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Ben Simmons, Dennis Smith, Chase Jeter stand out at NBPA Top 100 Camp

"NBPA Top 100 Camp"

Kelly Kline, Under Armor

“Kelly Kline/Under Armour”

"NBPA Top 100 Camp"

Kelly Kline, Under Armor

“Kelly Kline/Under Armour”

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The debate over who is the best player in the Class of 2015 will rage on throughout July’s live recruiting period, but what isn’t up for debate is who the best player was on the first day of the NBPA Top 100 Camp.

That was Ben Simmons.

And it wasn’t all that close.

The 6-foot-8 combo-forward finished the day as the camp’s leading scorer, going for 18 points in both games. He was active around the rim, finishing anything and everything he got his hands on despite doing up against talented big men like Chase Jeter and Doral Moore. He made plays in transition and finished above the rim, throwing down a couple of impressive dunks in the process.

Simmons, who is ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com, is considered by some to be the best prospect in the 2015 class. The native of Australia burst onto the scene last spring when he attended the Pangos All-American camp and has since enrolled at Monteverde Academy (FL) and committed to LSU, where his Godfather, David Patrick, is an assistant coach.

The question with Simmons is what position he eventually grows into. At his current size, he’s probably ideally a wing player, especially if he makes it to the NBA. And while he’s skilled for this level, he’ll have to improve on his foot speed and perimeter skill-set to make a full transition to the wing. But if he ends up growing another inch or two, he could end up being a face-up four, which is probably the best natural fit.

That’s still a ways away, however.

For now, Simmons will have to settle for simply being good enough to dominate the competition at this level.

Who else was good?:


  • While he struggled in his first game, Syracuse-commit Malachi Richardson went off in the nightcap, finishing with 27 points and, at one point, hitting threes on three straight possessions. His ability off-the-dribble needs to get better to keep defenses honest, but Richardson knows what his bread and butter is. His size (6-foot-5) and athleticism, combined with that shooting stroke, is what made Jim Boeheim and company willing to accept a commitment during his sophomore season.
  • We never got a chance to talk with him, as he was whisked away on an early morning flight to head back to Colorado Springs and play for Team USA in the U18 nationals, but Chase Jeter went bucket for bucket with Simmons in the nightcap. He finished with 18 points, six boards and a pair of blocks, showing off a couple nice low-post moves and athleticism and energy around the basket. Jeter is ranked 17th in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com.
  • Wednesday was my first glimpse as Dennis Smith Jr., a point guard in the Class of 2016 that had one of the best spring seasons of anyone in the class. The 6-foot-2 native of North Carolina was able to get into the paint and create for himself and his teammates and even knocked down a couple of threes as well.
  • Samir Sehic is not a name that is going to show up on a top 100 list, but the 6-foot-7 power forward always produces when he plays. He finished the day averaging 14.5 points and a camp-high 9.0 boards in two games despite matching up with more talented, more athletic, bigger and higher-profile players on every possession.

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