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For the third time this season, Shamorie Ponds has been selected as Big East Freshman of the Week.
✅ Score 26 points in a Top-15 W
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) January 2, 2017
✅ Lead @StJohnsBBall to a 2-0 start in #BIGEASThoops
✅ Another Freshman of the Week honor for Shamorie Ponds pic.twitter.com/w33KAUi1uO
As St. John’s began Big East play, Ponds was emerging as the leader of this Red Storm bunch. His performance this week against Butler and DePaul further solidified this notion.
On Thursday night against the Butler Bulldogs, Ponds tallied 26 points and 7 rebounds. Playing against a top 15 team, Ponds assumed his role as leader and knocked down huge buckets as the game entered crunch time. He arguably hit the biggest shot of the game, connecting on a deep three-point shot to bring the Johnnies within two late in the contest.
He's got ice water in his veins! ❄️ #SJUBB pic.twitter.com/aWsUYojlDX
— St. John's BBall (@StJohnsBBall) December 30, 2016
His game traveled well, as he aided the Red Storm en route to a 79-73 victory at DePaul. Ponds finished with 15 points and 4 steals, once again coming up big in the games final minutes.
In addition, Bashir Ahmed was honored by the Big East this week. For the first time this season Ahmed was placed on the weekly honor roll.
He has been the silent assassin on this Red Storm team, as he quietly has combined for 33 points and 10 rebounds in the Johnnies last two games. Last time out against DePaul, Ahmed connected on a career high 4 three-point shots.
St. John’s has two games this week. On Wednesday night the No. 10 Creighton Bluejays will visit Carnesecca Arena. What follows on Saturday is a road contest against the No. 16 Xavier Musketeers.