Committed to: Colby College

Simmons has arguably been St. Paul’s best player this season. The 6-foot-1 guard has scored steadily while also facilitating for his squad, and he has done an excellent job discerning the flow of the game in terms of the times to be aggressive vs. unselfish. His outside shot is continuing to improve, too, so he should be able to score at all three levels in the NESCAC next season for Colby. Defensively, he slides his feet incredibly well and has really good hands. He’s playing at a super high level right now, and he’s more than prepared to excel next season from the jump.

Simmons, a guard out of the St. Paul’s School, proved to be a two-way standout with his quickness, energy, and decision-making. The Colby commit did a great job last weekend of using his speed to his advantage as a driver, showing the ability to get to the rim as a finisher or to draw a second defender and then find the open man for easy baskets. He’s really good when playing in ball screens and has the ability to step behind screens and knock down perimeter jumpers. Defensively, he’s a pest on the ball, showing the ability to guard in the full-court and to really make it hard for opponents to get where they want off the bounce.

This was my first time seeing Simmons in person, and I was super impressed with his quickness and jumping ability. He’s able to elevate quite high on his jumpers, and he hits some really tough fadeaway shots even when the defense contests him well in the lane. He also finishes well in the paint and can shoot it from the three-point line, so he’s a solid three level scorer. In terms of handling the ball under pressure, he’s very confident and comfortable while getting hounded for 94 feet. I could see him playing at some D2 schools or maybe playing very high level D3 ball. Some added offensive feel would be huge for him and I think will be a big focus for him next season at St. Paul’s.

Simmons is another guard that has taken his game to another level this spring, while playing a starring role for the New England Storm. He’s a terrific defender that’s capable of operating as a stopper in isolation, utilizing his length and instincts to make plays on the ball. He looks to have added to his frame and with that, is also showing increased athleticism. He’s a smart decision-maker that knows how to pick his spots as a scorer and utilizes a quick first step to get into the paint and make plays for others.