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Blazers go young with selection of Anfernee Simons at No. 24

Simons did not play college basketball

By Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel
Published: June 21, 2018, 9:00pm

Longtime Edgewater boys basketball assistant coach Dexter Williams has seen many a player come and go since first joining the Eagles staff for the 1992-93 season.

But until Anfernee Simons was picked No. 24 by the Portland Trail Blazers in Tuesday’s NBA draft, he’d never seen a player from Edgewater — or any other Orlando high school for that matter — go to the league via the draft.

“This means a lot to me and to a lot of people because we’ve seen Anfernee grow up,” Williams said in a Simons draft party held at the Westin Hotel in Lake Mary. “I’ve been knowing him since he was nine years old. He was in the gym all the time back then and he’s in the gym every day now. That’s why he is where he is.”

Simons, a 6-foot-4 guard who graduated from Edgewater two years ago, was picked higher than many mock drafts projected. But he was not surprised when a Portland front office executive texted his agent, Bobby Petriella, following the 23rd pick to inform Simons that his would be the next name called.

“That’s about where I thought it would be,” Simons said of his draft slot. “You dream about this stuff happening when you put all the work in.”

Simons accepted an invitation to work out with Portland for the second time Tuesday and walked away from that West Coast section confident that he had a great shot to go in the first round to the Trail Blazers.

“They were the only team that brought me in two times,” Simons said. “I definitely had a good feeling about them.”

A gathering of about 160 family members friends and fans of Simons were invited and filled up a banquet room that had a D.J., a big screen showing the draft, and seating for 154 at the Westin Hotel in Lake Mary. Some of those on hand mentioned, not entirely in jest, that the Orlando Magic could boost attendance simply by drafting Simons and bringing his local fan club to the Amway Center turnstiles.

Instead, he’ll go across the country to join a team that has All-Star guard Damian Lillard and another veteran, C.J. McCollum, in its backcourt.

“Damian is one of those guys I try to model my game after. And C.J. too. I feel like I can learn a lot from those guys,” Simons said.

Simons took pictures and interacted with the banquet room gathering prior to the 7 p.m. start of the draft, then joined his parents, Charles and Tameka, other family members and a few friends, and his representatives from the Drew Rosenhaus agency to watch the selection from a closed press room across the hallway.

When his name was called he could hear the roar from two doors down as the crowd that gathered to cheer his life-changing night erupted in applause.

After Simons was selected he took several phone calls in between hugs, then rejoined his fans and friends in the banquet hall.

Simons opted to bypass college basketball after graduating from Edgewater. He spent the 2017-18 season as a “fifth year” prep school player at IMG Academy of Bradenton.

He was eligible to be selected Thursday because he turned 19 (last week) before the draft and was a year removed from his high school graduation.

“He’s a steal,” said Edgewater coach Jason Atherton. “If he’d gone to college he’d be a top 10 pick next year. That’s what they’re getting.”

Atherton said a number of NBA teams called to grill him on all aspects of Simons’ potential and personality. He told them they were asking about “a great kid” who possesses a major league work ethic.

“If Ant went 10-for-11 (on shot attempts) and scored 30 in a game, he’s not going out celebrating. He’s in the gym for three hours ’cause he’s mad he missed a shot,” Atherton said.

Williams said he’s seen that drive since he and Simons’ father, Charles, coached their boys and others on the 9-and-under South Orlando Youth Sports Association (SOYSA) team years ago.

“There were some tears,” Williams said. “Charles coached him hard, we both did. Look what it’s done. …”

Simons is the first Edgewater product drafted by an NBA team.

Former Eagles standout Darius Washington went undrafted out of Memphis University in 2006. He did play 18 NBA games with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007-08 before returning to Europe. He has played for teams in eight different nations and three continents overseas since 2006 — most recently starting for Iraklis Thessaloniki of Greece this year.

Marquis Daniels, who left Edgewater after his junior season to play his final high school season at Mount Zion Christian Academy of Durham, N.C., went undrafted out of Auburn in 2003, but played 10 seasons in the NBA (2002-2013).

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