LSU Gold

#25 Ben Simmons Season 2015-16

Position
Forward
Height
6'10
Weight
240
Class
Freshman
Hometown
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
High School
Montverde Academy

No. 1 Overall Pick of 2016 NBA Draft (Philadelphia 76ers) | Details
2015-16 Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year (USBWA)

2015-16 Sporting News National Freshman of the Year
2015-16 USA Today National Freshman of the Year
2015-16 SEC Freshman of the Year
2015-16 First Team All-SEC
2015-16 All-SEC Freshman Team
First Team USBWA All-American
Second Team All-American by ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News
Third Team All-American by USA Today
2015 Australia Institute of Sport Emerging Athlete of the Year
Julius Erving Award Finalist
Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalist
Naismith Trophy Midseason Finalist
AAU Sullivan Award Semifinalist
Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
SEC Player of the Week after performance against North Florida on Dec. 2, 2015

FRESHMAN SEASON (2015-16)
Simmons was the consensus National Freshman of the Year and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year in what has been a phenomenal freshman campaign … He is the first LSU freshman to win the conference Freshman of the Year award since 2006 when Tyrus Thomas was honored … Averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, which ranks in the top five in the SEC in each category … He may become the first SEC player to finish the season in the top five in all three categories … At the end of the regular season, Simmons was ranked fourth in points (19.6), first in rebounds (11.9), third in field goal percentage ( 206-367, 56.1 percent), fifth in assists per game (5.0) and second in steals per game (2.0) in the SEC … His 11.8 rebounds per game led all Division I freshmen … One of just two freshmen in the country to average double-figure rebounds … Led all major conference players with 23 double-doubles on the year and ranked fifth nationally … Became the fourth freshman in the past 20 years with 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game after his performance against North Florida on Dec. 2, 2015, where he also became the first major college player to have a game of 40 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game in the last 20 years … The first LSU player since Shaquille O’Neal to score at least 43 points in a game … One of six freshmen in LSU history to score 30 points in a game and joins Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) and fellow freshman Antonio Blakeney as the only players to do it multiple times as he scored 36 at Vanderbilt on Jan. 2, 2016, and had 43 versus UNF on Dec. 2, 2015 … Posted six of the SEC’s eight 20-10-5 games this season … Crossed the 600-point mark at Kentucky on March 5, 2016… He became the sixth first-year LSU player to score 500 points in a season after a late free throw against Alabama on Jan. 17, 2016 … Became the fourth-fastest to pass 500 points in his first year of playing with the Tigers and was the second freshman to do so behind Jackson … Simmons had 18 20-point games this season, which was third in the SEC … Had an active streak of 28 games in double figure scoring … Had a five game streak of 20 points from Feb. 17 to March 1 … Had a double-double and 10 or more rebounds in seven straight contests from Nov. 19-Dec. 16 … Had a double-double in the last four games to close out the regular season before the conference tournament … Became the first SEC freshman to record 20 points and 15 rebounds since Julius Randle of Kentucky in the 2013-14 season after posting 23 points and 16 rebounds against South Alabama on Nov. 19, 2015 … Recorded his third double-double of the year in Brooklyn, New York, against NC State as he had 14 rebounds and 10 assists, which marked the first time a LSU player had a double-double on rebounds and assists … With his performance against NC State on Nov. 24,2015, Simmons was the only Division I player at the time listed as 6-10 or taller to have 10 assists and no turnovers in a game in the last 20 seasons… His 21-point, 20-rebound night against Marquette on Nov. 23, 2015, made Simmons the eighth LSU player since 1973-74 to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game … Recorded a career-high seven steals at Kentucky on March 5, 2016, which were the most in a game since Anthony Hickey recorded eight against Texas A&M in 2013 …The only LSU players to record more season free throws than Simmons’ 199 are Pete Maravich and Bob Pettit … At the conclusion of the season, Simmons was ranked eighth in LSU history with 158 season assists, fifth in season rebounds with 388 and was just outside of the top-10 in season scoring with 632 points. 

PRIOR TO LSU
The No. 1 ranked high school player came to America three-years ago and prepped at Montverde Academy in Florida, winning three straight National High School Championship honors under Coach Kevin Boyle … Two of those titles came in 2013 and 2014 with present LSU guard Jalyn Patterson … In the 2015 finals at Madison Square Garden, Montverde finished at 30-1 with a win over No. 1 Oak Hill … Simmons had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and was named the MVP of the event after averaging 19.3 points and 11.7 rebounds for the three games … Was named the Naismith National Boys Player of the Year, Gatorade National Male Basketball Player of the Year and the Morgan Wootten Award … These awards recognize athletic play as well as character, leadership and classroom and community activities … He was also named a McDonald’s All-American and to the Jordan Brand’s Classic game … Simmons also played for the World Select Team that took on the USA All-Stars at the 2015 NIKE Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon when he scored 13 points, had nine rebounds and nine assists … Averaged 28 points, 11.9 rebounds and four assists a game this past season for Montverde.

PERSONAL
Born on July 20, 1996 in Melbourne, Australia … Left handed …. Nickname is “Benny” … Parents are David and Julie Simmons … Father played 13 seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), earning All-League honors with Melbourne in 1990 and an NBL championship with the Tigers in 1993 … He also wore 25 and was retired by the Melbourne franchise he played with from 1989-1996 … Also played for Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra teams in the NBL … Served as interim head coach and assistant for the Hunter Pirates after retiring from play (2003-05) … Simmons played with present LSU assistant head coach David Patrick … Ben has two other brothers – Liam and Sean; and three sisters – Olivia, Melissa, Emily … Liam is an assistant coach at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri … Favorite Foods are steak and salad … Favorite professional basketball player is LeBron James with his favorite team the New York Knicks.

 

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