Now that the AAU/camp season is over, we'll take an in-depth look at each of Purdue's 2012 and 2013 recruits, in addition to its two remaining 2012 targets.
Today: Jay Simpson
Prior: Kendall Stephens
July review
Jay Simpson was big-time at Purdue's team camp and showed flashes of brilliance in July as he so often does, but still finished with more six-point, four-rebound games than you'd ever think a player of his talent level should.
Part of that is just general inconsistency and/or passiveness but part of it, too, is that the Illinois Wolves program he plays for is very system-driven relative to what other summer teams do. Sometimes he gets lost in that, for whatever reason, whether it's his own comfort in said system, the Wolves' guards getting hot or what. Plus, Simpson's a big man in AAU play, so he's naturally not going to get the ball in the post as much as he might otherwise.
But we're still waiting for that light to come on and stay on.
Strengths
Simpson didn't show anything this summer that we didn't already know, though he did look more assertive finishing at the rim than he ever had prior.
Otherwise, he was the same unbelievably skilled 6-foot-8 forward already equipped with a college body.
Simpson is so skilled that I'm not sure he couldn't play small forward in college, at least on offense, though he will be a power forward at Purdue, a player whose skills should fit well into the mold Robbie Hummel's set at the position for the Boilermakers. Hummel's skills, however, have been complemented ideally by his aptitude, toughness, selflessness and countless other attributes.
Simpson almost handles the ball like a guard and is extremely quick off the dribble facing the basket. He sees the floor really well as a passer, maybe too well sometimes for some of his AAU teammates who watched passes that would have produced layups sail out of bounds because they didn't see developing what Simpson did.
He has three-point range and a good pull-up game, with the ability to shoot both spotting up and off the dribble, though with the latter, sometimes he gets a little carried away.
All those skills make Simpson truly unique.
What makes him really unique - and I don't think I'm using that term inappropriately - is his complete package.
Simpson's back-to-the-basket game offensively is well-refined and diverse unlike any player like him I've seen at this stage, I think.
He can knock down sweet baby hooks and long baseline hooks and splash turnaround jumpers that remind ever so slightly of Patrick Ewing just in their delivery.
Because of his ability to score and pass out of the post and his ability to either attack from a post-up or square up and face the rim, he's really difficult to handle in space down low, part of the reason he's a player I think his coaches will need to scheme around to put him in the best positions possible for success.
Weaknesses
Simpson could really stand to make a move as a rebounder. He's a good rebounder right now who can rebound authoritatively in traffic, because of his size and body, and work for the occasional tip-in. But often, he seems to lack a certain instinct for pursuing the ball off the rim, leaving him flat-footed and inactive while someone else grabs the ball.
It's just a general overlying theme with Simpson that he could stand to be more active, whether it be working the boards or position himself on offense to get the ball in good situations.
Simpson's a good athlete, but not so athletic that he'll project as an above-the-rim finisher or shot-blocker in college.
More than anything, Simpson will just have to become consistent in all phases, whether it be production, effort, know-how, anything.
If the five-minute flashes he's shown in high school can somehow become 15- or 20-minute flashes in college, look out.
Super-fun comparisons
Been saying from Day 1 that Simpson may be as close to Draymond Green as you're going to find, but Green's passion and heart set him apart from just about everyone, much less Simpson.
Demeanor-wise, Simpson's always reminded of Carl Landry, in that he's kind of an easy-going young man who may need some convincing as to how good he actually is and how good he actually can be. Landry was never a high-motor guy at Purdue, but he was still pretty damn good. On that front, Simpson is probably ahead of Landry at this stage.
But there's no question that, like Landry, one of Simpson's greatest challenges at the next level will be raising his intensity to the demands of the college game.
Position
Simpson will be a 4 first and foremost, but could probably play the 3 offensively in a big lineup and could probably defend the 5 in a small lineup.
Final analysis
Simpson has all the ability in the world. He just has to maximize it, which has not yet happened. Maybe LaLumiere will be good for him, because it will provide him structure, not only on the basketball court, but in other phases, too.
He can be a very good college player or he can be a pedestrian one. It may be over-simplifying things to say it's up to him, but it kind of is.
With Derek Willis probably off the board, Simpson panning out may not even be more important for Purdue moving forward, because having some skill at that power forward position, I'm sure, is something Matt Painter would really like to have post-Robbie Hummel.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
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Today: Jay Simpson
Prior: Kendall Stephens
July review
Jay Simpson was big-time at Purdue's team camp and showed flashes of brilliance in July as he so often does, but still finished with more six-point, four-rebound games than you'd ever think a player of his talent level should.
Part of that is just general inconsistency and/or passiveness but part of it, too, is that the Illinois Wolves program he plays for is very system-driven relative to what other summer teams do. Sometimes he gets lost in that, for whatever reason, whether it's his own comfort in said system, the Wolves' guards getting hot or what. Plus, Simpson's a big man in AAU play, so he's naturally not going to get the ball in the post as much as he might otherwise.
But we're still waiting for that light to come on and stay on.
Strengths
Simpson didn't show anything this summer that we didn't already know, though he did look more assertive finishing at the rim than he ever had prior.
Otherwise, he was the same unbelievably skilled 6-foot-8 forward already equipped with a college body.
Simpson is so skilled that I'm not sure he couldn't play small forward in college, at least on offense, though he will be a power forward at Purdue, a player whose skills should fit well into the mold Robbie Hummel's set at the position for the Boilermakers. Hummel's skills, however, have been complemented ideally by his aptitude, toughness, selflessness and countless other attributes.
Simpson almost handles the ball like a guard and is extremely quick off the dribble facing the basket. He sees the floor really well as a passer, maybe too well sometimes for some of his AAU teammates who watched passes that would have produced layups sail out of bounds because they didn't see developing what Simpson did.
He has three-point range and a good pull-up game, with the ability to shoot both spotting up and off the dribble, though with the latter, sometimes he gets a little carried away.
All those skills make Simpson truly unique.
What makes him really unique - and I don't think I'm using that term inappropriately - is his complete package.
Simpson's back-to-the-basket game offensively is well-refined and diverse unlike any player like him I've seen at this stage, I think.
He can knock down sweet baby hooks and long baseline hooks and splash turnaround jumpers that remind ever so slightly of Patrick Ewing just in their delivery.
Because of his ability to score and pass out of the post and his ability to either attack from a post-up or square up and face the rim, he's really difficult to handle in space down low, part of the reason he's a player I think his coaches will need to scheme around to put him in the best positions possible for success.
Weaknesses
Simpson could really stand to make a move as a rebounder. He's a good rebounder right now who can rebound authoritatively in traffic, because of his size and body, and work for the occasional tip-in. But often, he seems to lack a certain instinct for pursuing the ball off the rim, leaving him flat-footed and inactive while someone else grabs the ball.
It's just a general overlying theme with Simpson that he could stand to be more active, whether it be working the boards or position himself on offense to get the ball in good situations.
Simpson's a good athlete, but not so athletic that he'll project as an above-the-rim finisher or shot-blocker in college.
More than anything, Simpson will just have to become consistent in all phases, whether it be production, effort, know-how, anything.
If the five-minute flashes he's shown in high school can somehow become 15- or 20-minute flashes in college, look out.
Super-fun comparisons
Been saying from Day 1 that Simpson may be as close to Draymond Green as you're going to find, but Green's passion and heart set him apart from just about everyone, much less Simpson.
Demeanor-wise, Simpson's always reminded of Carl Landry, in that he's kind of an easy-going young man who may need some convincing as to how good he actually is and how good he actually can be. Landry was never a high-motor guy at Purdue, but he was still pretty damn good. On that front, Simpson is probably ahead of Landry at this stage.
But there's no question that, like Landry, one of Simpson's greatest challenges at the next level will be raising his intensity to the demands of the college game.
Position
Simpson will be a 4 first and foremost, but could probably play the 3 offensively in a big lineup and could probably defend the 5 in a small lineup.
Final analysis
Simpson has all the ability in the world. He just has to maximize it, which has not yet happened. Maybe LaLumiere will be good for him, because it will provide him structure, not only on the basketball court, but in other phases, too.
He can be a very good college player or he can be a pedestrian one. It may be over-simplifying things to say it's up to him, but it kind of is.
With Derek Willis probably off the board, Simpson panning out may not even be more important for Purdue moving forward, because having some skill at that power forward position, I'm sure, is something Matt Painter would really like to have post-Robbie Hummel.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
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