PHOTOS: Ben Simmons, LSU-commit and top 2015 prospect, dominates in 2015 Hoophall Classic appearance

SPRINGFIELD — Bishop Gorman has a 7-foot center and two 6-foot-11 forwards, creating a wall through which most players would have trouble breaking.

Ben Simmons is not most players.

Simmons, star forward for Montverde Academy and the top prospect in the nation for the class of 2015, carved up Bishop Gorman’s interior defense on Monday at the 2015 Hoophall Classic. Simmons was the only played to score in double figures for Montverde, but he put on a show, tallying 36 points on a supremely efficient 15-for-23 from the field. Of Simmons’ made field goals, all 15 were layups or dunks. He was 0-for-3 from outside the paint.

(Video by Annie Maroon)

“I usually try to get a lot of points (in the paint) to start off the game,” he said. “I like to get comfortable in the game.”

Simmons stayed comfortable around the basket throughout the game, however, continuing to pour in layups and throw down dunks in transition in the second half as Montverde’s full-court press tore apart Bishop Gorman — a team with a pair of top-10 prospects — in Montverde’s 76-57 win.

With his hyper-efficient night, one would assume Montverde coach Kevin Boyle would be pleased with Simmons' performance.

“I didn’t think he played real well tonight,” Boyle said. “I thought he was sloppy with the ball, and he plays every game at least that good if not better.”

One of the scouting knocks against Simmons is that he’s lackadaisical with the ball at times. It’s problem for a tall player who takes on as much ball-handling responsibility as Simmons, but it’s also a product of his incredible court vision — when Simmons sees a potential passing lane, no matter how unlikely, he’s willing to give it a try. High turnover numbers are common for top point-guard prospects who handle the ball and look to create offense through their passing, and true to form, Simmons finished with seven turnovers.

In just about every other way, however, Simmons was electric on Monday.

“Overall, obviously, he’s a great athlete,” Boyle said. “He has great instincts for the game, and he’s fun to watch.”

At various times, Simmons guarded one of Bishop Gorman’s top players — Duke-commit Chase Jeter — but he also guarded ball-handlers and off-ball shooters. His defensive versatility was clear — it’s hard to beat a quick 6-foot-10 forward off the dribble, and if you do, it’s hard to finish your shot without getting swatted from behind.

“Obviously, he’s not guarding centers usually, but you know anywhere from that two, three, four position, and he’s good off the ball,” Boyle said. “He’s got good arms and instincts to deflect passes.”

Simmons is a Louisiana State University commit. His connection to the school was forged in part by his godfather David Patrick, an assistant coach with the Tigers who played professionally with Simmons’ father Dave in Australia.

Maybe it’s also aesthetic.

“Well, people don’t know this, but purple and gold are my favorite colors,” Simmons dead-panned. “I just feel comfortable there. That’s like a second home to me. I just went with my gut feeling, and that’s the place I chose.”

But his reasoning goes deeper than that as well.

“I don’t really want to go to a school who already recruits every player,” Simmons told MassLive a week ago. “I feel like I can do something special with (No. 14 prospect) Antonio Blakeney, and we can do something that has never been done before.”

Boyle believes Simmons can be an enormously important asset at the college level.

"There’s no question that he’s going to help them a lot,” Boyle said. “I think he’s a guy that you can get some wins against a Kentucky or Florida with a guy like him in that group. You need a star player to go up against some of the stars they have.”

For now, though, Simmons is simply looking to improve his game and help No. 4 Montverde continue to win in pursuit of a second consecutive Dick’s High School National Championship.

“Playing against guys like (Jeter) just gets me prepared for the next level,” Simmons said. “But at the same time, I have to come out there and play like that, no matter who is on the court.”

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