Ben Simmons wins Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award

HYPE is growing around teenager Ben Simmons, who this week followed in the footsteps of NBA superstars LeBron James and Dwight Howard.

AUSTRALIAN teenager Ben Simmons and NBA star LeBron James have something in common.

Simmons, 18, was named winner of the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award on Tuesday — a prize given to America’s top high school basketballer.

James, a two-time NBA champion and four-time MVP who currently plays alongside Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is a past winner.

Simmons led his Florida school, Montverde, to back-to-back national titles, will play for Louisiana State University in the next college season and is being touted as a possible No. 1 NBA draft pick next year.

Class of 2015 Signee Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) won the Morgan Wootten Award Tuesday ESPN:http://t.co/t1cwwvxc2B pic.twitter.com/o0k23GudMD

— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) March 10, 2015

“I feel very honored to be named the Morgan Wooten Player of the Year,” Simmons said. “I am so humbled to be selected from such a talented group of my peers. I continue every day to work hard and be grateful. Individual accolades would not be possible without my teammates and my coaches at Montverde Academy.”

He’s averaging 29 points, 12 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game this season.

Simmons is the son of US-born NBL legend Dave Simmons.

Aussie Ben Simmons wins the Morgan Wooten Award for America's best high school basketballer pic.twitter.com/tpmRGpFLCg

— FOX SPORTS News (@FOXSportsNews) March 10, 2015

Originally published as Ben Simmons wins Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award