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Ben Simmons: The Beast of the Bayou and Future Sixer?

PHL Anon|

The Eagles lost another game this Sunday. The Flyers are wildly inconsistent. I don’t even want to talk about the Phillies. The Sixers now 0-11, and Philly is the worst sports city in North America. So, what better time to talk about a potential star coming to Philly than now?

The college basketball season has kicked off, and Ben Simmons is already making mouths water at his potential at the next level. Let’s kick this off with a breakdown of Simmons.

Ben Simmons, Forward, LSU

Height: 6’10” Weight: 240 lb Age: 19

Player comparison: Tracy McGrady

ESPN’s Chad Ford

Simmons sits at No. 1 on our Big Board and is considered the best NBA prospect in the draft by the large majority of GMs and scouts I have spoken to. He is a special talent. Simmons has great size for his position, is a terrific athlete, has an extremely high basketball IQ and can play multiple positions on the floor.

In fact, in ranking Simmons, the hardest part was deciding at which position to put him. Some NBA teams I talked to have him listed at small forward, some at a power forward and one at point guard because of his ballhandling skills. The majority, however, put him at the 3 and believe he’ll play the game in much the same way LeBron James does.

“There are a handful of really good players in this draft,” one GM told ESPN.com. “But to me he [Simmons] is the only really special, transcendent talent. He’s the rare guy that has the physical tools, the basketball skill set and the basketball intelligence to dominate the game. If he ever gets a consistent jumper, he could win MVP awards someday.”

Upside Motor

Ben Simmons enters college basketball as the top player out of high school for good reason. Aside from leading Montverde Academy to its third straight national title, the 18-year-old possesses a unique combination of size and skill that makes him the sort of player every professional team is on the prowl for nowadays.

Simmons dominated last season with averages of 28 points and 12 rebounds thanks in large part to his physical profile (6-10, 229-pound frame). However, he has very little experience outside the high school level. Simmons last logged minutes for the Australian national team junior squad in 2012 and has only 185 official minutes defending his country, according to RealGM.

Simmons did well against the tougher level of competition at the Nike Hoop Summit, though, and is expected to make a smooth transition to college basketball. He had 13 points on 10 shots, nine rebounds and nine assists in 30 minutes in the World team’s two-point victory over a US squad built with the sort of athletes he will face playing for LSU.

Strengths

  • Versatile forward who can score in a variety of ways
  • Very high basketball IQ
  • Likes to play as a point forward
  • Very good shooter from 2 point range
  • Good ball handler
  • Excellent passer
  • Very good athlete

Weaknesses

  • Still needs to add consistent range from 3
  • A bit undersized if he’s playing the 4
  • Not an elite rebounder

So, I’d say that’s enough right there just to make someone excited at the potential. Want more to get you dreaming of Simmons in a Sixers uniform? Well, look no further than the quotes from analysts and current pros.

Chad Ford

“I’d take him over anyone in the 2015 NBA draft. He’s just scratching the surface of what he could be.”

D’Angelo Russell

“His upside, his skill, his demeanor. Everything he does, the way he carries himself has ‘professional’ written all over it. I mean, he definitely has a lot of things to work on, but he’s a gym rat, and I feel like he’ll get it done if he just puts his mind to it.”

Jay Bilas

“Watched LSU’s Ben Simmons for three straight days at the Nike Basketball Academy. He’s ridiculous. Simmons has versatile talent rarely seen.”

The Jay Bilas quote holds a lot of weight, because, if you didn’t know, the Nike Basketball Academy is not Simmons playing against other 18 and 19 years olds. Simmons was playing among names such as James Harden, and Anthony Davis. This was just weeks after skipping his prom saying that the event is “kind of overrated.”

So, with Simmons not going overseas as a few have over the past few years (I.E. Dante Exum and Emmanuel Mudiay), and not going to a loaded Kentucky team, what was the explanation?

“I knew the best competition was here and so that’s why I came. Me going to LSU was a decision where I never wanted to go to a team that’s already stacked, but to a team where we’d need to work and play hard in order to win.”

This kid has Philly written all over him. We’d love his drive, and attitude!

So, enough talk. How’s Simmons doing since the college basketball season began? Through two games, Simmons is putting up big numbers already. Here are his averages.

Points: 16.5

Rebounds: 15.5

Assists: 5.5

Blocks: 2

Steals: 2

And how has he looked putting up those numbers? Well, here you go.

https://vine.co/v/iBL7B5FnDVE

https://vine.co/v/iB32jEbuYgi

https://twitter.com/ESPNCBB/status/666459017187733505

Well, I’m sold. 0-82 it is, and all the prayers possible to the NBA Draft gods for us to get the #1 overall pick. Just imagine this team next year with Dario Saric, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and The Beast of the Bayou, Ben Simmons!

Here’s a look at our current draft pick status, which is currently working out perfectly for us.

No. 1 overall

No. 5 overall (via Lakers)

No. 19 overall (via Thunder)

No. 25 overall (via Heat)

Also, since the Sixers are in major need of a point guard, here is one more prospect to keep an eye on as the season moves on.

Kris Dunn, Point Guard, Providence College

Height: 6’4″ Weight: 220 lbs Age: 21

Strengths

  • Versatile guard who can score from anywhere on the floor
  • Great size for his position
  • Excellent slasher
  • Very, very quick with the ball
  • Improving jump shooter
  • Sees the floor very well
  • Racks up a crazy amount of steals
  • Excellent athlete

Weaknesses

  • Needs to improve shot selection
  • Can be turnover prone

2014 College Averages

Points: 15.6

Rebounds: 5.5

Assists: 7.5

Blocks: 0.3

Steals: 2.7

FG%: .474%

FT%: .686%

3P%: .351%

All really good numbers, and then you see what he did in his first game of this season, and you see even more exciting possibility.

https://vine.co/v/iBlJZttaM7e

Now, just drool at the thought of your 2016-2017 Philadelphia 76ers:

PG: Kris Dunn

SG: Dario Saric

SF: Ben Simmons

PF: Jahlil Okafor

C: Nerlens Noel

[Editor’s note: And if Embiid is healthy? Hooooo boy.]

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