Big East Basketball: Top-five rising juniors in the conference for 2018-19

Big East Basketball: Top-five rising juniors for 2018-19

By Brian Foley | Jul 17, 2018

MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 07: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles works against Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs during the second half of a game at BMO Harris Bradley Center on February 7, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 30: Shamorie Ponds #2 of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

1. G Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s

21.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, 42/25.3/85.7 percent shooting

This ranking isn’t set in stone. Though I also slated Ponds as the best Big East guard in front of Howard last month, it’s tough to weigh Ponds’ statistical success with his team’s on-court struggles. In Ponds’ two seasons in Queens, St. John’s is just 30-36 overall and 11-25 in the Big East. Howard and Hauser’s Marquette teams haven’t been world-beaters, but at least their Golden Eagles qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2016-17 and made a run to the NIT quarterfinals last season.

Still, Ponds earns the nod with his ability to do everything on the floor at an impossibly high usage rate (32%, which is fourth among returning high-major players). He is a talented rebounder at just 6-foot-1, and a superior passer with a penchant for theft (138 steals in just 63 career games).

And obviously, he can score from anywhere inside half-court. Ponds’ 3-point percentage dipped after a strong freshman shooting campaign, but if he can get a little more offensive help from his teammates (potentially in the shape of Mustapha Heron), his shooting numbers should stabilize.

Ponds launched at least 20 shots in 12 separate games last season; Howard, Hauser, Powell, and Baldwin cracked 20 attempts 12 times combined last year. The Red Storm scuffled on offense last season but will be better off with more ball movement in 2018-19. Chris Mullin needs to use Ponds as an off-ball weapon, which will shift the gravity of the floor and open up advantageous situations for secondary St. John’s scorers.

Team success is a part of being a star. It’s time for both Ponds and St. John’s to take the next step forward so the win column finally matches the recruiting rankings.

Ponds, Howard, Hauser, Powell, and Baldwin will determine the fate of the Big East this season. Plenty of intriguing players dot the conference, but if the stars are stars, the Big East will not miss a beat in 2018-19.

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