Ponder is a secret weapon in every game because he is on a team full of big-name players. His skill set is about as versatile as you will see from a player with his size. In recent weeks, I have just watched him hit big shot after big shot, and even though those shots are not at the end of the game, they are timely shots that make a big difference in the game. This proved true in matchups versus Ruston and Wossman, just to name a couple. He is a dead-eye shooter, and the corner three is his specialty, but Ponder is also efficient around the goal as an offensive and defensive threat. Any coach that is looking for a sharp shooter can stop right at Ponder. He is a hardworking student of the game and does whatever it takes to win.

Ponder showed effective he can be on both ends of the floor during the Cavaliers win. In Louisiana, Ponder is a stretch 4 and he shot the ball like one. No matter what guard penetrated the paint, Ponder was ready to shoot corner threes for his team (making two). On the defensive end, he defended the opposition’s power forward and battled him for rebounds and position. He played well on both ends and his 8 points and 3 rebounds helped his team to victory.

Ponder was a consistent stat-sheet filler in every game. His playstyle echoed the European brand of basketball, utilizing his size, basketball acumen, and agile footwork to make an impact on both ends of the court. On defense, he hovered around the rim, disrupting shots and gaining positional advantages for reliable rebounds.

Offensively, he relied on his basketball smarts to score in the paint or from beyond the arc, showcasing ambidexterity around the rim and using the backboard to evade shot blockers. He was a dependable catch-and-shoot marksman from three-point range, and if defenders overcommitted, he quickly made his way to the rim for high-percentage shots. Ponder was a versatile basketball player, capable of adapting to any system and excelling in his role.

The Calvary Baptist locker room is full of smart basketball players that utilize their natural gifts to create game time advantages. Ponder was a solid role player during his sophomore campaign and I expect as he develops for that to continue.