St. Francis won 100 games, claimed two state titles and reached four championship games in Kobi Simmons’ four seasons wearing a Knights uniform.
The last run to the Class A private-school championship game, which ended in a 78-66 loss to Greenforest Christian, might have been the toughest challenge of all for St. Francis’ 6-foot-5 combo guard.
St. Francis had just graduated Malik Beasley, who starred this season at Florida State and declared for the NBA Draft, and Kaiser Gates, who signed with Xavier.
» AJC Boys Player of the Year: St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons
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“Kobi had to be our top guy,’’ St. Francis coach Drew Catlett said. “We don’t have a lot of other (Division I) players like last year. We’re used to having another guy or two who can make a play in crunch time. He had to play big games big, and he did.’’
Simmons, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution boys basketball player of the year, had his best season. A University of Arizona signee, he averaged 26.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists for a 23-8 team that made its fourth consecutive state final.
And Catlett was correct: Simmons typically played his best in big games. He managed 31 points in the final. He scored 36 points with seven 3-pointers in an 86-81 victory against Class AAAAAA semifinalist Milton. He scored 33 points with eight rebounds in a 96-94 victory against Class AAAAAA runner-up Pebblebrook.
“His size at the point guard or two-guard position is difficult to match in high school,’’ said Pebblebrook coach George Washington. “He’s a 6-5 guard who can do a lot with the ball. He can score at all three levels, and he is a terrific and willing passer.’’
Simmons’ best game might have come at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., in January, when St. Francis defeated Lone Peak of Utah 94-92 in overtime. Simmons had 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists against a team that had beaten Georgia AAAAA champion Miller Grove. It took place the same weekend that it was that announced Simmons, rated the consensus No. 1 senior recruit in Georgia, was a McDonald’s All-American.
“He was in foul trouble against us and still almost ended up with a triple double,’’ Lone Peak coach David Evans said. “He rebounded very well and shot very well. He is able to get to the rim and finish with contact. He has great athleticism, but he also involves his teammates and plays defense.’’
Simmons’ other outstanding skill is free-throw shooting. He was 10-for-10 at the line in three games and 14-for-14 in another. He shot 89 percent for the season. It’s especially a weapon for a player of his height and strength when attacking the basket in traffic.
“He can see over traps and has the quickness to get around them," said Catlett, who noted that Simmons was only 6-1 as a freshman. “Against smaller guards, he can take them on the dribble or shoot over the top. And he can go in and finish against bigger guys. It’s a great advantage being that big."
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