Timéo Pons confirms he’s staying in the US after freshman NCAA season: « I will remain in the United States next year, that’s for sure »
Timéo Pons gained about 20 pounds of muscle during his year at New Mexico Basketball Photo credit: New Mexico Basketball
French forward Timéo Pons (2.02m, 19 years old) was in Indianapolis for the NIT (National Invitational Tournament) finals, where New Mexico was eliminated in the semifinals by the Tulsa Golden Hurricane — the team of another French player, Léon Sifferlin.
While the city was preparing to host the March Madness Final Four, we caught up with the Lobos forward before his return to Albuquerque to discuss his first NCAA season in detail.
Physical transformation and cultural adaptation
When asked about choosing the United States, Pons explained his reasoning: « I’ve always been quite a thin build. And the United States is known for helping players gain mass. I thought that was my main area for improvement, and that they would be best placed to help me on that point. I gained eleven kilos this season. I still look skinny when you look at me, but I really feel like I’ve gained strength. »
The cultural adaptation proved successful despite some shocking moments. « My first month, I felt like I was in a movie. The infrastructure is enormous, everything corresponds exactly to what you imagine. The adaptation went really well, I loved it from start to finish, » Pons said. However, he experienced culture shock early on: « Yes, from the first week. We were organizing a little welcome party, and a guy pulled out a gun to threaten someone. A real gun. That really shocked me. But in New Mexico, there are a lot of crazy people. »
Basketball development and playing time challenges
On the court, Pons noticed significant differences from French basketball. « In France, everything is focused on collective systems, passes, reads. Here — at least in my team this season — it was a lot of intense defense and a lot of one-on-one. I had never really been a one-on-one player. Americans are individually very strong, but they sometimes lack a bit of basketball IQ compared to Europeans. »
Despite limited playing time, Pons emphasized his development: « I progressed enormously. That’s what really makes me satisfied with my season, despite the frustration about playing time. Defensively too, because gaining physicality allowed me to absorb contact, to hold up against opposing attackers. »
Photo credit: UNM Lobo Basketball / Facebook
Looking ahead with determination
Regarding his reduced role, Pons cited several factors: « I played the U19 World Cup with the French national team in the summer, so I arrived a month after the start of preparation. The coaches told me that put me behind on game principles. And then there were a lot of seniors in the group, older, more experienced, stronger players. »
The mental challenge was significant: « It was hard, especially at the beginning. I came to the United States to play, not to sit. I had other offers, in bigger programs, but I chose New Mexico because I thought it was the best environment for me. »
Looking forward, Pons remains committed to his American journey: « I’m staying in the United States next year, that’s for sure. I spent a season waiting for my turn, and now that this turn is coming, I’m not going to leave without having had my chance. I will very probably transfer to find a program where I can really play — even if it means going down a level. Money and all that, that will come later. Right now, I just want to play basketball. »
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