Ben Simmons no longer lock to go No. 1 in NBA Draft

AUSSIE prodigy Ben Simmons’ path to the NBA seemed assured. But something’s happened that could change it, significantly.

GAINESVILLE, FL - JANUARY 09: Ben Simmons #25 of the LSU Tigers looks on during the game against the Florida Gators at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on January 9, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

FROM the moment he first pulled on LSU’s purple and gold singlet, Ben Simmons path to the NBA seemed set.

The Australian-born superstar-in-waiting would showcase his once-in-a-generation talent in his one and only season in college ranks and then be selected with the first pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

While the first part of that statement has been realised — Simmons has starred for the Tigers — the second part may not hold true.

Simmons seemed head and shoulders above any other player in this year’s draft class a couple of months ago but recently a contender has emerged.

Duke small forward Brandon Ingram has been lighting it up with the Blue Devils and there’s plenty of people willing to argue his case to go No. 1.

SB Nation’s college basketball editor Ricky O’Donnell believes the race between the 18-year-old from North Carolina and Simmons is closer than you think.

“It’s safe to say Simmons has lived up to the hype even as his team has struggled. But if his grip on the No. 1 pick is starting to feel tenuous, it’s because Duke wing Brandon Ingram has established himself as a special prospect in his own right,” O’Donnell wrote.

“Brandon Ingram is far from a finished product. He needs to hit the weight room hard, he needs to become a more creative finisher around the rim and he needs to refine his ball handling. It’s easy to watch Simmons and think he could have jumped to the NBA out of high school without missing a beat. Ingram likely would have been swallowed alive in that scenario.

“But Simmons is also 14 months older than Ingram, and NBA development is a marathon, not a sprint. Ingram has three inches of reach on Simmons and he’s a far better shooter at this point. Whichever team lands the first pick will have to decide if Simmons’ advantage in speed, strength and playmaking outweigh Ingram’s advantage in shooting and length.

“What’s become clear is that this will be a tough choice. Ingram’s recent play has cemented the fact that this isn’t a one-player draft and he’s no consolation prize. Ben Simmons is great, but he can hear Brandon Ingram coming.”

Brandon Ingram.

Ben Simmons.

Ingram is averaging 17.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting a better than 40 per cent from three-point range. Simmons’ numbers — 19.3 points, 12 rebounds and 5.2 assists — are more well-rounded, but he’s only attempted one three-pointer all season.

CBSSports.com’s Sam Vecenie believes Ingram may have the edge in NBA circles. “Folks around the NBA are starting to come around on the idea that Ingram and Simmons are essentially 1A and 1B in this draft class,” Vecenie wrote.

Vecenie listed Ingram’s younger age, his shot-making ability and his longer wingspan as his key advantages. “Plus, it’s much easier to find a fit in the modern, spacing-oriented NBA for Ingram than it is for Simmons, who still hasn’t quite figured out how to play off the ball yet,” he wrote.

Playing with Duke could also give Ingram an edge. The Blue Devils are ranked inside the top 20 teams in the nation and were listed as one of eight teams Sports Illustrated’s college basketball writer Luke Winn believes can win the national championship.

In contrast, the Tigers aren’t even assured of earning a place in the 68-team tournament. Having the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on NBA general managers with memorable performances in the NCAA tournament could be important.

DraftExpress.com’s Jonathan Givony, who operates the pre-eminent player evaluation website, told The Vertical last month Ingram is absolutely in the mix to go number one.

“I know a lot of teams have a real split in their front office right now,” Givony said. “You love the productivity of Simmons, he’s the safe pick, he’s an easy guy. You know he’s going to be a very, very good NBA player, while some of them say, ‘Hey, I love upside of Brandon Ingram.

“Who knows what this kid can become 3-4 years from now? Is he going to become a Giannis Antetokounmpo or someone like that that who continually improves physically and skill-wise and becomes this devastating 6-10 small forward who can score from all over the floor.”

Originally published as Ben Simmons no longer lock to go No. 1 in NBA Draft