NBA Draft Watch/College Basketball Game of the Day, February 2nd (St. John's at #2 Duke) Preview/Prospects of Note

Duke RJ Barrett, St. John's Shamorie Ponds
(Photo Credit: Bruno Rouby/Getty Images)

Going on the road to Cameroon Indoor Stadium to take on the second ranked Duke Blue Devils, member of the Big East, St. John's will step out of their in-conference schedule to compete in their annual game against the ultra-talented ACC program. 

The matchup, which has become a rivalry between a couple of pilot programs from the two most prominent basketball conferences on the East Coast, has seen it's share of memorable games. Including as recently as last season, when St. John's (having lost 11 straight games, with a record under .500) upset a Duke squad that was ranked 4th in the country at the time and featured three soon to be NBA first round draft picks (Marvin Bagley, Wendell Carter, Grayson Allen), as well as two other players now currently on NBA rosters (Gary Trent, Jr, and Trevon Duval), by a score of 81-77 at Madison Square Garden. In the game the Red Storm were led by star guard Shamorie Ponds, who scored a game-high 33 points in the victory.  

Now a junior, Ponds, a Wooden Award Candidate (National Player of the Year), is having another standout season for St. John's as he ranks third in the Big East in scoring (20.9 points), in addition to leading the conference in both steals (2.8) and assists (5.7) per game. One of the more savvy guards in the country, Ponds has a sharp handle — indicative of his true to form, New York-style of play — which the southpaw successfully uses to create space in allowing him to trigger his quick release from range. It also enables him to skillfully pierce the defense off the dribble and either pull up in the face of defenders for an attempt in-between the rim and the 3-point line or drive the entire way to the basket to utilize a string of different finishes in his arsenal. 

Should Ponds and the Red Storm be able to pull off the upset again against Duke, this time on the road, he'll have to receive assistance from his teammates, and will likely largely rely on wings Mustapha Heron and LJ Figerora. 

Heron, a junior transfer from Auburn, is the second leading scorer for the St. John's averaging 15.5 points per game, shooting 46.7 from the field. A solid 6'5, 210 pound wing who can bull his way to the basket with his brawny build, he is also a dangerous option from the perimeter in being able to drill a shot from three point range (43%, 1.8 made 3's per game). 

As for Figuerora, he offers both length and versatility for the Red Storm as a 6'6, 195 pounds wing/forward with a 7-foot wingspan that he uses well to grab 6.8 rebounds per game, as the team's leading rebounder, and also is an effective defender out on the perimeter (1.8 steals per game). Offensively, the native of the Dominican Republic is the most efficient scoring option for St. John's (54.9 FG%, 14.6 points per game) as he can filter both inside the paint (61-84, 72.6% on shots at the rim) and out past the three-point mark into NBA territory (33 made 3-point shots, shooting 41.3 percent).

Standing 20-2 on the season, Duke is driven by it's dynamic duo in freshman Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, who are most likely to be selected first and second overall, respectively, in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Williamson has the acquired attention of nearly the entire basketball world with habitual highlights on a daily basis and is typically outstanding throughout the entire course of a game, having had the most effective season to-date in college basketball history. The ultra dynamic, powerful 6'7, 285 pound forward has a PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of 42.4, which leads the next closest player in Cameron Jackson of Wofford (37.0) by a considerable margin and would shatter the previous mark for a single-season (36.9) in NCAA . 

In accumulating that tremendous total Williamson has compiled a splendid stat line of 22.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, while averaging 28.6 minutes and shooting 68.1 percent from the field.

Bringing more than his share of production to the table, Barrett has been impressive as well, leading the Blue Devils in scoring at 23.6 points per game, while knocking down 45.2 percent of his shot attempts. An oft-aggressive, attacking lefty Barrett (6th in the NCAA in field goal attempts) is determined when driving to the basket, who can also create his own look to pull up for a mid-range attempt or drill a three when in the rhythm of the offense (32 3P%, 2.1 made 3's per game). 

He too is a versatile player who contributes in other areas, averaging 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. 

Also deserving of credit for Duke are another two freshman filtered in it's starting five, in wing Cam Reddish and point guard Tre Jones. 

Though his performance has fluctuated at times — evident in him alternating single and double-digit scoring performances (9,15,7,13) in the four games he has played since sinking the game-winning 3-points shot against Florida State when he scored 23 points (9-15 FG, 5-8 3P) — Reddish consistently remains one of the most talented players on the floor and in the country, alongside Williamson and Barrett.  

Averaging 12.8 points per game, on 34.7 FG%, Reddish showed he, too, has the overall ability to impact the game without scoring ways as the 6'8, 218 pound wing grabbed six rebounds, dished six assists, summoned five steals, and added a block in Duke's win last Saturday against Georgia Tech, 66-53.

Returning in the Georgia Tech game, after suffering an injury to his shoulder (AC joint) six minutes into their overtime loss against Syracuse, Jones is a trusted floor general for the Coach K's Duke squad. Playing with a poise and maturity at the point guard position that is beyond his years, Jones is steady in both handling (averaging 5.1 assists per game, on 100 assists to 18 turnovers) and defending the ball (2.0 steals per game). 

After missing two games due to his injury the 6'2, 183 pound guard has played 36 (Georgia Tech) and 35 minutes (Notre Dame) in the two games since he's returned, and figures to see plenty of time guarding Shamorie Ponds in today's game.