Top Prep Basketball Prospect Transfers to Orlando's West Oaks Academy

Ending a summer in which he established himself as one of the most powerful and dominant centers in the class of 2026, four-star recruit Marcis Ponder is coming to Orlando for his junior season.

The 7-foot, 300-pound big man – who has multiple nicknames such as “The Show” or “Baby Shaq” or “Lil Shaq” – is transferring to West Oaks Academy. Ponder is rated the No. 29 prospect in the country by On3, a leading source for college sports and recruiting. He already has college offers from UCF, Florida State, Alabama, and Illinois, among others.

Ponder previously played for Cold Hearts in Overtime Elite (OTE), a basketball league for 16–20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also named to the OTE team that represented the United States this summer at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals in Berlin, Germany.

His game is characterized by his ability as a dominant rim protector and a powerful inside scorer, often excelling as a catch-and-dunk threat. Although his offensive stats in OTE were modest, his defensive impact and physical tools make him a highly regarded prospect.

Ponder and West Oaks Academy will tip off the 2024-2025 season in November and will play in the Grind Session, a winter circuit of high school basketball events from late November until early March that consists of elite teams from all over North America. To put into perspective how good this circuit is: over the past 11 years, more than 50 players from the Grind Session have gone on to play in the NBA, nearly half of which were first round NBA draft picks, including Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero.

“Marcis is a great kid, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family,” said Grind Session CEO Scott Waldrop. “Joining our circuit reaffirms his commitment to his craft and future. We’re excited to part of his journey.”