As the 2016 NBA Draft looms, top prospect Ben Simmons' standing in basketball is unquestionable, according to Simmons' high school coach.
Kevin Goorjian knows Simmons better than most, having worked closely with the LSU star during his early days as a student at Box Hill High School in Melbourne, Australia.
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Already compared to the likes of four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, the 19-year-old forward is now projected to go No. 1 overall when the draft takes place in Brooklyn on June 23.
The 76ers are in pole position to select Simmons next month after winning Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery. Should the rebuilding franchise pass on the opportunity to take the Australian, Goorjian has little doubt it'll regret it.
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"He is going to be the best basketballer Australia has produced," Goorjian, the brother of former Australia coach Brian Goorjian, told Omnisport on Tuesday. "There was a quote that came up that if you get the No. 1 pick and you don't take Simmons you should be fired.
"I'm totally behind that. He is the No. 1 pick. It's clear."
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If the 76ers opt against Simmons, the Lakers will be waiting with open arms. The Lakers have the second pick and are crying out for a young star to head the team's rebuild under new coach Luke Walton following Kobe Bryant's retirement.
Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has already gone on record as saying Simmons — who averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for LSU this season — is the best all-around player he has seen since James.
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"If he ended up in LA, that would be just fantastic," Goorijan said when asked if the Lakers would be a good fit. "But wherever he ends up, he is going to make an impact and help a NBA team. I believe he is going to be an All-Star. I don't know of any Australians on All-Star teams.
"He is going to be special. He just has to stay injury-free and keep developing."