Michael Simmons

MICHAEL SIMMONS, freshman guard, 6-0 ft., 185 lb. … originally from Rialto, California.  Simmons will battle Vernon Jennings and fellow freshman Joao Paulo Coelho for minutes at the point. Rated as the No. 90 ranked incoming freshman by Athlon Sports College Basketball, an excellent ball handler, a strong defender with great speed, quickness and leaping ability… the only player in his incoming class that signed during the early signing period (Nov. 1997). Chose Miami over a number of schools including Michigan, Colorado, California, Ohio State and South Florida.

Freshman Year

Played in 27 games, making 12 starts…averaged 2.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 14.0 minutes per game…averaged 6.3 assists per 40 minutes to rank second on team…missed three games due to a concussion suffered against Pittsburgh (1-30-99)…ranked second on the team with a 1.3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and third in total assists (59). Made collegiate debut at Florida Atlantic (11-13-98) recording three points, one assists and two steals… had four points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal in 16 minutes against Charlotte (11-23-98)…scored five points, connecting on 2-4 from the field in 17 minutes at No. 8 Kentucky  (12-5-98)… scored seven points to go with three rebounds, four assists, one steal and no turnovers in 16 minutes against Boston College (12-8-98)…was 2-for-4 form the field, including 1-of-3 from three point range, and 2-of-2 from the line…made first career start against Central Florida (12-11-98) recording five points, one rebound and one assist in 16 minutes of action. Off the bench he recorded a team and career-high six assists against Georgia State (12-18-98)…also pulled down two rebounds …made start against Ohio State (12-27-98) and recorded two points, a career-high five rebounds, two assists, three steals and no turnovers in 13 minutes vs. St. John’s (1-6-99)…recorded nine points on 4-8 shooting from the field, and four steals, to go with one rebound and four assists in 25 minutes against Notre Dame (1-9-99)..was 4-8 from the field and 1-4 from three-point range…started and played 21 minutes against Boston College (1-24-99)…recorded seven points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals…was 3-5 from the field and 1-1 from three-point range…saw first action since suffering a concussion at Pittsburgh (1-30-99) playing three minutes against Providence (2-13-99) played nine minutes against Villanova (2-16-99) recording a career-high 10 points…was 3-3 from the field, 1-1from three point range and 3-4 from the line…also recorded one rebound and handed out two assists to go with no turnovers. In the BIG EAST Tournament:  Simmons played in both games averaging 4.5 minutes per contest…did not score in four minutes against Georgetown (3-4-99) recorded one rebound and two assists in five minutes against St. John’s (3-5-99). In the NCAA  Tournament: Played in both games averaging 11.0 minutes per game.

RedShirt

Sat out all but three games during 1999-00 season following surgery to remove bone spurs from his right foot on November 18… averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game…played 17 minutes against North Carolina (12-18-99) recording one rebound, one assists in 15 minutes off the bench against Hartford (12-11-99)…was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, including 1-of-1 from three point range…saw first action of the season against UNC Charlotte (12-7-99)…came off the bench to record three rebounds, one assists and one steal in 11 minutes. 

Sophomore

Started all 29 games at point guard…averaged 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game…led team with a 1.45 assist-to-turnover ratio. In the Regular Season: Started and played 26 minutes in UM’s season opener against Florida Atlantic (11-18-00)…recorded five assists and three steals…played 23 minutes against Charlotte (11-28-00) scoring a season-high nine points hitting 3-4 from three-point range…three  three-point field goals marked a career-high…played 26 minutes against North Carolina (12-4-00) recording four points, four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal…recorded three assists and two points in 24 minutes of action against Central Florida (12-9-00)…started and played 17 minutes against Nebraska (12-16-00) recording two points, one rebound, three assists and one steal…played 23 minutes against Eastern Illinois (12-18-00) and recorded four points, one rebound, three assists and one steal…played  18 minutes against Memphis (12-21-00) recording   four rebounds and three assists…recorded two points three assists and two assists and two steals in 19 minutes versus Tennessee Martin (12-29-00)…recorded two assists and one rebound in 16 minutes against Boston College (1-7-01)…played 17 minutes against Boston College (1-13-01) and recorded four points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals…accounted for two points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal against Providence (1-16-01)…recorded five points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals against St. John’s (1-22-01)…was 2-2 from the field including 1-1 from three-point range…recorded two points four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal against No. 22 Seton Hall (2-2-01)..recorded three points, one rebound and a season-high five assists against Virginia Tech (2-6-01)…recorded six points against Villanova (2-17-01)…was 2-2  from three-point range …recorded eight points, one rebound, four assists, three steals and no turnovers in 24 minutes against West Virginia (2-28-01)…recorded seven points, four rebounds, one assists and one steal in a career-high 29 minutes against Villanova (3-3-01). In the BIG EAST Tournament: Recorded seven points, two rebounds, four assists and no turnovers in 29 minutes against Pittsburgh (3-7-01) in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament. In the National Invitation Tournament: Recorded one rebound and a team-high five assists in Miami’s opening round game against Auburn (3-14-01).

HIGHSCHOOL

Simmons attended Mercersburg (PA) Academy… rated as the third best point guard prospect by Dick Vitale prior to his senior season. Three time All-Tri- State selection (Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland)…team MVP after averaging 12 points, five rebounds and 7.2 assists as a senior. Led team to a 23-3 overall  record including a perfect 10-0 conference mark…honorable mention McDonald’s All-American as a senior. Made the Herald-Mail All-Area Team (4- state region of Northern Virginia, West Virginia, southern Pennsylvania and Western Maryland)… averaged 16 points, four rebounds and nine assists as a junior in leading team to a 16-11 record…coached by Tony Tucker.

PERSONAL

Full name is Michael Anthony Simmons…born February 4, 1979 in Los Angeles, Calif. . .nicknamed Smooth. . . plans to major in Education and would like to become an elementary school teacher … enjoys studying the Spanish language…culture and music in his spare time. Graduated with honors from Mercersburg Academy and was a member of the African American Student Union.