Gators forward Justin Leon defends LSU's Ben Simmons on Saturday at the O'Dome. (Madison Schultz/UAA Intern)
Leon Rises Up in Gators' Win over LSU, Simmons
Saturday, January 9, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Everyone seems to know LSU's ultra-talented freshman Ben Simmons these days. Simmons is the Australian native who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA Draft and is considered by many the finest prospect since LeBron James.
Gators junior Justin Leon, who spent the past two seasons at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College by way of Conway, Ark., is not as high-profile. Leon might have started his college career far from the spotlight, but he knew all about Simmons before the Tigers and Gators tangled Saturday afternoon at the O'Connell Center.
"When I was in [junior college], I would see high school highlights,'' Leon said. " I knew he was a great player. For him to come to the SEC and do what he's been doing, that's outstanding to me."
Meanwhile, Simmons had little knowledge of Leon.
When Leon's performance in Florida's 68-62 win Saturday was mentioned postgame, Simmons paused. He then glanced at the scoresheet in front of LSU coach Johnny Jones.
"What was the question again?" Simmons asked.
That's when Jones stepped in to save his big man.
"No. 24. He had 14 points and nine rebounds."
Simmons then repeated Leon's stat line, drawing laughs from the large throng of media. He may not have known of Leon prior to Saturday, but Simmons knows him now.
Leon played a career-high 25 minutes – often matched up on Simmons as Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith missed significant time to get four stitches above his lip – and hit one of the game's biggest shots. His nine rebounds led the Gators and his 14 points matched Finney-Smith for the team lead.
"Justin was terrific,'' Florida head coach Mike White said. "I didn't expect him coming into the year, in big games to come up and hit two big 3s for us. I'm not surprised with the defensive performance. I know it sounds nuts, because Simmons gets 28 [points] and 17 [rebounds], but Justin moved his feet well. Some of the better possessions we had defensively in the game were in large part due to him. He's a really tough kid and gives his body up for the team."
Leon made 6 of 8 shots and drilled two key 3-pointers in the second half, the biggest one coming with 5:05 left in the game that put Florida in front 59-52. He also drew a charge against Simmons with 18 seconds left as the sensational freshman tried to keep the Tigers within striking distance.
While Simmons turned in another strong performance, he wasn't too pleased at the late charge call.
"Some of the calls were definitely not fouls, personally I think,'' he said. "But I guess you get those calls when you are on the road."
For Leon, it was the second consecutive game he scored in double figures after failing to do so in his first 12 games at Florida. He scored 11 points in Wednesday's loss at Tennessee and hit three 3-pointers.
His recent success has boosted the 6-foot-8, 196-pound forward's confidence.
"I guess each and every game gives you more confidence, especially with the 3-point shot,'' Leon said. "Now I know my teammates can feel like they can rely on me a lot more. You have to find your ways that you fit in. Me being out there and making impact on games, it's a lot of fun, and then to see your teammates react to what you done in a game, it makes you feel good."
With Simmons starting to assert himself late – he scored LSU's final 12 points – Leon's flat-footed 3-pointer on a pass across the lane from guard Chris Chiozza provided a cushion that came in handy down the stretch.
He had a difficult time answering whether the 3-pointer of drawing a charge against Simmons with the game on the line was the bigger play.
"Probably take the charge,'' he said. "You get a stop, it gives you energy on defense, causes your teammates to wanna play harder defense. And then on the offensive end it gives us energy to get down the court and score. Ben Simmons is a great player. A lot of teams try to find ways to get him out, taking a charge, you know, that was something good for us."
LSU's loss came after a big win over Kentucky at home. While Simmons was short on words about Leon, Jones was not.
All he needed to do was take a look at that scoresheet in front of him once more.
"I thought he made some big plays,'' Jones said. "You look at their stat line and the other guys, and they only shoot 38 percent. And you look at his line, I think he was a real key component for them."
Gators junior Justin Leon, who spent the past two seasons at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College by way of Conway, Ark., is not as high-profile. Leon might have started his college career far from the spotlight, but he knew all about Simmons before the Tigers and Gators tangled Saturday afternoon at the O'Connell Center.
"When I was in [junior college], I would see high school highlights,'' Leon said. " I knew he was a great player. For him to come to the SEC and do what he's been doing, that's outstanding to me."
Meanwhile, Simmons had little knowledge of Leon.
When Leon's performance in Florida's 68-62 win Saturday was mentioned postgame, Simmons paused. He then glanced at the scoresheet in front of LSU coach Johnny Jones.
"What was the question again?" Simmons asked.
That's when Jones stepped in to save his big man.
"No. 24. He had 14 points and nine rebounds."
Simmons then repeated Leon's stat line, drawing laughs from the large throng of media. He may not have known of Leon prior to Saturday, but Simmons knows him now.
Leon played a career-high 25 minutes – often matched up on Simmons as Gators forward Dorian Finney-Smith missed significant time to get four stitches above his lip – and hit one of the game's biggest shots. His nine rebounds led the Gators and his 14 points matched Finney-Smith for the team lead.
"Justin was terrific,'' Florida head coach Mike White said. "I didn't expect him coming into the year, in big games to come up and hit two big 3s for us. I'm not surprised with the defensive performance. I know it sounds nuts, because Simmons gets 28 [points] and 17 [rebounds], but Justin moved his feet well. Some of the better possessions we had defensively in the game were in large part due to him. He's a really tough kid and gives his body up for the team."
Leon made 6 of 8 shots and drilled two key 3-pointers in the second half, the biggest one coming with 5:05 left in the game that put Florida in front 59-52. He also drew a charge against Simmons with 18 seconds left as the sensational freshman tried to keep the Tigers within striking distance.
While Simmons turned in another strong performance, he wasn't too pleased at the late charge call.
"Some of the calls were definitely not fouls, personally I think,'' he said. "But I guess you get those calls when you are on the road."
For Leon, it was the second consecutive game he scored in double figures after failing to do so in his first 12 games at Florida. He scored 11 points in Wednesday's loss at Tennessee and hit three 3-pointers.
His recent success has boosted the 6-foot-8, 196-pound forward's confidence.
"I guess each and every game gives you more confidence, especially with the 3-point shot,'' Leon said. "Now I know my teammates can feel like they can rely on me a lot more. You have to find your ways that you fit in. Me being out there and making impact on games, it's a lot of fun, and then to see your teammates react to what you done in a game, it makes you feel good."
With Simmons starting to assert himself late – he scored LSU's final 12 points – Leon's flat-footed 3-pointer on a pass across the lane from guard Chris Chiozza provided a cushion that came in handy down the stretch.
He had a difficult time answering whether the 3-pointer of drawing a charge against Simmons with the game on the line was the bigger play.
"Probably take the charge,'' he said. "You get a stop, it gives you energy on defense, causes your teammates to wanna play harder defense. And then on the offensive end it gives us energy to get down the court and score. Ben Simmons is a great player. A lot of teams try to find ways to get him out, taking a charge, you know, that was something good for us."
LSU's loss came after a big win over Kentucky at home. While Simmons was short on words about Leon, Jones was not.
All he needed to do was take a look at that scoresheet in front of him once more.
"I thought he made some big plays,'' Jones said. "You look at their stat line and the other guys, and they only shoot 38 percent. And you look at his line, I think he was a real key component for them."
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