LSU basketball: 10 Best Players of the Johnny Jones Era

11 of 11

Jan 16, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Johnny Jones talks to forward Ben Simmons (25) during the second half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Arkansas 76-74. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

No.1 Ben Simmons

You may ask “Is one single season—in which the Tigers did not even reach the NCAA Tournament and were trounced in the SEC Conference tournament—enough to dub someone ‘the best'”? The answer to that question is a resounding

YES.

This is the 2nd list in two days that Ben Simmons will be the first choice on (the Philadelphia 76ers publicly stated that they would choose Simmons No.1) and he is deserving of the top spot on both of them. When a school becomes associated with attracting Naismith Prep Players of the Year (think Kansas, UCLA, UNC) this changes the program for the better.

Who’s to say that No. 14 recruit in the nation Antonio Blakeney comes or even considers coming to LSU if not for the influence of Ben Simmons. Ben Simmons is tall, instinctively fluid, graceful and more, and the legacies of Jones and LSU Basketball may have been irrevocably changed by his short stay in Baton Rouge.

Sure, he may have looked for the highlight-reel play one too many times, and there may be fair questions of effort here and there, but Ben Simmons passing through the PMAC will have positive consequences on the program for years to come.

Next: LSU football: Top 5 All-Time Quarterbacks

How does our list stack up? Did we miss any players from the Jones era? Sound off in the comments below!

Home/LSU Basketball