KJ Simpson
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | August 8, 2002
Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Listed weight | 189 lb (86 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Chaminade College Prep (Los Angeles, California) |
College | Colorado (2021–2024) |
Position | Point guard |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Kenneth "KJ" Simpson Jr. (born August 8, 2002) is an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Early life and high school career
Simpson grew up in Panorama City, Los Angeles and attended Chaminade College Preparatory School.[1] He was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to playing college basketball for Arizona.[2] After Arizona head coach Sean Miller was fired, Simpson requested and was granted a release from his National Letter of Intent and reopened his recruitment.[3] He ultimately signed to play at Colorado.[4]
College career
Simpson was named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman team during his first season playing for the Colorado Buffaloes after averaging 7.4 points per game and also leading the team in total assists and steals.[5] He was named second-team All-Pac-12 after averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as a sophomore.[6]
As a junior, Simpson was named to the first-team All-Pac-12, averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game and shooting 43% from three-point range this season.[7] In the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament against No. 7 Florida, Simpson hit a game-winning jumper with less than two seconds left to secure a 102–100 victory.[8]
Career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Colorado | 32 | 1 | 21.3 | .377 | .254 | .770 | 2.5 | 2.7 | .8 | .1 | 7.4 |
2022–23 | Colorado | 29 | 28 | 31.8 | .396 | .276 | .817 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .2 | 15.9 |
2023–24 | Colorado | 37 | 37 | 35.1 | .475 | .434 | .876 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 1.6 | .1 | 19.7 |
Career | 98 | 66 | 29.6 | .429 | .347 | .834 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 1.3 | .1 | 14.6 |
References
- ^ "Signing Day: Chaminade's KJ Simpson, Keith Higgins accomplish childhood dream together". Los Angeles Daily News. November 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Four-star guard K.J. Simpson commits to Arizona Wildcats". Arizona Daily Star. August 15, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Arizona signee KJ Simpson to look elsewhere after receiving release from letter-of-intent". Arizona Daily Star. April 19, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Four-Star Recruit K.J. Simpson Gives Commitment To CU Buffs". CBS News Colorado. April 28, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "CU Buffs' Tristan da Silva, KJ Simpson earn Pac-12 MBB preseason all-conference honors". The Denver Post. October 24, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Sarles, Jesse (October 26, 2023). "4 basketball players in Colorado make CBS Sports list of nation's best men's college hoopers". CBS News Colorado. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ camellis. "Colorado's KJ Simpson named to first team All Pac-12". ralphiereport.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Owens, Jason. "March Madness: No. 10 Colorado holds for 102-100 thriller over Florida on late KJ Simpson game winner". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2024.