NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking the last 10 No. 1 overall prospects

7. Ben Simmons – 2015

There were big things expected for the Australian native, who chose LSU over other bigger programs. 2015’s top prospect was an impressive young power forward, though his development and progress at LSU was not exactly productive. He could not lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in his one season with LSU. It’s easy to argue that LSU needed much more talent than just Simmons to lead this team, demolished by Texas A&M to end their season in the SEC Tournament.

Simmons would average 19.2 ppg and 11.8 rpg, leading the Tigers in many statistical categories during his only collegiate season. This may have been a result of being LSU’s only legitimate option, but Simmons was the top scorer and rebounder among the year’s prospects. Players like Skal Labissiere, Jaylen Brown, and Brandon Ingram had great seasons, but none were as impressive as his. Jalen Brunson won a pair of national championships, but you certainly couldn’t have argued he was a better player than Simmons.

Despite his high prospect ranking, he was just a 2nd team All-American, while also a member of the All-SEC team. LSU has seen resurgence under Will Wade, making the Tigers’ lack of success with Simmons even more peculiar. Regardless, the big man got what he could out of his lone college season. He was the most talented freshman in 2016 and has become an NBA All-Star in just two seasons.