Basketball star Anfernee Simons joined the Portland Trail Blazers following the 2018 NBA draft. He was selected by the franchise in the first round of the draft with the 24th overall pick. Prior to turning pro, Simons was a standout athlete during his school days, finishing as the 2017 Florida State Class 7A Player of the Year. The talented youngster took a particular path to join the NBA by foregoing a possible college career and opting to become a high school professional, creating a new path for other NBA prospects.
Bio – Who is Anfernee Simons?
Anfernee Simons was born on June 8, 1999 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He was named after retired NBA star and Orlando Magic legend Anfernee Hardaway. He did his first two years of high school at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida. As a sophomore, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game in 30 total appearances. He transferred to Montverde Academy, in Montverde, Florida for his junior year. However, he didn’t get much playing time during his time there.
Simons eventually returned to Edgewater High During his senior year in high school, he averaged 23.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 20 games. His outstanding performances helped the school reach the finals of the 2017 FHSAA Basketball State Championship for Boys and he was named the 2017 Florida Class 7A Player of the Year.
The young talent has also played for the United States. Men’s National Basketball Under-19 Team in the summer of 2017. Before completing his senior year, Anfernee Simons was reclassified upside down in the class of 2018. Hence, he spent a postgraduate year in high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he averaged 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
A five-star recruit, Simons was ranked as the No. 7 player in the high school class of 2018 and has verbally committed to continuing his college career at the University of Louisville. However, he disengaged from the Louisville Cardinals in September 2017, after that institution was investigated by the FBI over a corruption scandal. The young talent first reopened his recruitment and considered other programs. However, he ultimately opted to bypass college entirely and enter the 2018 NBA draft.
NBA Career
Entering the NBA, Anfernee Simons was widely considered the mystery man of the draft, due to the fact that he had not played for either a college team or an international professional team. He also withdrew from the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic, a decision that surprised many viewers, as he was still relatively unknown to most NBA decision makers at that time. However, he was on the 2018 NBA draft overall and was expected to be a late first- or second-round pick.
On June 21, 2018, Anfernee Simons was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 24th overall pick, a level higher than many mock drafts predicted. He became the first American-born player to be selected in the NBA draft right out of high school since 2005, when the league’s age restriction rules came into effect. The young talent signed a rookie contract with the franchise in July 2018.
Family, Siblings
Anfernee Simons was born to Tameka and CharlesSimons in the suburban town of Altamonte Springs in Seminole County, Florida. His father previously coached the South Orlando Youth Sports Association (SOYSA) under-9 basketball team. By being selected in the 2018 NBA draft, Simons became the first player from his alma mater Edgewater High School to join the NBA.
Height and other body measurements
Anfernee Simons is 6 feet 3 inches (193 cm) tall and he weighs 83 kg. It has a wingspan of 6′ 9¼” and a rear span of 8′ 3½”, as shown in the measurement details of this one at the 2018 NBA combine. The 2018 NBA contender still has room for improvement in terms of physical strength, but he is known to possess the raw talents and skills required of an effective attacking player. Simons is a multi-talented basketball star. She exhibits playmaking skill and aggressive playmaking skill.
