2016 NBA Draft: Ben Simmons Is The Clear No. 1 Prospect

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Jan 16, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Keaton Miles (55) and guard Jabril Durham (4) scramble for a loose ball with LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Elite Defensive Potential

Everyone and their mother has heard about how dominant a force Ben Simmons could become offensively. He’s a skilled 6’10” hybrid forward who can do a bit of everything, which creates obvious appeal.

Not enough attention has gone to the haunting reality that Simmons has All-Defensive Team potential, as well.

Simmons has outstanding hands, as evidenced by his averages of 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game as a freshman. As previously alluded to, he also has exceptional lateral quickness.

Objectively speaking, players with great hands, lateral quickness, size, and length receive the label of a potentially elite defender—and that’s exactly what Simmons is.

Furthermore, Simmons ranked No. 25 in the country in defensive rebound percentage in 2015-16. The only first-round prospects with a better mark than Simmons were Brice Johnson and Domantas Sabonis.

Between his size, length, athleticism, hands, and rebounding ability, Simmons has the genuine potential to be able to defend every position from 1 to 4.

Next: Transition Offense

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