What to Expect from NBA Draft Top Prospect Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons to Top the Overall NBA Draft Pick?
Ben Simmons, an Australian basketball player of the LSU Tigers, is likely to be the top overall draft pick for NBA Draft 2016. Comparisons have already been made between him and existing NBA players based on his stats and other recorded measurements.
Maximum Reach Among Players
Simmons maximum reach is recorded at 12 feet 6 inches -- the highest among the players in this year's draft class. He is also recorded to have a maximum vertical of 41.5 inches and is the fastest player in the class for those 6'8" and taller, covering three quarters of the court's length at just 2.9 seconds.
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Standing at 6'10" he is taller than NBA Finals MVP LeBron James, who stands at 6'8". Both players have the same wingspan at 7 feet and one-fourth inch.
Simmons' Statistics
Ben Simmons averaged 4.8 assists per game during his freshman year at college. It is worth noting that Simmons 4.8 assists per game is the highest by any Division 1 freshman who is 6'10" or taller. He is also a southpaw, a left-handed player like Josh Smith. He had 11.8 rebounds as well, and had a reliable shooting percentage at 56 percent.
He mostly plays around the paint and isn't known as a perimeter player. In fact, he only had one three point shot during his entire freshman year.
Strengths in the Court
Simmons has various strenghts that could be his advantage. He has a good NBA frame for a big man power forward with big hands. He possesses speed and agility and can control his body well, with good lateral quickness and leaps. Moreover, he has vision, instincts and feel -- qualities that can't be taught These qualities help him become a good big man passer.
Recently, Ben Simmons gets a lot of excellent mentoring from LeBron James, a player who knows exactly how it feels to be number 1 overall draft pick, including the responsibilities that go along with it. Simmons has been hanging out and working with James in preparation for Thursday night's draft at Barclay Center.
Ryan Blake, NBA scouting director, says Simmons "can be that LeBron James type, not in the same physical mold, but in terms of his versatility." Blake adds that Simmons "doesn't shoot the ball well, but he does so many things well."
