French Spotlight: Future Lobo Timéo Pons Shines in FIBA U19
Future UNM men’s basketball player and current Team France U19 player Timéo Pons (29) gets fouled on a 3-point attempt against Team Australia U19 on July 1 in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. Pons is shooting 40% from beyond the arc through four games. Photo Courtesy of FIBA
Get used to seeing number 29.
Freshman signee Timéo Pons will be the first Lobo men’s basketball player to wear the jersey number when he suits up for the cherry and silver, as reported first by The Albuquerque Journal earlier this week.
For now, Pons has been making an impact for Team France in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Pons is averaging 6.8 points, two rebounds, and 1.3 assists through four games for Team France. He is also shooting 40% from the 3-point line and 87% from the free throw line.
Pons got off to a rocky start vs. Cameroon in the first game of Group Play on Saturday, June 28. He checked in at the 3:25 mark in the first quarter, and immediately had two turnovers and a missed shot from three.
He finished the game with zero points, one rebound and two turnovers.
Pons bounced back against Team USA the next day, once he got his chance.
After playing just 53 seconds in the first half, Pons let it fly from deep, going 3-of-3 from behind the 3-point line in the third quarter.
All three of Pons’ made triples were impressive.
On the first, he enters the ball into the post, then executes a banana cut off a pick from teammate Mohamed Sanhke (93), which gives him a split second of air space to get a shot off and knock it down.
Pons’ other two made 3-pointers were from the left corner, both with a Team USA defender closing the distance.
He also added three free throws in the fourth quarter after getting fouled on a 3-point shot.
France fell to Australia 71-63 in the final game of Group Play on July 1.
Again, Pons shined in the second half, this time late in the fourth quarter as France tried to mount a comeback.
France was down 61-53 with 4:05 left when Pons checked in.
He knocked down two triples, while getting fouled on a third and hitting all three free throws. He drew three total fouls late in the fourth quarter and also added a steal and an assist late in the third quarter.
Pons’ second made three was a sweet step-back, worthy of a second look.
France played in the Round of 16 and fell 86-79 in overtime to Switzerland on Wednesday.
Pons had his most complete floor game of the tournament.
While only scoring six points on 28% shooting and 20% from behind the 3-point line, Pons added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
He also had a +/- of 12. The highest on the team.
France will play China in the Class 9-16 bracket at 10:45 a.m. on Friday.
After the FIBA U19 World Cup ends, Pons will have to get his student visa and then get over to the United States, a process with an uncertain timeline.
