SYDNEY, Australia – LSU freshman Ben Simmons was named the 2015 Australia Institute of Sport Emerging Athlete of the Year at a gala awards event Tuesday at the AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs).
The award was accepted by Ben’s sister Melissa.
“Winning an award like this is exciting for Ben as it is recognition in Australia for his basketball achievements to date but also because the emerging athletes are nominated from all sports not just his basketball peers, Melissa said. ““Ben is a proud Aussie and it means a lot to him that people back home are following his basketball journey.
“Ben has been playing basketball since he could walk at 10 months old. Growing up he loved playing whether that was one on one in the driveway or starting out on his first team in Newcastle. He has played both Rugby League and Australian Rules football but basketball was always the sport he was most passionate about, growing up in a basketball family I am not sure he had much choice,” she said in accepting the award.
In 2012 Ben attended the much vaunted AIS basketball program training in the same squad as Dante Exum.
Basketball represented in two other awards with Matthew Dellavedova a finalist in the ABC Sports Personality of the Year and Andrew Bogut features as a finalist in the Best Sporting Moment category for winning the NBA Championship.