LJ Figueroa

Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21
 
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Paultzman wrote: Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.

Simon is my favorite Johnnie. Led BEC in steals, 2nd in assists, 5th in rebounding and 8th in blocks last year, plus excellent 2 and 3 pt fg percentage. Super important player for us. We have 3 players (4 with MH) who have proven they can excel at high major conference level; while others such as Figgy & Dixon give every indication they will be very good BE players, they will still have to get used to major conference level play. Remember Simon was a top 20 recruit, recruited by the likes of Arizona. He will play less minutes this year because 36 mpg is more than anyone should have to play (same with Shamorie), not because any newcomers will take minutes from him.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=294471]Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21[/quote]

Simon is probably my favorite player in the last 20 years. I don't think I could be more pro Simon. That said, I don't think the original point somebody made was that he isn't an awesome player. It was merely that at times he isn't a "threat" from beyond the arc (he doesn't shoot from there a lot although he made a high percentage from out there i think, even his weaknesses he turns into strengths) so people can sag off him a bit. Obviously a nit pick but it is a fair point. Clearly he does so many other things so well it can be shrugged off. I'm in the camp where I'd love to see him have a huge year and go to the NBA - we need more players in the NBA for recruiting, need to show some kind of track record there. Would hurt us for next year but be good for us long term. In closing, I want to reiterate that I freakin love Simon.
 
[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=294475][quote="Paultzman" post=294471]Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21[/quote]

Simon is probably my favorite player in the last 20 years. I don't think I could be more pro Simon. That said, I don't think the original point somebody made was that he isn't an awesome player. It was merely that at times he isn't a "threat" from beyond the arc (he doesn't shoot from there a lot although he made a high percentage from out there i think, even his weaknesses he turns into strengths) so people can sag off him a bit. Obviously a nit pick but it is a fair point. Clearly he does so many other things so well it can be shrugged off. I'm in the camp where I'd love to see him have a huge year and go to the NBA - we need more players in the NBA for recruiting, need to show some kind of track record there. Would hurt us for next year but be good for us long term. In closing, I want to reiterate that I freakin love Simon.[/quote]

Yeah, I'm the guy who said that other teams 'sagged' off Simon and he wasn't perceived a 'threat' as much as Ponds was, and maybe Clark, from the outside.
But i luv the kid.
I also said that if Simon improves his game and contributes markedly to our success in 2018-19, he might be in the NBA sooner, rather than later.
I think i recall comments to the effect that Simon would be an NBA talent if he improved his shooting.
The kid has multi-dimensional skills and great size and quickness and ball-handling for a 'big' guard.
The kid has awesome potential. It'd be fabulous--for him and us--if he realizes that in a St. John's uniform.
 
[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=294475][quote="Paultzman" post=294471]Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21[/quote]

Simon is probably my favorite player in the last 20 years. I don't think I could be more pro Simon. That said, I don't think the original point somebody made was that he isn't an awesome player. It was merely that at times he isn't a "threat" from beyond the arc (he doesn't shoot from there a lot although he made a high percentage from out there i think, even his weaknesses he turns into strengths) so people can sag off him a bit. Obviously a nit pick but it is a fair point. Clearly he does so many other things so well it can be shrugged off. I'm in the camp where I'd love to see him have a huge year and go to the NBA - we need more players in the NBA for recruiting, need to show some kind of track record there. Would hurt us for next year but be good for us long term. In closing, I want to reiterate that I freakin love Simon.[/quote] I would like him to have a huge 2 years at SJU then go to the NBA.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=294471]Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.l

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21[/quote]
Simon is flat out good.
 
[quote="Section3" post=294502][quote="Paultzman" post=294471]Simon occasionally makes some odd turnovers, but come on. He flat out makes plays at both ends of court. I doubt his shot improves dramatically, but clearly he is a key component to any success team wil have this season. I would take him on my squad anytime.

Figgy will be special in time, but wise to give him some slack with normal JUCO development process.l

https://twitter.com/kksimon1/status/1038790758587760640?s=21[/quote]
Simon is flat out good.[/quote]

...eatin' my words, with a little rosa vino & pasta...not bad!
 
Simon is like getting Pointer back on the team with two exceptions:
1. Simon is a better ball handler.
2. Pointer was a better defender (one of the best).

Both of them are athletic glue guys that make plays in multiple ways. How can you not like someone like that?
 
[quote="Johnny4Life" post=294510]Simon is like getting Pointer back on the team with two exceptions:
1. Simon is a better ball handler.
2. Pointer was a better defender (one of the best).

Both of them are athletic glue guys that make plays in multiple ways. How can you not like someone like that?[/quote] Better passer too and Pointer wasn't a bad passer at all
 
[quote="Johnny4Life" post=294510]Simon is like getting Pointer back on the team with two exceptions:
1. Simon is a better ball handler.
2. Pointer was a better defender (one of the best).

Both of them are athletic glue guys that make plays in multiple ways. How can you not like someone like that?[/quote]

I don't see a strong comparison between the 2. Pointer was a superb athlete but not really a guard at all except by height. He was a poor shooter but could limp, run etc. I thought he was actually a fair to poor on ball defender..

Simon is a legitimate guard, with much better court instincts.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=294512][quote="Johnny4Life" post=294510]Simon is like getting Pointer back on the team with two exceptions:
1. Simon is a better ball handler.
2. Pointer was a better defender (one of the best).

Both of them are athletic glue guys that make plays in multiple ways. How can you not like someone like that?[/quote]

I don't see a strong comparison between the 2. Pointer was a superb athlete but not really a guard at all except by height. He was a poor shooter but could limp, run etc. I thought he was actually a fair to poor on ball defender..

Simon is a legitimate guard, with much better court instincts.[/quote]

Agree about pointers defense, was a monster off of the ball but his on ball D was overstated throughout his career.

I think there is plenty of differences in the two of their games but I do think they should be used similarly. Putting him in the high post with weapons surrounding him makes Simon an unbelievable weapon.
 
Pointer and Simon obviously differed, but both are unorthodox, highly effective college players. Can Simon’s “Swiss Army Knife”skills translate to NBA game? Doubt it with his limited outside shooting and so so ball handling skills. He is so athletic that you can’t totally rule it out either I suppose with right team.
 
I agree with Beast. I think Simon is a better defender and his BB IQ is one of the highest ever for a St John's player. He's a Shaolin Monk while Pointer was a Ninja. On the surface may seem similar but very different otherwise... ;)
 
[quote="Paul Massell" post=294515]I agree with Beast. I think Simon is a better defender and his BB IQ is one of the highest ever for a St John's player. He's a Shaolin Monk while Pointer was a Ninja. On the surface may seem similar but very different otherwise... ;)[/quote]

Good analogy, Grasshopper.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=294512][quote="Johnny4Life" post=294510]Simon is like getting Pointer back on the team with two exceptions:
1. Simon is a better ball handler.
2. Pointer was a better defender (one of the best).

Both of them are athletic glue guys that make plays in multiple ways. How can you not like someone like that?[/quote]

I don't see a strong comparison between the 2. Pointer was a superb athlete but not really a guard at all except by height. He was a poor shooter but could limp, run etc. I thought he was actually a fair to poor on ball defender..

Simon is a legitimate guard, with much better court instincts.[/quote]

Have to agree Beast. Pointer was not a guard in any sense of the word. Simon brings much more to the game and is the better all around player. He will play pro ball somewhere in the future. Better still is the fact that he is an excellent student and a great teammate.
 
There's no doubt that Simon is a better ball handler, court awareness and passer which makes him a better offensive weapon than Pointer. My comparison is that they were both athletic / similar body type and didn't have much of an outside shot. However, they both did a bit of everything to make plays (a key assist, rebound, steal, block, etc.) when needed.

And yes, I agree that Simon could be used to run an offense through. However, we will probably have to wait for that until next year because Shamorie has come back (which I think we are all happy about).
 
[quote="Johnny4Life" post=294546]There's no doubt that Simon is a better ball handler, court awareness and passer which makes him a better offensive weapon than Pointer. My comparison is that they were both athletic / similar body type and didn't have much of an outside shot. However, they both did a bit of everything to make plays (a key assist, rebound, steal, block, etc.) when needed. [/quote]

Pointer was awful for three years. Simon was close to excellent in his first. Pointer's wonderful senior year was as surprising as David Cain's. Simon's upcoming second or third team all BE season should surprise no one who's paying attention.
 
[quote="fun" post=294548][quote="Johnny4Life" post=294546]There's no doubt that Simon is a better ball handler, court awareness and passer which makes him a better offensive weapon than Pointer. My comparison is that they were both athletic / similar body type and didn't have much of an outside shot. However, they both did a bit of everything to make plays (a key assist, rebound, steal, block, etc.) when needed. [/quote]

Pointer was awful for three years. Simon was close to excellent in his first. Pointer's wonderful senior year was as surprising as David Cain's. Simon's upcoming second or third team all BE season should surprise no one who's paying attention.[/quote]

Dom's Jr year was awful and his frosh year mediocre but his soph year wasn't that bad. He didn't take many shots but rebounded well and generally played his role well. Plus in the Pointer vs Cain comp there were high expectations for Dom, not so much for Cain, so I would still say Cain's was more surprising by far. I mean Pointer, rightfully so or not, was the #35 recruit in his class per RSCI. Problem for Dom was he was a PF with SF size and when Jakarr and Maurice were around he didn't get to play that role. The fact that he was a PF also kind of negates any Simon/Pointer comps except that they both are athletically gifted stat sheet stuffers and top 40 recruits.
 
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