Belgian league shooting guard Mateusz Ponitka entered his name in this year’s draft prior to Sunday’s deadline, as he tells TVP Sport, a website based in his native Poland. Ponitka adds that he isn’t ruling out the possibility that he’ll withdraw before the June 16th cut-off date. Ponitka is the 77th-ranked prospect for 2014 on Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress board. Chad Ford of ESPN.com is less optimistic, slotting him 140th for 2015.
The 6’5″ 20-year-old put up 9.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game for Telenet BC Oostende. He improved his outside shot after back-to-back seasons of less than 30% shooting from beyond the arc, nailing 36.3% of his three-point attempts this season, and he had a strong performance at the Nike Hoop Summit this month, pouring in 17 points in 25 minutes of action.
Ponitka will be automatically draft-eligible in 2015 if he doesn’t stay in this year’s draft. Given his lack of playing time in Europe and his showing in the Hoop Summit, a showcase for this year’s international prospects and the top incoming collegiate freshmen, I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to remain in the draft.