Get to Know Justin Simon

[paultzman]

http://www.redstormsports.com/collegesportslive/?media=536866

 

[paultzman]

Fans will be introduced to the Johnnies’ five fresh faces for the upcoming campaign: freshmen Shamorie Ponds and Richard Freudenberg, junior college transfer Bashir Ahmed and high-major Division I transfers Justin Simon and Marvin Clark Jr., both of whom are sitting out this season.

SJU PR release

 

[MarkRedman]

Seems like a really nice young man
Looking forward to seeing him on the court next season

 

[redmannorth]

So far I love what I have read about Bashir , Ponds, Clark and Simon. All great kids. Hoping to read the same or similar about Richard F. Just hoping he has had an easier life than some of our other kids.

 

[ruehlj]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

 

[L J S A]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

 

[redmannorth]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

 

[JackofVirginia]

Seems like a really nice young man
Looking forward to seeing him on the court next season

Agree. I'll take a not as good as Russell Westbrook type of player. Looking forward to seeing this dude play.

 

[Andrew]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

I am hoping he is better then Tarik Turner another big point guard. J/K

 

[redmannorth]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

I am hoping he is better then Tarik Turner another big point guard. J/K

Tariq was not a true point guard and was Brian Mahoneys greatest mistake. As opposed to giving him free reign he should have played off the ball the majority of the time. A slow player surrounded by grey hounds , a bad combination. Tariq and Justin are very different players to my knowledge.

 

[Andrew]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

I am hoping he is better then Tarik Turner another big point guard. J/K

Tariq was not a true point guard and was Brian Mahoneys greatest mistake. As opposed to giving him free reign he should have played off the ball the majority of the time. A slow player surrounded by grey hounds , a bad combination. Tariq and Justin are very different players to my knowledge.

I am sure Justin is.

 

[L J S A]

Tariq was not a true point guard and was Brian Mahoneys greatest mistake. As opposed to giving him free reign he should have played off the ball the majority of the time. A slow player surrounded by grey hounds , a bad combination. Tariq and Justin are very different players to my knowledge.

Nice enough guy, but TT was definitely too slow. I generally like to keep things clean, but I would have been all for a bag man knocking on Kareem Reid's door in the middle of the night.

 

[austour]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

Let's hope you're right but the returning guards don't really hold a candle to the guards Simon played behind last year. I mean Zona had:

Alonzo Trier: 2015 #12 overall played 28 mins;/game
Gage York:2012 Top 50 overall and sr leader of the team played 33 mins/game
Kadeem Allen: 2014 NABC Jr College Player of the Year played 25 mins/game
Parker Jackson Cartwright: 2014 Top 50 overall played 21 mins/game

A group loaded with experience, besides Trier who is elite so it doesn't matter. Simon still got 7.5 mins/game although admittedly less later in the season. Next year he'll be two years older, a man, with a full year practicing in the program under his belt. I mean I hope I love Lovett and Ponds a whole ton after this season (my feelings on Frank and Ellison don't need to be repeated, right?). But even if I do love them to think Simon doesn't automatically become the third piece in what should be a great 3 guard rotation just sounds silly.

 

[redmannorth]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

Let's hope you're right but the returning guards don't really hold a candle to the guards Simon played behind last year. I mean Zona had:

Alonzo Trier: 2015 #12 overall played 28 mins;/game
Gage York:2012 Top 50 overall and sr leader of the team played 33 mins/game
Kadeem Allen: 2014 NABC Jr College Player of the Year played 25 mins/game
Parker Jackson Cartwright: 2014 Top 50 overall played 21 mins/game

A group loaded with experience, besides Trier who is elite so it doesn't matter. Simon still got 7.5 mins/game although admittedly less later in the season. Next year he'll be two years older, a man, with a full year practicing in the program under his belt. I mean I hope I love Lovett and Ponds a whole ton after this season (my feelings on Frank and Ellison don't need to be repeated, right?). But even if I do love them to think Simon doesn't automatically become the third piece in what should be a great 3 guard rotation just sounds silly.

I said I look forward to a log jam as I wish everyone and the team well. A log jam will occur if the 4 guards do well. If the 4 guards do well the team will do well. Having said that I did say Justin is top 3 talent wise and the 13 -15 minutes a night is the bare minimum. If someone leaves which is a possibility or Lovett struggles I said his minutes go up. At this point just can't say for certainty that he will be a 20-25 minute a game player next season.

 

[Section9]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

On paper, Chris is going to have so many mix and match pieces that he can vary depending on the game situations, fouls and, hopefully not, injuries. Unlike Malik who is going to be our "big" guard this season, Justin brings better pg skills to the table along with his height. I'd be shocked if he only gets 13-15.

 

[paultzman]

Justin's a solid player. I'm a U of A season ticket holder, saw him in a bunch of games. He can play, but had trouble getting time on the court at McKale.

Understandable. Sean Miller and staff have been unbelievable recruiters since being hired. I imagine Simon will get much more opportunity to show what he can do here.

He will get more just not sure how much more. If everyone returns we will have 5 guards next season , though I would put Simon in the top 3 talent wise. He will get much more opportunity if Lovett struggles. If Lovett doesn't struggle against bigger stronger guards Simon may be a 13-15 minute player next season. If any guards leave Simon will get more pt. Too many ifs in our backcourt to know who will get pt next season. Looking forward to a log jam in the backcourt in 2017-2018.

On paper, Chris is going to have so many mix and match pieces that he can vary depending on the game situations, fouls and, hopefully not, injuries. Unlike Malik who is going to be our "big" guard this season, Justin brings better pg skills to the table along with his height. I'd be shocked if he only gets 13-15.

Rest assured the pitch to come here included substantial minutes.

 

[L J S A]

Rest assured the pitch to come here included substantial minutes.

Not sure what the staff is thinking, but I've suspected for a long time that Mussini is two-and-home. That would certainly free up minutes.

I like that Ellison must be hearing Simon's footsteps, though. I think it'll help elevate him this season.

17-18 should see very good guard play.