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NBA Draft: Anfernee Simons – the wild card

By Tamberlyn Richardson

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 14: IMG Academy Ascenders guard Anfernee Simons (3) shoots the ball during the first half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Vermont Academy Wildcats and the IMG Academy Post Grad Ascenders on January 14, 2018, at the Blake Arena in Springfield, MA .(Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 14: IMG Academy Ascenders guard Anfernee Simons (3) shoots the ball during the first half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Vermont Academy Wildcats and the IMG Academy Post Grad Ascenders on January 14, 2018, at the Blake Arena in Springfield, MA .(Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft - Anfernee Simons
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 17: Anfernee Simons #39 talks to the media during the NBA Draft Combine Day 1 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Named after Penny Hardaway youngster Anfernee Simons skipped college but enters the NBA Draft via a non traditional method. 

When considering NBA Draft prospects one common asset teams seem to give more credence to is youth. Sometimes that’s an unfair assessment because experience is also a vital asset.

From a personal standpoint I think age is a relevant issue for point guards more so than other positions. Many teams aren’t deep with players who can create their own shots, let alone for their teammates. Calmness under pressure and high basketball IQ generally progresses with experience.

One need only look at players like Malcolm Brogdon and Fred VanVleet to understand this point. Both players got the full college experience and entered the draft as seniors and subsequently became key contributors for their squads often appearing to play with a wisdom beyond their years.

Youth vs experience:

That said, for the other four positional spots there is a relevant argument to be made that youth is preferred. The reason for this is franchises can then nurture and develop the prospect in their system in the manner they want. And, every once in a while a rare prospect comes along who defies the typical age restrictions. Perhaps not old enough to fit among the lottery picks, but too talented to pass up in the first round.

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Anfernee Simons falls into that rare territory having skipped college. This wasn’t an immediate choice for the youngster. Rather, it arose out of necessity. Simons had commited to play at Louisville, but then the whole NCAA scandal happened with the top tier school at the center of the investigation. Although Simons was approached by other interested programs he elected to attend IMG Prep instead. You may recall Thon Maker did something similar prior to his draft year when he attended the Athlete Institute located in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada  (just outside Toronto).

At IMG Simons honed his skills and privately prepped for the draft. Having just turned 19 this past week (June 8) Simons may not be the most talented combo guard in the draft, but his skillset and untapped ceiling make him an intriguing prospect.

Player specifics:

  • Height: 6’3.5″
  • Weight: 183 lbs
  • Wingspan: 6’7″
  • Position:Combo Guard
  • Age:19 (just turned on June 8)
  • NOTE no college –IMG Academy 
  • High School direct: Montverde Academy
  • Home town:  Altamonte Springs, Florida

Statline:

Without typical college or overseas stats to cite, the stats below reflect his ‘Team Breakdown production from the Under Armour Association program.

Under Armour Association Stats:

Points: 20.4

Field Goal Efficiency: 43.9 percent

3-Point Efficiency: 42.2 percent averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers per game

Free Throw Efficiency:  79.1 percent

Assists per game: 1.3

Rebounds  per game: 5.5

Steals per game: 1.3

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