Anfernee Simons is one of few non-foreign prospects to avoid playing at the NCAA level. After Simons committed to Louisville, Rick Pitino underwent a FBI investigation for allegedly bribing high school athletes with money from Adidas.
Wanting no part of the investigation and Pitino’s firing, Simons elected to play one more year at IMG Academy. He still declared for the draft at the season’s close.
The Blazers gave Simons two pre-draft workouts, the only prospect to receive such treatment. As expected, Neil Olshey used his lone first round draft pick on the IMG Academy athlete.