An NJCAA All-American came to Queens. The leading scorer from the SEC co-champions was cleared to join St. John’s, too. An Arizona transfer remained a starter. One from Michigan State, too.

On Chris Mullin’s most talented roster yet, Shamorie Ponds is no longer asked to carry the Red Storm on a regular basis. Of course, he still can.

Coming off a supporting — and single-digit scoring — effort in a win over Rutgers, last season’s leading scorer in the Big East looked like the league’s top star while delivering a clutch performance in Monday’s 82-79 win over California at Barclays Center, scoring a season-high 32 points in his home borough.

Ponds, who shot 11-for-15 from the field to go with five assists and no turnovers, scored 16 points in the game’s final seven minutes, bringing St. John’s back from a seven-point deficit.

“Tonight, he had to score, so he did. Last game, other guys were going, and he played as unselfishly since he’s been with us and was very effective,” coach Chris Mullin said. “He doesn’t have to score to influence the game, but when he needs to, everyone knows he can.

“I think Shamorie’s come back with a very open mind, and he wants to win. He wants to make plays that win.”

Entering the Legends Classic as a 14-point favorite against one of the weakest teams in the weakest power conference in the country, St. John’s (4-0) — which edged mid-major Bowling Green by four at home — barely avoided disaster for the second time in the past three games.

The Golden Bears (1-2) jumped out to an early lead behind the strong shooting of Darius McNeill (21 points), but Ponds sparked a 12-0 run to put the Red Storm in front, scoring 14 of the team’s next 18 points, as St. John’s led 38-31 at halftime.

“I just found a rhythm,” said Ponds, the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. “The coaches told me to keep going. My teammates told me to keep going. I just got hot, and I wanted to stay hot.”
The next 13 minutes passed without a point from Ponds. With six minutes remaining, Cal led, 67-60.

Ponds responded with five straight points. Then, with less than three minutes left, the guard snatched back the lead for good, before drilling a deep step-back 3-pointer to put the Johnnies up 78-74 with 1:06 remaining. Ponds closed with another pair of free throws, putting the Red Storm up four with 18.7 seconds left.

“We were fortunate enough that Shamorie found his own rhythm. He hit some tough, tough shots,” Mullin said. “We got back on our heels a little bit because they were scoring and they got confident, but I was just happy the way we regrouped and got the win.

“We had to play a grind-out game, and we hung in there, and stole it at the end.”

St. John’s next plays one of its toughest games of non-conference play, facing undefeated Temple or VCU on Tuesday night in Brooklyn.

“It’s nice to play in a high-stakes game early in the season against a good team,” Mullin said. “We’ll be jacked up.”