Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
2002 | 6’0 | 6’4.5 | 187 LBS Team: Colorado Agency: Klutch Sports Best aggregate mock draft rank : 31 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.1 block, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot …
2002 | 6’0 | 6’4.5 | 187 LBS
Team: Colorado
Agency: Klutch Sports
Best aggregate mock draft rank: 31 / Worst rank: NR
2023-24 stats:
In 2023-24, Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.1 block, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, 43.4 percent from three, and 87.6 percent from the foul line.
Colorado junior KJ Simpson will reportedly forgo his remaining college eligibility and stay in the 2024 NBA draft.
Colorado junior KJ Simpson will reportedly forgo his remaining college eligibility and stay in the 2024 NBA draft, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Simpson was named to the All-Pac-12 first team after averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 43.4% shooting from 3-point range. He set single-season program records for free-throw percentage (87.6), minutes (1,298) and double-digit-scoring games (35).
The 6-foot-1 guard was the only player in a Power Five conference to average at least 19 points, five rebounds and four assists this past season. He ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2) and third in assists.
Sources: Colorado's KJ Simpson is staying in the 2024 NBA Draft.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 29, 2024
Simpson has capitalized on a strong predraft process after emerging as one of the standouts at the combine this month in Chicago, Illinois. He played with great control, averaging 13.5 points, five rebounds and two assists in two scrimmage games.
The 21-year-old is considered a potential second-round pick. He is highly touted as a scorer, given his burst and ability to finish at the rim, and he has shown some flashes on defense. He registered the seventh-highest max vertical jump at the combine (40 1/2 inches).
Simpson has worked out with the Denver Nuggets so far in the predraft process. He will continue to schedule other team visits, especially those in his draft range.
The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.
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KJ Simpson’ vertical caught some eyes at the NBA draft combine
Former Colorado men’s basketball point guard KJ Simpson kept his legs fresh since the end of his junior season with the Buffaloes, jumping 40.5 inches in the max vertical drill at the 2024 NBA draft combine on Monday.
The 6-foot-2 guard’s big leap marked among the combine’s highest but was no surprise to those who watched his college career. Simpson’s measurement sat only 1.5 inches behind Reed Sheppard’s (Kentucky), Keshad Johnson’s (Arizona) and Trentyn Flowers’ (NBL), who all notched a combine-best 42-inch max vertical leap.
Simpson has reportedly performed well throughout Monday’s athletic testing, per DraftExpress director of scouting Jon Chepkevich.
A good showing at the combine could boost Simpson’s draft stock, which currently projects him as an early second-round pick. Simpson emerged as a potential first-round pick this past season with the Buffs. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and made a strong case for the final Pac-12 Player of the Year award while leading Colorado to a program-record 26 wins.
The results of fellow former Buffs Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and Nique Clifford have yet to be released.
Colorado’s KJ Simpson with a 40.5” max vert (2nd best mark so far) here at the NBA Draft Combine.
Having a very strong showing across the board in today’s athletic testing. pic.twitter.com/v6ltMMjeyS
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 13, 2024
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Colorado will be represented by four former players at this month’s NBA draft combine
Former Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball players Cody Williams, KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva and Nique Clifford were among the 78 players who received an invitation to the 2024 NBA draft combine on Wednesday.
The week-long showcase, set for May 12-19 in Chicago, allows prospective NBA players another opportunity to display their talents ahead of next month’s draft (June 26-27). Colorado did not have any representatives at last year’s combine.
Following his freshman season with the Buffs, Williams declared for the NBA draft on April 22, cementing himself as a one-and-done college player. The forward averaged 11.9 points last season.
Da Silva officially declared for the draft earlier this week after averaging a career-high 16.0 points as a senior forward.
Simpson’s NBA draft stock rose significantly this past season as the junior point guard led Colorado with 19.7 points per game and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
In a move that ultimately boosted his NBA draft stock, Clifford transferred to rival Colorado State before last season. The athletic guard played a key role in helping the Rams reach the NCAA Tournament.
The NBA announced today that 78 players have been invited to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, which will take place from May 12-19 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Additionally, a select number of standout players from the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp, which… pic.twitter.com/M8FUY529ul
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 3, 2024
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Da Silva was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after averaging a career-high 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals.
Colorado senior Tristan da Silva told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he declared for the 2024 NBA draft ahead of the early entry deadline, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Da Silva was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after averaging a career-high 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals on 39.5% shooting from 3-point range. He registered nine 20-point games, including a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds on March 3.
The 6-foot-9 forward helped the Buffaloes advance to the round of 32 as a play-in team. He averaged 18 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals on 56.3% shooting from beyond the arc (9-of-16) in three games in the NCAA Tournament.
NEWS: Colorado's Tristan Da Silva, a projected top-20 pick, told ESPN he submitted paperwork to become eligible for the 2024 NBA draft and is forgoing his remaining college eligibility. pic.twitter.com/9TqSXu290I
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 29, 2024
Da Silva, who was born in Germany, is projected to be a first-round pick, given his shotmaking, ability to drive and finish and move the ball. He is a good cutter and constantly moves on offense to find open space and has shown some promise as a defender.
Prospects with remaining college eligibility had until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. EDT to declare for the NBA draft. He joins teammates KJ Simpson and Cody Williams in declaring for the draft after consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Da Silva will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the predraft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.
The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.
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KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva’s NBA draft stocks benefited from Colorado’s March Madness run
Although they fell short of upsetting Marquette, Colorado stars KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva and Cody Williams each impressed in their second-round NCAA men’s basketball tournament game on Sunday.
The Buffs’ big three combined for 49 points with a boatload of national eyeballs focused on the high-scoring March Madness matchup. In the aftermath, da Silva’s NBA draft stock improved, the freshman Williams Williams remains a projected lottery pick and Simpson may also test the draft waters this spring.
ESPN released an updated 2024 NBA mock draft on Monday (subscription required) and each of those three found a landing spot. Williams and da Silva were projected first-rounders — No. 9 (Utah Jazz) and No. 18 (Miami Heat), respectively — while Simspon went 39th overall to the New York Knicks.
In late November, ESPN projected da Silva as the 36th overall pick and had Williams at No. 12.
Simpson, who was arguably snubbed for Pac-12 Player of the Year, enjoyed the best season of his college career as Colorado’s starting point guard. The junior averaged career-highs in points (19.7 per game), assists (4.8) and rebounds (5.8).
As for Williams, some are arguing that he’d benefit from another year at the college level due to his injury issues. We should learn soon whether or not the former five-star prospect agrees.
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KJ Simpson ended the first half in style
Especially compared to the Buffs’ First Four game against Boise State, Colorado and Florida played quite an exciting first half of basketball in Friday’s round of 64 NCAA Tournament matchup.
No player on either team hit the 10-point mark in the first half, but we saw plenty of offense as the two squads entered the break tied at 45. KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva led Colorado with nine points each while eight-point scorers Will Richard and Riley Kugel guided the Gators.
One of the more exciting moments of the game’s first 20 minutes came during Colorado’s final offensive possession. Simpson, set on taking the half’s final shot, created enough space to nail a mid-range jump shot just before the buzzer sounded.
KJ Simpson ties it up at the half 🦬
Catch the second half here: https://t.co/qNCGUkxHwC#MarchMadness @CUBuffsMBB pic.twitter.com/d0Mm4rWmef
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2024
With the help of Simpson’s clutch final bucket, Colorado shot 61% from the field in the first half. The Buffs also recorded an assist on 14 of their 17 buckets.
The winner of Colorado-Florida will face Marquette in the round of 32 on Sunday.
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KJ Simpson is putting up some historic numbers late this season
KJ Simpson is playing like an All-American for the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team this season. But at this most crucial point of the year, the junior guard has somehow found a way to step it up a notch.
After CU lost to UCLA by four points in Simpson’s lowest-scoring total of the year, he has exploded for 85 points across the last three games. That total is the most by a Buffs player in a three-game span since Derrick White scored 87 points in the final three games of his collegiate career back in 2017.
With his team fighting for a March Madness berth, Simpson has done more than just score the ball across the last three games, too. In addition to averaging 28.3 points over the past three games, he has recorded 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals.
“Those are All-American numbers,” head coach Tad Boyle said following Colorado’s Wednesday evening win over Cal. “He’s bringing it every night.”
His most recent 27-point performance also put him up to 555 total points on the season, just 44 points shy of breaking the top 10 for most points scored in a season by a Buff.
Simpson looks to continue his hot streak on Sunday against the Stanford Cardinal. He and the Buffaloes need to win out the rest of the regular season for their best chance at securing an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
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KJ Simpson reached an impressive career milestone
In the first half of Colorado men’s basketball’s Saturday night game against No. 8 Arizona, junior point guard KJ Simpson dished out his 300th career assist.
Simpson entered Saturday needing only one to reach 300, and he got it about three minutes into the game when he supplied an Eddie Lampkin Jr. layup.
The California native became the 14th Buff to reach 300 career assists. After passing Michel Morandais on the all-time list on Thursday, Simpson is now looking to pass Cory Higgins, who finished his stellar CU career with 320 dimes.
McKinley Wright IV and his program-leading 683 career assists likely won’t be passed anytime soon, however.
So far this season, Simpson is averaging a career-high 4.4 assists per contest and has dished out at least two in all 24 games. Considering how well Simpson is playing on both ends of the floor this year, he may test the NBA draft waters this spring.
300 career assists and counting for 2 🪙#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/qkYOMuW8pZ
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) February 11, 2024
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KJ Simpson’s NBA draft stock has surged over the past two months
In Bleacher Report’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft, Colorado men’s basketball standouts Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson were all projected to go in the first round.
Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, was the highest projected draft pick out of those three, going seventh overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. Da Silva landed No. 19 (New Orleans Pelicans) and Simpson went No. 20 to the New York Knicks.
While Williams and da Silva have been featured in plenty of other NBA mock drafts, Simpson’s draft stock is surging amid his junior season. CU’s point guard is averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 47.2% from deep.
Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote on Simpson:
Athletic limitations and 6’2″ size may prevent KJ Simpson from passing the eye test. But the functionality of his handle has led to effective creation. His shotmaking has been consistent off the catch and dribble, and he’s used touch to compensate for no explosion. And he reads the game well at both ends, whether he’s processing quickly as a passer or anticipating defensively to average 1.9 steals per game.
I’ve never thought of Simpson as athletically limited, but Wasserman still thinks highly of his overall game.
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