re: Ben Simmons About to Play on ESPNU

Ben Simmons is the total package

I really don't need my PF to be a good outside shooter...its up to guys like Blakeney to keep the Defense honest. Simmons being a great scorer inside the arc...good rebounder and very good passer is more than enough. He will be a superstar

Simmons is simply unreal. I've seen him 4 times this season, once in person. #12 Marquez Letcher-Ellis played poorly tonight but his athleticism and leaping ability is the most magnificent I think I've ever seen...he's going to Rice despite some big time offers. He will crush CUSA.

Player I like second most on Verde is Blake Harris. He's normally #24, but wore #5 for some reason today. He's only a sophomore and he is sick. Unfortunately, his parents both graduated from UNC and he's from that area.

My friend and I sat next to them after they beat Karr for a half. Quez literally just walked up and sat right next to my friend and started talking. He and Harris were talking about how much they practice and how tiring it is and how tough it is to focus. People forget that Simmons is 18, and he went on a 23-day road trip. I don't think people can truly understand how difficult that is for kids to keep focus, but Verde gets them to. That's why guys like Patterson come in ready to play immediately and perform well on the road.

Some of that is a knock to LSU. I think it's hilarious, though. He says that, then Ben grabs a rebound, takes it 1 on 3, gets hacked, and makes a ridiculous acrobatic shot. No one has seen a person 6'9 that athletic with such great ball-handling ability since Lebron.

That is common among every scout the past year... I've gotten into a "discussion" (argument, lol) with a few of them about it. They are so scared he'll bust or won't have a position or just won't be elite in the NBA that they all want to rank him #2 and say "I told you so" but none can deny he's been the most dominant HS player (especially non guard) in a long time.

HATERS GONNA HATE, AINTERS GONNA AINT

This last game exemplified just how special Ben is. He went up against possibly the two best big men in the class and destroyed them in the paint. And the lack of position stuff is insane. He can play any position except for the 5. shite, if puts on another 12 pounds he could prolly play the 5 too.