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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Anfernee Simons scaling up from high school

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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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The Good

Anfernee Simons stands out on the basketball court against the competition he has played against. He clearly knows how to use his athleticism to get tow here he wants on the court and to finish at the basket. Simons simply abused the high school competition he went up against.

This athleticism is the primary reason to draft him. He is good handling the ball and can drive through traffic. So long as he can get all the way to the rim, he is going to finish strong.

Simons is good at reading pick and rolls and weaving his way through defenses, picking out the right shot.

It helps he has a solid jump shot and can hit consistently off the dribble too. Simons could simply dominate his competition and he found a way to do it at every opportunity.

He could change speeds and directions effectively, keeping defenses off balance as he attacks the basket. In transition, he attacks the basket with speed and craft. The package may be fairly raw, but he clearly has the talent to put all those pieces together.

Simons shows solid control and discipline on the ball when attacking too. He has patience as he attacks set defenses and can pick his way to the basket or calmly pull up and shoot.

This is not the typical athlete who gets by entirely on his athleticism and finishes around the basket. Instead, Simons has a solid jumper and 3-point shot that could make him valuable off the ball. He played almost exclusively at point guard with the ball in his hands, so it is hard to say exactly what he can provide on that front. But the potential is obviously there.

And that is the biggest thing about Simons. He is full of potential. It is easy watching his tape and falling in love with all of his skills. His ball handling is fantastic. Simons can weave himself through traffic and finish with explosiveness at the rim. He can pull up and hit jumpers off the dribble and he has a good 3-point shot.

Take shooting and athleticism together, and that is usually a good combination.