No. 18 Utah | No. 20 SMU | Full List
No. 19: LSU TIGERS
Last Season: 22-11, 11-7 SEC
Ben Simmons can leap over tall buildings and lift cars on his fingertips. Those exaggerations don't stray far from the hyperbole that's preceded the arrival of the Australian teenage star. Yet the 6-foot-9 forward -- point guard? -- could transform coach Johnny Jones' program in Simmons' first, and likely lone, season in Baton Rouge.
He is No. 1 on every NBA mock draft, and his past prep dominance backs the abundant hype. With the help of four of LSU's top six scorers from last season and top-15 recruit Antonio Blakeney, Simmons could lead LSU to its most impressive NCAA tourney run since the Tyrus Thomas era.
He'll probably walk on water at some point this season, too. -- Myron Medcalf
Best Case: Ben Simmons, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the nation, is simply ridiculous. The skilled 6-foot-9 forward averaged 27 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game to lead Montverde Academy to a 31-1 record last season. Simmons is already being considered the likely top pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He can handle it and really pass it, and he can be among the best defenders in the country. Simmons is an extraordinary passer and can play point guard if he wants. And Simmons is not alone on the LSU roster. Freshman guards Antonio Blakeney and Brandon Sampson will be expected to step in and play, and returnees Keith Hornsby and Tim Quarterman give Johnny Jones a lot of versatility. Simmons alone makes LSU a contender for the Final Four. He ain't LeBron, but just Ben is enough to contend.
Worst Case: Anytime you have freshmen in prominent roles, you can have odd results. But don't expect LSU to be less than it was last season. This is a guard's game, and LSU has guards. Young players get tired, especially when the lights and attention are the brightest. If things don't go the Tigers' way, they could run out of gas by the end of the season and be out early.
"Tim Quarterman is going to have to do a lot to lead the team. With as talented as Ben Simmons and [Antonio] Blakeney are, they are going to need Quarterman and Keith Hornsby to be leaders. They don't have much up front, but it will help them when they get Arizona transfer Craig Victor eligible in December. They have experienced guards and also will have more balance once he is on the court."
No. 18 Utah | No. 20 SMU | Full List
