2016 NBA Draft: Who Are The Top Incoming Freshman?

Ben Simmons, Forward — LSU

High School: Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)

Simmons is a no-brainer to make this list after finishing as the No. 1 prospect in the ESPN 100 recruit rankings.

At 6’9”, 225 pounds, Simmons is already the ideal size to play small forward in the NBA. He’s a true point forward with the ability to handle the ball and distribute to his teammates, and he proved himself as a triple-double threat at the high school level.

Simmons is one of the most skilled players in the incoming freshman class, and when you factor in his elite athleticism, it appears the sky is the limit for the young stud. His highlights are downright ridiculous, as he shows some shades of a young LeBron James with his uncanny passing and scoring ability.

In today’s NBA, versatility is everything with teams deferring to small-ball lineups and up tempo styles. Simmons fits right into the modern NBA mold with his ability to defend multiple positions and play anywhere on the floor offensively.

With LSU’s top-2 players in Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin heading to the NBA, Simmons will immediately be the Tigers’ leader. He has the chance to be the alpha dog from day one and should put up big stats as a freshman, similar to former No. 1 recruit and current Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor.

Simmons recently turned heads at the recent Nike Basketball Academy battling with both returning college prospects and NBA stars like James Harden and Anthony Davis and left attendees raving about his play on social media:

An Australian native, Simmons joins the likes of Dante Exum as an up-and-coming stud from the land down under. If he lives up to expectations as a freshman in Baton Rouge, he will likely follow his fellow Aussie’s footsteps as a top-5 NBA Draft pick.

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