NYC Natives Ponds, Brown Reach Agreements with Hoston Rockets

By Jerry Del Priore 

After a few days of speculation following the 2019 NBA draft on Thursday, when all NBA teams passed on the former Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn) great Shamorie Ponds, he declared on Twitter yesterday that he signed a free contact with the Houston Rockets. 

Ponds, a two-time All-Big East selection, left St. John’s University after three years at the school to enter the NBA draft. Several NBA scouts figured that the Brooklyn native would get picked somewhere in the second round, though that never happened. 

However, Ponds will get his chance to prove he can ball with the big boys, as he’s set to play on the Rockets’ summer league team.

If Ponds impresses, he just might receive the opportunity to play alongside point guard Chris Paul, James Harden, and P.J. Tucker.

Houston also inked another New York City native free agent in the form of Moses Brown, a 7-foot-one-inch center with UCLA who declared for the draft at the mere age of 19 after one season with the Bruins. Brown averaged 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds last season.

Brown, who hails from Queens, starred at Archbishop Molloy in Briarwood and was a McDonald’s All-Amerian selection in 2017. 

NBA insiders believe Brown needs to add more weight to his lanky frame and improve defensively in order to crack an NBA roster. 

Brown will also suit up with the Rockets’ summer league squad.