It was fun to watch two of the top PTP'ers in America, Oklahoma's Buddy Hield and LSU's Ben Simmons.These two young men are outstanding athletes and quality kids off the court. They are special to their teammates, and they were part of a great game last weekend. Oklahoma found a way to get to the winner's circle, never losing their poise despite trailing by 14 points.
I love the way Hield has elevated his game. Last year, he was told he would be a second round draft pick, and he decided to return to school. He has worked hard on his game and his stock has climbed dramatically.Hield has improved so much, becoming one of the best three-point shooters in America, He is so versatile, capable of scoring in so many ways. Besides being great at shooting the trifecta, he can explode to the basket. Hield is now ready for the next level. I also love his desire to win. His passion rubs off on his teammates.
Simmons is also well-liked by his teammates. Part of that is due to his tremendous passing skills. Some people have compared his handling of the basketball to the Magic Man, Ervin "Magic" Johnson. The LSU standout has great vision, but he is so unselfish, it is almost to a fault. His presence draws so much attention, so he often finds the open teammate for jump shots. It allows others to score.
I feel he is too passive looking for his own shot at times. He has to be even more aggressive. Simmons has the skills to go to the basket but he has to make moves and look to score. There is some pressure for Simmons to put the team on his back in big games. He did not look for his opportunities to score against Oklahoma. He has to want the basketball on the big stage. He is a rebounding machine, among the nation's leaders on the boards. He has adjusted nicely from high school to the rigors of college life in the spotlight.
