*Note: Prospects are in alphabetical order, Keeping an eye on 10 early-entry NBA Draft decisions, The offseason Lloyd Pierce grew as a leader outside of basketball. Yet Pons clearly has some ability there. Though they may be hypothetical at this point in time. In The Athletic’s latest mock draft, which was released on Wednesday, there’s no Pons. Yves Pons is a 21-year old American basketball player and is one of the prospects in this year's NBA Draft. There is still a fair chance Pons could return to Knoxville, but as of now, the Vols will be working out the possibility that the career of the man teammates call Air France has finished in Orange and White. The same scouting description listed Pons as "a work in progress" where basketball skills are concerned, so this year should be beneficial for the senior in nailing some fundamentals that could land him as a top pick next year. We know it’s improved. A conservative guess at the start of the season was that his 25th to 75th percentile outcomes in terms of blocks in this new role would place him somewhere between 70 and 80 blocks on the season, when previously he maxed out at 15. Yves Pons, 6-6, SF/PF, Insep//Asvel France, 1999 Strengths-Extremely developed body for his age.-Long arms. He recorded a block in every game, replacing and enhancing the production of Kyle Alexander from the year before. Specifically making difficult catches in traffic. Here’s a quick look back at how he’s grown over the past few months. 12) One question about Pons as a center–or as a basketball player in general besides awareness in how Pons thinks the game–are his hands. As a sophomore, Pons saw his role increase as a sophomore, earning some starts and a significant role with one of the best teams in college basketball.

Now for the good news….at least for UT fans.
Huge hands.-Explosive leaper.

10) Individual matchups against Washington were often enough able to keep Pons out on the perimeter. He not only looks like a potentially dominant college player, but a player with a real and potentially valuable fit in the confines of the NBA.

Ultimately, this is a player that returns a wealth of experience and knowledge in Rick Barnes' system, making Pons an essential piece for a Tennessee team that should be fun to watch. Huge hands.-Explosive leaper. I don’t believe the NBA will stop drafting centers, though there are a lot of interesting ones this year.
He not only looks like a potentially dominant college player, but a player with a real and potentially valuable fit in the confines of the NBA. Look at this tip where Pons covers 20+ feet after the shot is released. His ability to guard all positions is unique, and his athleticism should keep him around the league for a long time. It’s possible, due to the context afforded by opposing lineups, that Pons may not be able to play more than 18 to 25 minutes a night. But as a five-out center, or perhaps even a 4/5, he’s the kind of player who could potentially provide value over and above where he’s selected in the draft, which despite his athleticism and nascent ability, could easily be not at all.