Xavier Simpson named Gatorade POY for Ohio
After being named Ohio's Mr. Basketball yesterday, Xavier Simpson garnered another honor today: Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio.
The 6-foot, 175-pound senior point guard has led the Spartans to a 28-0 record and a berth in the Division I semifinals, scheduled for March 18. Simpson is averaging 28 points, 6.3 assists and 3.7 steals per game through 28 games, shooting nearly 60 percent from 3-point range. . . .
"I can’t believe that there is a player in Ohio that is more important to his team’s success than Xavier Simpson," said Jim Rucki, head coach at Findlay High. "He makes everyone around him a better player. He is true point guard. He keeps his team under control and is a coach on the floor. He can be a great scorer when he needs to be, but has an uncanny ability to give his teammates the ball right where they need it. He is the best player in Ohio."
Nice. Scoring machine.
60% from 3? Holy crap. I don't care what level you're playing at, that's nuts, especially given his volume of shooting.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
-Walton better pick up his game or his minutes are going down.
-I hope Austin Davis is the post presence we have been missing.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
Mo Wagner may well be that presence next year, if he hits the weights this summer.
Yes that was good to see. He has more upside than both Doyle and Donnal. He also has the attitude we need in the paint.
Agreed. Hopefully Camp Sanderson will help him add some much needed bulk to his frame. That'll help him stay in front during post ups and not foul as much. I have high hopes for Mo for next year.
Hopefully Camp Sanderson doesn't destroy his back.
Can he suit up tomorrow?
I think X is going to be a stud in maize and blue. Very excited to see him on the court for us.
Well...damn. Kid's a baller. Beilein has such a sharp eye for point guards.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
I would enjoy hearing your explanation as to why you feel that way.
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March 17th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Darius Morris and Trey Burke to name two.
what he was able to achieve with CJ Lee and David Merrit.
Walton has been a little disappointing, but he had a lot to live up to.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
and that's not counting guys Beilein recruited like Yogi Ferrell, etc.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
Before Walton committed Beilein was also heavily interested in Monte Morris, so much so that many thought he'd wind up at M.
Walton committed, suggesting that he wanted to play for Michigan more than Morris did. Keep this in mind when you get bored with people complaining about Cassius Winston being a Sparty.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
Something is off with him. I thought he seemed like he was on a nice track from his Frosh year. Now it seems like he has lost his confidence. He used to get to the rack when he had to. Everyone gets hot and cold but bad decisions are killer.
And don't forget Spike for JBs pg list.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
I mean... you're joking, right?
fly him to Brooklyn!
March 17th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^
Is he related to Mister Simpson?
...and don't tell me "Yes, that's his father."
March 17th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
That's his cuz.
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That Greg Simpson the OSU basketball player, and 2 time Ohio Mr. Basketball is his cousin. I do not know for sure if Mister is any relation. I have never asked him that question.. but I can.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:04 AM ^
I just don't follow MBB enough, but how are we getting guys like this from Ohio? What's going on with Matta and OSU that we can get a kid like this?
March 17th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
They're in the NIT and we're not?
March 17th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
Watson and Teske are also first team All-Ohio
I have not heard that before.
First team: Seth Towns, Columbus Northland, 6-foot-7, senior, 32.0 points per game; Kyle Young, Massillon Jackson, 6-7, jr., 20.6; Jon Teske, Medina, 7-1, sr., 16.9; Willie Jackson, Garfield Heights, 6-6, sr., 21.0; Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior, 6-0, sr., 30.2; Jarron Cumberland, Wilmington, 6-5, sr., 29.5; Nick Ward, Gahanna, 6-9, sr., 21.0; Ibi Watson, Pickerington Central, 6-5, sr., 19.3; Frankie Hughes, Garfield Heights, 6-4, sr., 18.0; Trey Landers, Huber Heights Wayne, 6-5, sr., 16.4.
Player of the year: Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior
March 17th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
I don't think we've ever gotten a guy from Ohio that Matta offered. Simpson blew up his senior year. Was low top 100 and has moved up to around the 50 range. Might go even higher
March 17th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
Uh, Matta offered Teske
I don't follow their recruiting that much but my friend tells me they got a PG on 2015 who is a very similar player so they didn't offer Xavier.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
He's a really hard worker and a coach's son. He may not make a huge impact right away, but I think he could make a notable difference. My fantasy for next year is that we see a lot of minutes with a lineup of Simpson-Walton-Robinson-Irvin-Wagner.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
What about MAAR???
March 17th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
He said fantasy. If MAAR is on the bench, it's not because he is bad. It is because someone else becomes great!
March 17th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
Is our best player right now.
MAAR is our best player at driving to the basket. He probably isn't our best player. It just stands out because nobody else does what he does. You don't look at your best player and say he had a good game for scoring 16 points on 20 shot equivalents, 2 asts and 2 rebounds.
Duncan Robinson probably had the best game individually for Michigan last night. Zak Irvin had the best B1G Tourney. The problem with this team is that we don't even have a best player. Just a bunch of guys, but not dudes.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
That would be a tremendously small line-up.
we are starting right now.
March 17th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
Your fantasies are very different than mine.
for thinking the same thing I thought when I was reading that
March 17th, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
For no other reason than we'll still have a floor general when Walton sits. So we get to enjoy the luxury of having a backup PG for one season . . . then we'll be back to our current predicament.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
you don't enjoy watching Andrew Dakich dribble around?
(not meant as a knock on Dakich, he has sacrificed RS two years in a row for the team, but he's clearly not an offensive threat).
March 17th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
Why do people throw "sacrificed his redshirt" around for Dakich? I dont get what he's sacrificing. He gets to play meaningful minutes now due to the team's lack of depth and if & when the team has depth, he likely isn't going to be offered a 5th year. Dude's living a dream.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
Because Beilein was trying to save his 5th year as a favor or courtesy to Dakich in order to allow him to be a 5th year grad transfer to a program that could offer him a scholarship and meaningful playing time.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
Yeah. I'm not sure where he would be transferring to find playing time.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
MAAR can run point also...
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March 17th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
Soon to be obligatory.
March 17th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
So no more Dakich? Fire Beilein!
March 17th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
Dakich will transfer or RS
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March 17th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
I love that X shoots 60% from 3 but I'm hoping gets to the cup. Our jumpers weren't falling yesterday but MAAR and Robinson got us buckets by going to the rack. We need at least 3 guys that can get off their own shot.
March 17th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
Simpson can get to the rim and is a pretty skilled finisher. The main knock on him in the past has actually been his jumpshot, so hopefully he really has developed that like his stats would indicate.