Anfernee Simons decided to forego college altogether and declare for the NBA Draft without violating the rules.
Anfernee Simons didn’t play college basketball. He didn’t go overseas, either.
But lo and behold, he’ll hear his name called during the 2018 NBA Draft.
On Thursday morning, he told ESPN that he was skipping college and going straight to the pros. “I am very thankful for the support I received at IMG Academy and from the NCAA coaches who recruited me,” Simons stated. “I am ready and excited to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA.”
For the prospect, it’s all about doing what’s in his best interest. For college basketball, however, this decision may prove to be a problem.
While players like Brandon Jennings and Emmanuel Mudiay decided to go abroad to skirt a year at college basketball, Simons went to the IMG Academy in Florida, where he spent a fifth year in high school. Since it was a postgraduate year, he fulfilled NBA requirements dictating a prospect must be a year out of high school.
It was always a possibility for Simons to go down this route, but he previously left the college path open for himself. His recruitment remained open and he once committed to the Louisville Cardinals, before changing his mind.
The issue for the NCAA going forward is whether or not other players will follow his lead.
The IMG Academy is a boarding school in Bradenton, Florida, that specializes in athletic programs. Athletes of all walks of life spend time there to train, rehab, or develop when they have the opportunity.
For prospective NBA players, it makes sense to go there to train and become a better basketball player. They don’t have to worry about the rigors of collegiate coursework for a couple of semesters.
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Whether or not Anfernee Simons just changed the recruiting game will be worth watching.