No. 4-ranked freshman Miles Simpson features ‘very diverse’ skillset
By SAM LANCE
O’FALLON, IL — Miles Simpson, the No. 4 ranked freshman in America, oozes talent. The 6-foot-5, 170-pound guard/forward was a beast on the boards for Webster Groves (MO) in its 71-68 win over Whitney Young (IL). And he made the biggest play of the game.
With Webster up one in overtime, four-star sophomore Scottie Adkinson found Simpson in the high post, and he took care of the rest, driving and spinning for a clutch layup that put the game away. Simpson ended with 17 points and several offensive rebounds to steal his team extra possessions. Webster Groves needed all of them to secure the win.
“If he can finish on Whitney Young, one of the most athletic teams in the midwest, he can finish on anybody,” Webster Groves head coach Justin Mathes told ZAGSBLOG postgame.
The scariest part? Simpson is only a freshman, and he’s not even close to done growing. He said he’ll be about 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9 when it’s all said and done. In college, he plans on playing small forward.
On the recruitment side of things, Simpson has received offers from Austin Peay, Missouri, SEMO and SLU and interest from Illinois and Iowa State. Surely, interest from the top programs in the country is looming.
“He’s just so multi talented,” Mathes said. “If he was a baseball player, you’d say he’s a five tool guy. Because he can handle it. He can shoot it. He guards inside, outside. Switchability on defense. There’s not a whole lot he can’t do. Now you kind of have to simplify some things from freshman year, but long term I think he can play any position, guard any position. And his skillset is very diverse.”
Simpson started playing basketball when he was 3-years-old, but football was his first love. His uncle played football and enjoyed the game. His father is who made him fall in love with basketball. Since then, he’s become quite the talent.
“I like to get downhill,” Simpson said of his skillset. “I’d say I’m like a slasher. I’ve been working on my shooting a lot so I want to make it to where they have to expect me from the inside, the mid-range, and the 3-point. Because then really that’s just unstoppable.”
When watching Simpson, one of his best traits is his nose for the ball. Currently, the Webster Groves program has a competition for whoever grabs the most rebounds throughout the year. Simpson is in second behind Adkinson, but he’s making up ground every game.
“I bring a lot of energy,” Simpson said. ” I do all the little things.”
As the high school season closes, Simpson has one goal on his mind.
“I want to get a ring,” Simpson said. “A lot of our seniors I grew up with. So I want to get them a ring.”
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