2013 PF Antravious Simmons

[Vega]

One of the players who has been creating some buzz of late is 6-9 230-pound junior post man Antravious Simmons .

This Physical low post scorer has been averaging 17 points and 11 boards for the year so far, but according to our good friend Shawn Powell, former NBA scout and future NBA Draft site author for XOFan network, says that Simmons has been tearing it up since Mid-January.

"Antravious has been on fire of late," Powell told Hot100Hoops. "He has been averaging 25 points, 15 rebounds and 7 blocks over the past five games. He could be a top fifty prospect by this summer!"

Remember you heard it hear first...his summer coach Kenny Gillion of Team Breakdown told us this past fall that Simmons was ready tio have a breakout year and he was right.

"Antravious is a no nonsense power player who can catch it with his back to the basket and finish on the blocks. He's ready to have a big year...Keep an eye on him this winter!"

That is excactly what we have done and since coming back from some early season injuries, this mobile and physical big man has started to catch the eye of college coaches. Look for him to beone of the main reason that Team Breakdown games will be popular with coaches this spring.

Simmons is hearing from Alabama, Memphis, Kansas State, Florida, Missouri, South Florida, Clemson, Maryland, Miami (FL), Syracuse, Murray State, and VCU, but we expect that list to grow once schools see him in April!

http://hot100hoops.c...icles&Itemid=96

[Vega]

The USF staff are really trying to get Simmons to commit to USF before he hits the AAU circuit and the whole basketball world sees him. Recruiting has been extremely frustrating for USF especially over this last 1 or 2 years, so one can understand why their chances are better with Simmons now then it would likely be in a few months. I'll go into better detail later but those who follow recruiting like I do certainly should have a feel where I'm going with this.

Also USF isn't the only school trying to apply the pressure. Back-to-basket scorers are hard to find and usually the most traditional rich schools gobble them up.

[Vega]

Here's another talented PF to watch: Demetrius Henry

The four stars listed next to his name serve as wonderful garnish, but the actual beef sitting on the plate isn't going to cut it ... not yet. Or so goes the thought process in the camp of 6-foot-8 power forward Demetrius Henry, anyway.

At 210 pounds, the high school senior doesn't fancy himself ready for college basketball. So, despite being fully qualified academically, he's decided to pack his bags for prep school next season.

The extra year is all in the name of muscle. Henry will spend next year at Florida's Faith Baptist Christian School, where he'll look to add nearly 20 pounds to his frame and polish his talent, which is already turning the heads of Division I coaches to the tune of seven scholarship offers.

"This is going to get him stronger," said Henry's AAU coach, Kenny Gillion. "He could have came to college this year and contributed, but I think the reclassification will allow him to come in and be a guy who could possibly average a double-double his freshman year."

Ultimately, the revised, 2013 arrival date could help add a fifth star to his Rivals.com bio, but success in his recruitment is about seeing the promise from the jump. Kansas State, Missouri, Murray State, Miami, South Florida and Virginia Tech have already offered scholarships, and the gesture apparently means something at this stage in the process.

Sooner or later, the mailbox is closing and the ringers are going off. According to Gillion, coaches need to join the party now or not bother knocking on the door down the road.

Swooping in late isn't an option here.

"If you haven't put an offer on the table by at least April, I don't even think Demetrius will be entertaining you," Gillian said on Thursday.

And so some schools sit in better positions than others. No pecking order or favorites have been established, but being involved at this juncture provides a leg up, as the time for weighing new options is winding down.

"If there's anyone out there right now who has really been on him, I'd say it's (assistant coach) James Kane at Murray State," Gillian said, "All of them are kind of even, though. Virginia Tech, South Florida, Kansas State; they've all done a great job. He could tell you something positive about each one of the schools.

Visits, which Gillian said won't play a major role in Henry's decision, haven't been made or scheduled. Instead, the forward does his research from home by investigating proclamations made by coaches interested in his services. To him, this decision is too big to base on campus scenery and the promises of strangers.

"Seeing a campus isn't that important to my guys," Gillion said. "My guys don't take a whole lot of visits. He's looking at what the coaches are doing. A coach told him he plays an up-tempo style, so he watches to see if they really do that. When a coach tells him he improved some big guy, he looks at the track record to make sure it's real. That's what he's doing."

According to Gillion, Henry, who currently attends Oak Park (Fla.) Northeast High School and plays the AAU circuit with Team Breakdown, will look to trim his list this summer and could be committed as early as August.

Assistant coach Lamont Evans is handling Henry's recruitment for K-State.

http://kansasstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1332347

[Vega]

mama_bull via twitter copy

I notice that #143 is 6'9" Center/PF Antravious Simmons. Coach Heath supposedly visited with him the other day.

http://rivals.yahoo....XD7m.s_CJPVO5B4

From Temple Board:

Per Source Hoops 6'9 Antravious Simmons of South Miami HS had visits from Temple, USF, Alabama & Memphis in the last 24hrs.

Also an update on Henry coming.

[Mama_Bull]

<P>

mama_bull via twitter copy I notice that #143 is 6&amp;#39;9&amp;quot; Center/PF Antravious Simmons. Coach Heath supposedly visited with him the other day. http://rivals.yahoo....XD7m.s_CJPVO5B4 From Temple Board: Per Source Hoops 6&amp;#39;9 Antravious Simmons of South Miami HS had visits from Temple, USF, Alabama &amp;amp; Memphis in the last 24hrs. Also an update on Henry coming.

Here is some more info. You can read the stories at the links.

Antravious Simmons †@Antravious32

My Choice for college Is down to 3 now 1.Cuse 2.USF 3.Murray St

1:13 PM - 4 Mar 12 via web

https://twitter.com/#!/Antravious32

http://247sports.com/Player/Antravious-Simmons-13835

http://www.floridahoops.com/index.php?view=article&id=1266%3Aprospect-profile-antravious-simmons&option=com_content&Itemid=57

http://www.nunesmagician.com/2012/3/19/2883783/syracuse-basketball-orange-recruiting-antravious-simmons

[Vega]

<P>

mama_bull via twitter copy I notice that #143 is 6&amp;#39;9&amp;quot; Center/PF Antravious Simmons. Coach Heath supposedly visited with him the other day. http://rivals.yahoo....XD7m.s_CJPVO5B4 From Temple Board: Per Source Hoops 6&amp;#39;9 Antravious Simmons of South Miami HS had visits from Temple, USF, Alabama &amp;amp; Memphis in the last 24hrs. Also an update on Henry coming.

Here is some more info. You can read the stories at the links.

Antravious Simmons †@Antravious32

My Choice for college Is down to 3 now 1.Cuse 2.USF 3.Murray St

1:13 PM - 4 Mar 12 via web

https://twitter.com/...#!/Antravious32

http://247sports.com...s-Simmons-13835

http://www.floridaho...ntent&Itemid=57

http://www.nunesmagi...ravious-simmons

Mama_Bull I saw an article on Henry somewhere that stated Stan Heath tried hard to get him committed as part of the 2012 class. Of course he reclassified to the 2013 class in order to get more ready prepared for college. Henry has a long list of suitors but USF is still right near the top for him. He is a guy with an extremely high ceiling and the determination to be the best. He's already considered 1 of the best PFs in the class.

Also it's time to start following the recruitment of PG Will Ferguson who has USF on his short list.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Vega

[Vega]

Team Breakdown big man rising this spring

One of the fast rising big men this spring is 6-9 230-pound Antravious Simmons from South Miami High and Team Breakdown.

Simmons is a physical low post scorer and rebounder who impressed us with his play this spring for Team Breakdown. We recently spoke with his AAU Coach Kenny Gillion about his recruiting.

“He has offers from Alabama, VCU, Georgia, Mississippi State, Marshall, Clemson, South Florida, and Miami (FL),†Coach Gillion told XoFan. “He also is hearing from Maryland, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Murray State.â€

He has made unofficial visits to Alabama and VCU, and will return to the Tide’s team camp in June and will do the same at South Carolina. Unless he finds exactly the right fit prior to July, we think his list will continue to grow and evolve as he looks for the right fit where he can come in and play right away…Something Coach Gillion said is important to Simmons.

XOFan’s Ron Briscoe had a chance to see Simmons recently to and gave this look at Simmons

“Antravious is a long and lean player with terrific offensive and defensive skills. He moves his feet well defending down low and he is quick to the ball when rebounding. He is a very good outlet passer and lane filler in transition.â€

“He likes to score facing or with his back to the basket, but he prefers to finish at rim level off the break. This rim shaker is an ace shot-blocker and rebounder. He’s runs the court well and he likes to bang down low.â€

Simmons averaged a hot 26.0 points and a smoking 15.0 rebounds per game this past season.

This long and explosive insider will crack the top one hundred in our pre-summer update, that for sure and I expect him to make a statement this summer with his play with Team Breakdown…stay tuned for more updates on his recruiting as he moves toward making a decision this summer

http://xofan.com/bas...ng-this-spring/