Aussie Simmons dazzles NBA scouts

Two years ago Australia's Dante Exum starred at the Nike Hoops Summit in Oregon and this week his 18-year-old friend Ben Simmons is taking centre stage.

Australian basketballer Ben Simmons

Australia's Ben Simmons is dazzling NBA general managers and scouts in the Nike Hoop Summit. (AAP)

Australia's Ben Simmons is dazzling NBA general managers and scouts in the United States.

The world's elite young basketball players have converged on the annual showcase, the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, and the 18-year-old from Melbourne has been the star.

Along the sidelines and in the stands NBA general managers from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers and other clubs have been salivating over what the 208cm tall, forward has been doing in workouts before Saturday's (Sunday AEST) World Team versus Team USA game.

It was in Portland two years ago where a skinny 18-year-old Canberra high school kid named Dante Exum catapulted his way to become the top five pick in the last NBA draft.

The scouting report on Simmons, who just led Florida's Montverde Academy to a third consecutive US national high school championship, is simple.

"He can play on any NBA team right now," one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports.

"He's big and sees the game like a point guard. He can guard shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards.

"That's real talent. He looks 7-footers in the eye. Just skip him and go on to evaluate the next guy."

Another scout described Simmons, who shoots left-handed but finishes layups with his right, as "reverse ambidextrous".

"You don't know if he is left-handed or right-handed," another scout said.

Joining Simmons in the World Team is another potential Australian top five NBA pick, Thon Maker, an athletic, 18-year-old, 216cm centre.

New Zealand's 208cm centre Ty Wynyard is also on the World Team.

Maker is yet to announce if he will spend a final year in high school or take up an offer from Duke, Indiana, Kentucky or any of the other elite colleges while Simmons, who won all of the major US high school player of the year awards, is a star recruit for Louisiana State University.

He is expected to play one year at LSU and then declare for next year's NBA Draft.

Many draft forecasters have Simmons as the projected number one pick.

"That would be awesome," Simmons said.


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Source: AAP


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