the “Big East Player of the Week” for the second consecutive week. Shamorie and the Johnnies, come off two statement victories over national powerhouses with 35.0 points per game for the sophomore. In the City of Brotherly Love, Ponds scored a team high 26 points, and contributed five boards, and five assists in the contest as well.

The victory over the Villanova Wildcats was the first time that the St. John’s Red Storm defeated the nations top ranked opponent since January 26th, 1985, when current head coach Chris Mullin scored 20 points in a 66-65 nail biting victory over his longtime friend, and collegiate rival Patrick Ewing and his Georgetown Hoyas.

After the two victories over Villanova and Duke, the Brooklyn native didn’t stop, as he sank a whopping 44 points over the Andrew Rowsey and the Marquette Golden Eagles, as the Red Storm won their third game in four tries, and set a Carnesecca Arena/Alumni Hall record in the process. (43 pts. from Malik Sealy (11/24/90 vs, Central Connecticut State)

According to the St. John’s Athletic Communications Department, “Ponds became the first St. John’s player to score 40 or more since Marcus Hatten tallied 44 against Rutgers on March 6th, 2003. He connected on 16 of his 23 shot attempts, including a 4-of-7 effort from beyond the arc, while converting on eight of his nine free-throw tries.”

Ponds now ranks second in the Big East with 21.4 points-per-game.