Another Solid Guy, Justin Simon

I do wish him well of course...I hope he gets drafted in the NBA. He's a great guy and has serious athleticism. I probably shouldn't have posted here, really just referring to the greater debate not specifically his situation. Justin can do whatever he wants regardless of what anyone thinks. That being said, staying in college has a ton of benefits. More experience, more celebrity status, free degrees that cost others hundreds of thousands, etc. And after all that you can still play basketball professionally. I understand there's the injury risk which is the one point I will definitely concede...but at the same time anything can happen to anyone any given day. All I was trying to say was that staying 4 or even 5 years offers way more to players than is implied by so many leaving so often. Not talking about Simon specifically, though I do think he'd benefit in a big way. If you go overseas and then get hurt and can't play, what are you going to do? That's why it's nice to have some degrees in your back pocket. These are discussions that need to be had and I feel that this is the minority view that is rarely mentioned.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=348211]Even in today's climate I'm surprised so many guys forego 1+ yrs of college hoops. Obviously if you're Zion it's understandable but if you're more likely headed the overseas route to get any meaningful playing time instead of the NBA, it's still odd IMO. You get a free BA and possibly MA (that most of us common guys are spending a luxury car payment on every month at a minimum) at a nice private school saving you hundreds of thousands and will always be there for you if basketball doesn't work out. You're also the big man on campus and almost any girl(s) will want to be your groupie, you get treated like royalty, stopped for pictures, asked for autographs, the fans love you, national TV, great exposure, etc. Why not enjoy all of that all 4 years? Not talking lottery picks in the NBA...I'm talking guys who only have real options overseas. You simply will not get the fans, the support, the fame, the hype, or exposure overseas for the most part. Even if you make the G League, how many guys swim around there and never really make it out? Even there you don't get the exposure or hype. Who is watching a G League game vs. an NCAA Tourney game or a Big East Tourney game? At the end of the day it's up to the player of course...I just think it's criminal how so many players are acting as if college is not a good enough deal for them.[/quote]
Who is watching the G League? You don't get the exposure or hype? You do know that these teams are all affiliated with NBA teams, Westchester Knicks (Knicks), Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets), etc. Not that I am a proponent necessarily of leaving college for the G League but you do get even more exposure to the NBA than you do playing in college.
 
Maybe he just doesn’t want to go to school anymore and sees the opportunity to make money doing what he loves. He’s already spent a good amount of time in college, maybe he’s ready to move on, turn to the next chapter in life.

Why does every single thought these young men have have to be microanalyzed by a majority of the people who post here?
 
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[quote="bamafan" post=348225][quote="Mike Zaun" post=348211]Even in today's climate I'm surprised so many guys forego 1+ yrs of college hoops. Obviously if you're Zion it's understandable but if you're more likely headed the overseas route to get any meaningful playing time instead of the NBA, it's still odd IMO. You get a free BA and possibly MA (that most of us common guys are spending a luxury car payment on every month at a minimum) at a nice private school saving you hundreds of thousands and will always be there for you if basketball doesn't work out. You're also the big man on campus and almost any girl(s) will want to be your groupie, you get treated like royalty, stopped for pictures, asked for autographs, the fans love you, national TV, great exposure, etc. Why not enjoy all of that all 4 years? Not talking lottery picks in the NBA...I'm talking guys who only have real options overseas. You simply will not get the fans, the support, the fame, the hype, or exposure overseas for the most part. Even if you make the G League, how many guys swim around there and never really make it out? Even there you don't get the exposure or hype. Who is watching a G League game vs. an NCAA Tourney game or a Big East Tourney game? At the end of the day it's up to the player of course...I just think it's criminal how so many players are acting as if college is not a good enough deal for them.[/quote]
Who is watching the G League? You don't get the exposure or hype? You do know that these teams are all affiliated with NBA teams, Westchester Knicks (Knicks), Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets), etc. Not that I am a proponent necessarily of leaving college for the G League but you do get even more exposure to the NBA than you do playing in college.[/quote]

No one watches the G League. I get what you mean in that the people who matter most are watching e.g. the front offices of NBA teams. What I meant is fans. No one cares and no one even knows the names of G League teams. Average attendance is 4,800. It's like playing for a mid major in terms of fan exposure. Even some of the best college players enter the G League and instantly become an average Joe with the step up in competition. in other words, they usually blend in or even disappear. You really think some of our guys who were good for us but then went to the G League or overseas get the same amount of hype and support they do when they're here? My point is, there's no need to rush for so many.
 
Justin Simon always played hard, was a great defender and seemingly good teammate . Only downside to his game was poor shooting , below average Foul shooting and missing incredible amounts of bunnies at the Rim . I often said he was a Plus 6 on Defense and a Minus 6 on Offense . The missing easy shots hurt us in many games . And , Defenses ignored him from 12 feet and doubled Ponds instead . All up , I felt he was important to the team for Rebounding , Steals and the occasional Epic dunk . Plus , he was a good Ambassador for the School and Team .Glad he chose us after Arizona didn’t work out . Good luck to Justin .
 
[quote="L J S A" post=348340]Hot take: Simon plays in more NBA games than Ponds.[/quote]

Could be the same number--zero.
 
[quote="ron " post=348348][quote="L J S A" post=348340]Hot take: Simon plays in more NBA games than Ponds.[/quote]

Could be the same number--zero.[/quote]

I remember predicting Jeremy Lin would play almost 500 games when he went undrafted, j/k
 
[quote="Andrew" post=348350][quote="ron " post=348348][quote="L J S A" post=348340]Hot take: Simon plays in more NBA games than Ponds.[/quote]

Could be the same number--zero.[/quote]

I remember predicting Jeremy Lin would play almost 500 games when he went undrafted, j/k[/quote]

Actually Simon is a small poor man's version of Ben Simmons
 
[quote="Andrew" post=348353][quote="Andrew" post=348350][quote="ron " post=348348][quote="L J S A" post=348340]Hot take: Simon plays in more NBA games than Ponds.[/quote]

Could be the same number--zero.[/quote]

I remember predicting Jeremy Lin would play almost 500 games when he went undrafted, j/k[/quote]

Actually Simon is a small poor man's version of Ben Simmons[/quote]

oof... love Simon...but easy.... maybe a homeless man's version of Ben Simmons
 
No one knows for sure, but I actually think Ponds surprises to the upside. His offense is better suited for the pro game and if he can do enough on defense, he could see minutes.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=348432]No one knows for sure, but I actually think Ponds surprises to the upside. His offense is better suited for the pro game and if he can do enough on defense, he could see minutes.[/quote]

I sure as hell hope so. There have just been so many smaller guys to never make it that I'm worried for him. If the timing was better I could have easily seen the Warriors bringing him in. Unfortunately the Ian Clark-Quinn Cook transition came too early.

Hopefully Pop sees something he likes and coaches the hell out of him.
 
Zagoria
Former @StJohnsBBall G Justin Simon will attend the Pro Basketball Combine May 21-22 at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, CA, per source
 
Braziller tweet fwiw in response to possible Simon return is no surprise;

“I think very small chance he's back.”
 
Coach should sell him on giving some PG duties to help get him to the next level, just throwing in my 2 cents, im a sales guy through and through!
 
[quote="Tommy O 54" post=349686]Coach should sell him on giving some PG duties to help get him to the next level, just throwing in my 2 cents, im a sales guy through and through![/quote]

Everyone talking up LJ in this 'system'. The funny thing is I don't think LJ is so much of a fit in this 'system'. Still an important player and vital to our success next year.

But Simon in this system would be such a great fit.
 
[quote="Tommy O 54" post=349686]Coach should sell him on giving some PG duties to help get him to the next level, just throwing in my 2 cents, im a sales guy through and through![/quote]

Some wouldn't cut it. He'd need most of the duties to consider coming back. But if Simon is running point 85 percent of time, I don't think offense runs smoothly enough for MA's liking.
 
[quote="bamafan" post=348225][quote="Mike Zaun" post=348211]Even in today's climate I'm surprised so many guys forego 1+ yrs of college hoops. Obviously if you're Zion it's understandable but if you're more likely headed the overseas route to get any meaningful playing time instead of the NBA, it's still odd IMO. You get a free BA and possibly MA (that most of us common guys are spending a luxury car payment on every month at a minimum) at a nice private school saving you hundreds of thousands and will always be there for you if basketball doesn't work out. You're also the big man on campus and almost any girl(s) will want to be your groupie, you get treated like royalty, stopped for pictures, asked for autographs, the fans love you, national TV, great exposure, etc. Why not enjoy all of that all 4 years? Not talking lottery picks in the NBA...I'm talking guys who only have real options overseas. You simply will not get the fans, the support, the fame, the hype, or exposure overseas for the most part. Even if you make the G League, how many guys swim around there and never really make it out? Even there you don't get the exposure or hype. Who is watching a G League game vs. an NCAA Tourney game or a Big East Tourney game? At the end of the day it's up to the player of course...I just think it's criminal how so many players are acting as if college is not a good enough deal for them.[/quote]
Who is watching the G League? You don't get the exposure or hype? You do know that these teams are all affiliated with NBA teams, Westchester Knicks (Knicks), Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets), etc. Not that I am a proponent necessarily of leaving college for the G League but you do get even more exposure to the NBA than you do playing in college.[/quote]

Yes! And you get a chance to play in front of dozens of fans every single game day! How many Knick fans have ever been to a Westchester Knicks game? How many fans without guessing would even know where the Westchester Knicks play for certain?

Self determination is one of the greatest of all American freedoms. No one is saying we should be happy for a kid's choice, but if we can't discuss how well they played for us, cannot question a decision to stay or leave for a perceived better opportunity, then the only thing left is to defame the coaches. I say we give them all trophies even before the season, and be done with it.
 
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