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President Obama gives Ben Simmons a shoutout (Video)

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Jan 13, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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President Obama acknowledges Ben Simmons while giving a speech in Baton Rouge

President Barack Obama is perhaps the most passionate sports fan to ever hold the Oval Office. He expanded the White House tennis courts to accommodate a full size basketball court and is often heard speaking about his beloved Chicago Bulls. So it’s no surprise that the president, while giving a speech at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Thursday, gave a shoutout to the LSU freshman phenom, Ben Simmons.

Simmons is from Melbourne, Australia, but played most of his high school basketball at the Montverde Academy in Florida. The No. 1 player coming out of high school, he surprised many when he committed to LSU early in the recruiting process, rather than a traditional power like Kentucky or Duke. His godfather, David Patrick, is an assistant couch at LSU, and may have been the reason Simmons choose to play in Baton Rouge.

Although he from Australia, Simmons seems to have an interest in American politics. Maybe he got this from his father, Dave, an American who played professionally in the Australian National Basketball League. Or perhaps Simmons is just embracing the country he now resides in, and wants to learn more about President Obama by attending one of his speeches, because isn’t going back to Australia any time soon. He is almost universally recognized as the consensus number one overall pick for the 2016 NBA Draft.

The president’s shoutout is almost expected at this point, as Simmons appears to finally be living up the extraordinary hype projected onto him during the preseason. While the Tigers stumbled out to a 3-4 record early in the season, losing to the likes of Houston and College of Charleston, they seem to be finding their stride now, building up to a 10-6 record. Simmons is averaging 20.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He appears to be growing into the player people thought he would be. He is an all around talent who can do everything. He is a balanced player who can score and pass. His size, 6-10 and 225 pounds, coupled with his athleticism, renders him perfectly suited for the fast pace of the NBA.

President Obama obviously has respect for Simmons, who is almost surely a one and done, and will be in the NBA next year, most likely facing off against Obama’s Bulls in the uniform of whoever earned the first pick in the draft.