Yves Pons
{{Short description|French basketball player (born 1999)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Yves Pons
| image = Yves Pons Tennessee (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Pons with Tennessee in 2020
| position = Small forward / power forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 215
| league = Liga ACB
| team = Bàsquet Girona
| number = 5
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1999|5|7}}
| birth_place = Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| nationality = Haitian / French
| high_school = INSEP
(Paris, France)
| college = Tennessee (2017–2021)
| draft_year = 2021
| career_start = 2021
| years1 = {{nbay|2021|full=y}}
| team1 = Memphis Grizzlies
| years2 = 2021–2022
| team2 = →Memphis Hustle
| years3 = 2022–2023
| team3 = ASVEL Villeurbanne
| years4 = 2023–present
| team4 = Bàsquet Girona
| highlights =
- LNB Pro A Leaders Cup winner (2023)
- SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
- 2× SEC All-Defensive Team (2020, 2021)
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|FRA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA U16 European Championship}}
{{MedalGold|2014 Latvia|Team}}
}}
Yves Pons (born 7 May 1999) is a Haitian-born French professional basketball player for Bàsquet Girona of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Early life and career
Pons was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and spent three and a half years with his biological mom. He was born in Port-au-Prince, which is the capital, but his hometown was Cité Soleil.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} It's one of the biggest areas in Haiti and is also the poorest part of Haiti.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} His mom, by law, had to send him to the orphanage because she couldn't take care of him, and he was pretty sick at the time.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
After close to a year in the orphanage, Yves was taken in by his adopted parents, Babeth and Jean-Claude Pons, who lived in France.{{cite web |last1=Hein |first1=David |title=Spectacular Pons loud on the court, reserved off the hardwood |url=https://www.heinnews.com/basketball/nba/spectacular-pons-loud-on-the-court-reserved-off-the-hardwood/ |website=heinnews |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=17 January 2017}} Pons attended French sports institute INSEP, in Paris, and played for its affiliated club Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball in the Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1), the amateur third-tier division of French basketball.{{cite web |last1=Hein |first1=David |title=How reliable is Yves Pons? French ace injured again |url=https://www.heinnews.com/basketball/nba/how-reliable-is-yves-pons-french-ace-injured-again/ |website=heinnews |access-date=17 November 2019 |date=22 March 2017}}
=Recruiting=
Pons decided to play college basketball in the United States for Tennessee under head coach Rick Barnes, after being recruited by assistant coach Michael Schwartz. He chose the Volunteers over offers from Florida and Texas Tech.{{cite web |last1=Ramey |first1=Grant |title=The story behind Tennessee landing Yves Pons |url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/The-story-behind-Tennessee-Vols-basketball-going-to-France-and-landing-Yves-Pons-52284119/ |website=247Sports |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=13 April 2017}} He became the first four-star recruit to play for Barnes at Tennessee and the first French men's basketball player in school history.{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Caleb |date=28 February 2017 |title=Tennessee Basketball Recruiting: Four-Star Forward from France Yves Pons Commits to Vols |url=https://allfortennessee.com/2017/02/28/tennessee-basketball-yves-pons-recruiting-commit/ |access-date=17 November 2019 |website=All For Tennessee|via=FanSided}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2017}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Yves Pons
| position = SF
| hometown = Fuveau, France
| highschool = INSEP (France)
| feet = 6
| inches = 6
| weight = 215
| 40 =
| commitdate = 28 February 2017
|scout stars =
|rivals stars = 4
|247 stars = 4
|espn stars =
|espn grade =
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| year = 2017
| 247 overall = 63
| access-date = 24 November 2019
| bball = yes
}}
College career
Pons suffered an ankle injury in his Tennessee debut, a win over Presbyterian, and was limited to four minutes.{{cite web |last1=Megargee |first1=Steve |title=Vols capitalize on 28-0 run to trounce Presbyterian 88-53 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/11/10/vols-capitalize-on-28-0-run-to-trounce-presbyterian-88-53/107545936/ |website=USA Today |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=10 November 2017}} In his freshman season, he played 24 games off the bench and averaged 5.2 minutes per game. As a sophomore, Pons scored a season-high 10 points against Eastern Kentucky in his first career start.{{cite web |last1=Provost-Heron |first1=Troy |title=Yves Pons kickstarts Vols in win over Eastern Kentucky |url=https://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/yves-pons-kickstarts-vols-in-win-over-eastern-kentucky/article_d47c814f-815e-5c5e-aa60-459e087e15d2.html |website=The Daily Times |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=28 November 2018}} In February 2019, Pons suffered a facial fracture in a collision in practice and underwent a corrective procedure.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Phil |title=UT Vols' Yves Pons wears mask, plays briefly, after suffering facial injury |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2019/02/13/ut-vols-yves-pons-wearing-mask-after-suffering-facial-injury/2824001002/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=13 February 2019}} Pons averaged 2.2 points per game as a sophomore, but put in a lot of work on his game after the season.{{cite news |last1=Ramey |first1=Grant |title=Is this the new normal for Yves Pons? |url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Basketball-Yves-Pons-138793233/ |access-date=November 22, 2019 |work=247 Sports |date=November 18, 2019}} He saw considerable improvement as a junior, scoring a career-high 15 points in his season debut versus UNC Asheville and eclipsing that mark in his next game after scoring 19 versus Murray State.{{cite web |last1=Henley |first1=Gene |title=Vols forward Yves Pons has made tremendous progress since last season |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/college/story/2019/nov/19/vols-forward-yves-pons-hmade-tremendous-progr/508706/ |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=19 November 2019}} At the conclusion of the regular season, Pons was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.{{cite press release|url=https://www.secsports.com/article/28877731/sec-announces-2020-men-basketball-awards |title=SEC announces 2020 Men's Basketball Awards |publisher=Southeastern Conference |date=March 10, 2020 |access-date=March 10, 2020}} As a junior, Pons averaged 10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.{{cite web |last1=Tsoukalas |first1=Tony |title=How to watch: Alabama basketball vs Tennessee in the SEC Tournament |url=https://alabama.rivals.com/news/how-to-watch-alabama-basketball-vs-tennessee-in-the-sec-tournament |website=Rivals.com |date=11 March 2020 |access-date=March 22, 2020}} Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Brandon |title=Report: Yves Pons Declares for NBA Draft |url=https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/mens-basketball/report-pons-declares |access-date=April 30, 2020 |work=Sports Illustrated |date=April 25, 2020}} On August 3, Pons announced he was returning to Tennessee for his senior season.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Mike |title=Yves Pons returning to Tennessee basketball for senior season |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2020/08/03/yves-pons-tennessee-basketball-nba-draft-vols/5460006002/ |access-date=August 4, 2020 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=August 3, 2020}}
Professional career
=Memphis Grizzlies (2021–2022)=
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Pons joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2021 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies announce 2021 Salt Lake City Summer League roster|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-announce-2021-salt-lake-city-summer-league-roster-210802|website=NBA.com|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021}} On August 10, 2021, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Grizzlies,{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies sign Yves Pons|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-sign-yves-pons-210810|website=NBA.com|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021}} which was subsequently turned into a two-way contract. Under the terms of the deal, he split time with the Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies announce 2021 training camp roster|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-announce-2021-training-camp-roster-210923|website=NBA.com|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021}} Pons was transferred to the Hustle on January 30, 2022.{{cite news |title=Grizzlies' Yves Pons: Transferred to G League |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/grizzlies-yves-pons-transferred-to-g-league/ |access-date=February 12, 2022 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 30, 2022}} On February 6, he was ruled out due to a thigh injury, and missed several games.{{cite news |title=Grizzlies' Yves Pons: Out of action |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/grizzlies-yves-pons-out-of-action/ |access-date=February 12, 2022 |work=CBS Sports |date=February 6, 2022}}
=ASVEL (2022–2023)=
Pons joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2022 NBA Summer League.{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn Nets 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster |url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612751/nets |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=NBA.com}} On July 26, 2022, Pons signed a two-year contract with ASVEL Basket of the French LNB Pro A.{{Cite news |title=Asvel signs Yves Pons until 2024 |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/pons-returns-to-europe-to-play-with-asvel/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=Sportando|date=26 July 2022 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }} On July 25, 2023, Pons was released from the French club.{{cite web|title=Yves Pons parts ways with ASVEL and joins Girona|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1533011/yves-pons-and-asvel-part-ways/|website=Eurohoops|date=25 July 2023|accessdate=15 January 2024}}
=Bàsquet Girona (2023–present)=
National team career
Pons won a gold medal with France at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Latvia, after averaging 3.8 points per game.{{cite web |title=Barnes Announces Signing of Yves Pons |url=https://utsports.com/news/2017/4/12/Barnes_Announces_Signing_of_Yves_Pons.aspx |publisher=University of Tennessee Athletics |access-date=17 November 2019 |date=12 April 2017}} He averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain, as his team finished in sixth place.{{cite web |last1=Sparks |first1=Adam |title=Myth of Yves Pons grows before Vols debut |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/ut/2017/10/18/tennessee-basketball-yves-pons-vols-rick-barnes-sec-media-days-france-fiba-world-championships/774455001/ |website=The Tennessean |access-date=17 November 2019 |date=18 October 2017}} In 2019, Pons joined France at the FIBA U20 European Championship in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he averaged 2.6 points per game for the fourth-place team.{{cite web |last1=Ramey |first1=Grant |title=Yves Pons spending summer playing for France U20 national team |url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Basketball-Yves-Pons-spending-summer-playing-for-France-U20-national-team-132909807/ |website=247Sports |access-date=17 November 2019 |date=16 June 2019}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2021}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis
| 12 || 0 || 5.9 || .313 || .333 || .000 || 1.0 || .1 || .1 || .3 || 1.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 12 || 0 || 5.9 || .313 || .333 || .000 || 1.0 || .1 || .1 || .3 || 1.1
{{S-end}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee
| 24 || 0 || 5.2 || .500 || .667 || .500 || .6 || .2 || .1 || .1 || .7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee
| 35 || 13 || 11.7 || .516 || .280 || .400 || 1.8 || .5 || .3 || .4 || 2.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee
| 31 || 31 || 33.9 || .489 || .349 || .638 || 5.4 || 1.1 || .4 || 2.4 || 10.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee
| 26 || 26 || 28.5 || .466 || .274 || .789 || 5.3 || .7 || .7 || 1.8 || 8.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 116 || 70 || 20.1 || .484 || .318 || .653 || 3.3 || .6 || .4 || 1.2 || 5.7
{{S-end}}
=EuroLeague=
{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| style="text-align:left;"| ASVEL
| 30 || 3 || 14.4 || .494 || .324 || .462 || 1.8 || .3 || .5 || .4 || 3.7 || 3.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career
| 30 || 3 || 14.4 || .494 || .324 || .462 || 1.8 || .3 || .5 || .4 || 3.7 || 3.1
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/65117/yves-pons Proballers.com profile]
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Yves-Pons/Summary/77640 RealGM profile]
- [https://utsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/yves-pons/10295 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{Bàsquet Girona current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pons, Yves}}
Category:21st-century French sportsmen
Category:Bàsquet Girona players
Category:Black French sportspeople
Category:Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball players
Category:French expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:French expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:French men's basketball players
Category:French sportspeople of Haitian descent
Category:Memphis Grizzlies players
Category:Memphis Hustle players
Category:NBA players from France
Category:Sportspeople from Bouches-du-Rhône
Category:Sportspeople from Port-au-Prince