The Nike Basketball Academy recently brought together 26 of next season's most talented college players for a four-day player development camp. The players went through drills and competed in controlled scrimmages. Several elite NBA players visited the camp, and some even took the court to scrimmage with the college players, including DeMarcus Cousins, DeMar Derozan, Paul George, Anthony Davis and James Harden.
These elite summer camps have become a must-attend event for NBA front office personnel. Last summer, scouts were buzzing about Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre, but no one improved his stock more than Sam Dekker, who held his own head-to-head against LeBron James in a scrimmage. Scouts greatly value this opportunity to see players outside of their college system and evaluate their development since the season's end. Who stood out the most? (Measurements courtesy of Nike)
Ben Simmons, LSU Tigers 6-foot-9.5, 229 pounds
Simmons is a ball guard with tremendous versatility. He played all five positions at different points during the scrimmage but is at his best when the ball is in his hands. He has an excellent feel for the game and sees plays develop. His ability to get to the rim and finish off the bounce is elite, but what makes him so dynamic with the ball is that he is a willing passer who gets others involved. He uses his size to see over the defense and is excellent off ball screens and in space. Although he shoots a hard ball from distance, he has a middle game and his release is good. He played with a chip on his shoulder and raised his game even more when pros like James Harden stepped on the court. Simmons continues to prove that he is a serious contender to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft.