Barack Obama gives Ben Simmons a shoutout, calls him 'OK basketball player'
President Barack Obama was in Baton Rouge on Thursday to give a speech at McKinley High School.
The basketball junkie was informed LSU phenom freshman Ben Simmons was in attendance and gave him a shoutout during his speech, jokingly calling him, "an OK basketball player."
Simmons, who is averaging 20.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for the Tigers, is a strong contender of National Player of the Year and the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Simmons told Rob Krieger of WVUE FOX 8 that he was hoping to shoot hoops with the Commander in Chief.
Ben Simmons waiting to see @BarackObama. He says, "Maybe I'll take him down to LSU to shoot some hoops." @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/HbCvSStbFQ
— Rob Krieger (@Rob_Krieger) January 14, 2016
Obama, responded to a tweet asking him to pick between Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Simmons, tweeted the Australian forward, "will be great."
love em all, but as a bulls fan got to go with mj. in baton rouge, just met lsu freshman ben simmons - will be great https://t.co/Du1gflVYp4
— President Obama (@POTUS) January 14, 2016
LSU returns to action on Saturday, hosting Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. EST.
