His team may have been beaten by one point, but Australian basketball sensation Ben Simmons has shown why he is tipped to be the No.1 NBA draft pick for next year, playing a blinder in the NCAA college competition.
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The 6'10" Louisiana State University Tigers freshman scored 21 points with 20 rebounds and seven assists in LSU's 80-81 loss to Marquette Golden Eagles.
And the kid from Fitzroy in Melbourne was trending on Twitter with a host of heavyweight admirers lining up to praise him on social media. Not least of which was 18-year NBA veteran Reggie Miller.
A coast-to-coast dunk was the highlight of Simmons' standout performance.
The loss was the first of Simmons' college basketball career, but the Australian was still the best on court.
Simmons, the son of New York-born NBL star forward-centre Dave Simmons, is tipped to be the No.1 pick in next year's NBA draft.
If he reaches such status, he would become an instant multi-millionaire with a $US6 million ($A8.35 million) first-year NBA salary and millions more in other endorsements.
After LSU took its first lead with 21 second to play, Marquette made two free throws and a three-pointer by Jalyn Patterson was off the mark to deliver Golden Eagles victory in the Legends Classic at Barclays Center, LSU sportsnet reported.
LSU (3-1) returns to face the loser of Arizona State and NC State later this week.
Ben Simmons is a young BALLER who will only get better, I like him.. Can't wait to see his growth and him grow up in front of our eyes..
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) November 24, 2015
