The high-scoring guard who bypassed college to join the NBA
In short: In 2018, a five-star recruit chose to skip the traditional university path. Driven by a desire to enter the professional ranks early, Anfernee Simons navigated recruitment scandals and high-stakes trades to become a prominent force in the NBA.
Anfernyt Tyrik Simons entered the professional spotlight as a highly-rated prospect, ranked as the seventh-best player in the 2018 recruiting class by 247Sports.com. His path to the pros was shaped by significant collegiate instability; while he originally planned to attend the University of Louisville, he decommitted following the school's involvement in the 2015 and 2017–18 NCAA basketball corruption scandals. Instead, he considered prestigious programs like South Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, and Florida before ultimately deciding to bypass college entirely.
The Portland Trail Blazers took him 24th in the 2018 NBA draft, making him a rare high school prospect to be picked. His early career was marked by explosive scoring displays, including a 37-point performance against the Sacramento Kings in 2019. He also captured the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest title, winning by a narrow 3–2 decision despite a failed attempt to kiss the rim during the competition.
Simons' journey through the league has been defined by significant movement and high-value contracts. After signing a four-year, $100 million deal with Portland in 2022, his career saw a series of high-profile trades. He moved to the Boston Celtics in July 2025 in exchange for Jrue Holiday, and later to the Chicago Bulls in February 2026. A $12.3 million, two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers was signed by him in July 2026, maintaining his versatile scoring output.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Anfernee Simons
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