He should have gone to a blue blood like Duke, UNC, Kentucky, etc. NIT = sub top 68 team in the country. Not even getting that status since '09 means the program is a joke. This makes less sense than if Exum went to St. Mary's.

David Patrick seems to have a lot of "godsons" among the top ranked young basketball players in Australia. See Patty Mills. I believe he got in trouble both as an assistant at Marys and as an NBA scout for the Rockets for shady dealings. Good get for LSU but they better make sure to dot all their i's and cross all their t's.

Do you think David Patrick would be willing to become my godfather?

If you are in Australia, 16 or 17, and a future NBA prospect, I'd assume he already is!

Dave Patrick is involved in "waste management"

Daneo, virtually the same counter argument can be made for Exum.

*While not his "godson", I'm sure Exum is familiar with Marty Clarke and his AIS/Boomers/NBL resume.
*Exum would have more than guaranteed starter minutes - he'd be the guaranteed star even if he showed up midseason
*Saint Mary's has a better history in the last decade than LSU - at least 5 tournament appearances plus a few NIT's and has put two Aussies in the NBA
* Exum would be playing w two high school team mates in Dane Pineau and Emmett Naar
*SEC is definitely a better league with more exposure but Marys still plays Gonzaga and BYU and has a better shot of making the tournament than LSU

In short, Simmons decision makes as much sense as Exum committing to Marys - none whatsoever considering the better options that were/are on the table

I think most people would expected him to choose Kentucky or Kansas, but it actually looks like a smart selection, especially announcing early.

LSU has 3 top 100 recruits coming in this year including 2 PF's and a PG. They have signed another top 100 recruit, Elbert Robinson, for 2014 as the C spot as well as Ben's PG team mate from high school.

If that keep most of that group together, it gives Ben a chance to play more SF than PF and keeps him out of the post if Robinson isn't one and done. Also by announcing a year early on his intention, gives LSU the chance to try and get some shooters and slashes to play around the group the already have committed and coming in for years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

I also would of assumed that LSU promised they would make him the cornerstone and run everything through him as I wouldn't have imagined the other programs doing the same. The big schools will always get talent but more want players to run their systems, not re-write their systems for the players.

terrible choice as LSU is not a great program, its good but not GREAT. Given he had plenty of choices he has picked a easy one. They are a very average college with a pretty average NCAA record. They dont even rate highly in their conf so you have to question the choice.

Mate, I'll concede that the SEC is stronger but I think you're giving that a bit too much weight. LSU is an SEC bottom feeder and has been for years. As far as exposure, they play as many ESPN games (5) as Marys does this season. Marys has made the tournament (what college ball is all about) 3 times in the last four years. LSU has not been in an NIT in that time frame. They are a bad basketball program and Marys would have been easy favorites had they crossed paths over the last few seasons. If you want to play in a strong league and have the offers, play for a strong team in the league as well! Simmons to LSU is just flat out dumb. I'm not advocating for Exum or Simmons to Marys, just saying it is just as much of a head scratcher to pick LSU.

There may have been better school "names" available for Ben, but I think the situation looks promising.

The coach who coached the last 4 years at LSU is gone. Sure, they have a new coach who previously coached at North Texas for the last 11 years, but does have a winning record.

LSU has sucked the last few years, but in 2006 they were a NCAA Final Four team that had Baby Davis and Tyrus Thomas, so not sure you can label them as always a bottom feeder.

If LSU can get enough talent together during the window that Ben is at college, they should be a good contender. Looks like they have signed 6 very good players. Probably only 2 more short of a very solid team.

Also, has anyone else noticed that Jonah Bolden has gone into the ESPN top 100 for 2014 at #70 .... and LSU is on the interested schools list …..

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/188999/jonah-bolden

m, if history doesn't matter then Simmons might as well have gone to some no name university. The fact is he was one of a handful of Aussies in history with carte blanche offers from all the top dog schools. It is a travesty he did not take advantage of the opportunity. Marys is a mid major in a weak conference - granted. I'm simply trying to point out that LSU is a very questionable choice by making the comparison. They are not on TV more than Marys. They play Kentucky and Vandy four times a year and get waxed. Marys plays BYU and Gonzaga and wins at least half of these games. They do not play on college basketball's biggest stage - the NCAA tournament. Marys has been there 4 of the last 6 years. A basic roster search shows Marys has two players who were ESPN top 100 in high school: James Walker and Joe Coleman. They also had another top 100 signee, Cullen Neal, for 2013 de-commit at the last minute when his dad took the New Mexico job (unforeseeable circumstances aside, that would have made 3 top 100, same as LSU) Hint: top 100 recruits don't always pan out - See Kentucky and their #1 recruiting class last year for reference. History and program strength matter a lot and David Patrick should never have more pull than Coach K!

Tiger Watcher, top 5 talent doesn't go to LSU or Marys for a reason!

I think the people hating on David Patrick need to be reminded Patrick was the key to St Mary's Aussie talent. First was Mills, then Delly, Mitch Young, Clint S, Jordan Page all have contributed in SMC going to the tournie. If you think these kids would have committed without Patrick being there your kidding yourself.
Why didnt Greenwood and Drimic commit? Patrick wasn't there.
Now look at the recruits Dane Pineau?? Haters going to hate but SMC aren't going to get another Mills or Delly for a long time and Patrick was the KEY to the recruitment.
Big get for LSU and the recruitment since Patrick has been with them has improved significantly. They will be a very good team in two years time.

LSU fans VERY happy: http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/45383526/2015-5-SF-Ben-Simmons-commits-to-LSU.aspx

Clint S was not very good at St. Mary's. Pineau is at least a good as a prospect as Young was coming in. Adam Capeorn and Daniel Kickert started the Aussies at St. Mary's over ten years ago, long before Patrick was there. No doubt he helped recruiting, but he was hired there for the same reason he was hired at LSU - to sign a single specific player he was close with. Doesn't bring much to the table coaching wise.