Simmons not only top frosh
Ben Simmons was the Legends Classic’s big attraction, the likely No. 1 pick in next June’s NBA draft making his one and only visit to New York City.
Though the LSU freshman performed very well in front of loads of NBA scouts, averaging 12.5 points, 17 rebounds and 8.5 assists in two games, he lost both nights. It was another projected lottery pick — Marquette freshman forward Henry Ellenson — who left a winner.
The 6foot10 Ellenson, who missed some time Tuesday in the first half with a nickedup shin, scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, leading a Marquette comeback from a 10point deficit and an impressive 7873 overtime win over coach Bobby Hurley and Arizona State at Barclays Center.
“He made a lot of big plays down the stretch,” said Hurley, the former Duke and St. Anthony of Jersey City star in his first year with the Sun Devils (32) after two seasons as the Buffalo head coach. “He didn’t have a big stat line at the half, but he came through like a lot of great players do.”
Ellenson, who also had 11 rebounds and three blocks en route to tournament MVP honors, said he was “determined” to fight through the pain in the shin, so sitting out the second half was never a possibility. He made his presence felt late, particularly in overtime, scoring the first basket of the extra session on a pretty jumper from the baseline and calmly sinking two clutch free throws with 32.7 seconds left. This came one night after Ellenson went for 16 and 11 against LSU and Simmons.
“Coming into the tournament, we wanted to come out as champions,” he said. “That was the mindset coming in.”
The two wins in Brooklyn wipe away the Golden Eagles’ slow start with losses to Belmont and Iowa. It also showed Marquette (32) was, perhaps, picked too low in the Big East preseason poll at No. 6.
“I’m proud of my team because we showed we have character,” Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said.
Simmons left Brooklyn winless, again coming up short in the clutch. This time, it wasn’t him passing off, but fouling out with 4:06 left in overtime after grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing off 10 assists. Without Simmons, who was held to just two points on 1of6 shooting, the Wolfpack (32) cruised to victory over the No. 22 Tigers.
Onetime St. John’s commit Brandon Sampson scored 18 points off the bench in defeat for LSU (32), while another St. John’s target, Maverick Rowan — the son of former Johnnies star Ron Rowan — came up big in the extra session, scoring seven of his 10 points.
N.C. St. 83, LSU 72 (OT)