Apr 1, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American East forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles on the perimeter during the McDonalds High School All American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
LSU held its first official practice on Monday afternoon. However, the most important piece to the 2015-16 season did not participate.
Ben Simmons, the potential top pick in next summer's NBA Draft, was out with a sore ankle, according to Sheldon Mickless of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Brian Bridgewater, a 6-foot-5 junior, was also sidelined with a leg injury.
"We're making sure they can heal up so we can get them back at 100 percent," LSU head coach Johnny Jones told reporters on Monday. "We want to make sure they aren't aggravating anything because we do have a little time on our hands to deal with things."
With more than five weeks left before the Tigers' home opener, Simmons has plenty of time to rest and recover before taking the floor against McNeese State on Nov. 13.
The 6-foot-10 Simmons has certainly put in the work since arriving on the LSU campus. In August, the Tigers took a foreign trip of Simmons' native Australia. In the five-game exhibition tour, he averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 3.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. Recently, Simmons was seen pushing a truck as part of an early-morning workout.
Simmons was the headliner for one of the best freshmen classes in the country, one that also includes Antonio Blakeney and Brandon Sampson.
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