Rocket Spotlight On ... Javan Simmons

Redshirt freshman Javan Simmons has scored in double digits in seven of his first eight games as a Rocket and is averaging 12.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg with a team-high 87.5 FT% after redshirting last season. A Columbus, Ohio native, Simmons is majoring in media communication.

On family's impact on his basketball career
Having my parents both play sports in college was a big help. My dad played football at Miami of Ohio, and he wanted me to play football, which I loved to play growing up. My mom was a very good basketball player at the University of Dayton. She had the most impact on my basketball career. I remember her trying to teach me how to box people out when I was in fourth grade because I wasn't being aggressive like I am now. She ended up breaking her ankle. After that happened, I realized that I had to get serious. I also kept working hard because I didn't want my parents to pay for my college after they had done so much for me.

On the importance of education
My mom works in education, so growing up there were no bad grades for me. Both my parents told me I needed to get good grades, or I wasn't playing basketball. School was always first for me, and my mom and dad told me the better your grades are, the better your resume is going to look when I try to find a job when my basketball career is over.

On his grandfather and growing up in Columbus
My grandpa actually got me started in basketball when I was in pre-school. He was always talking about basketball and that really got me interested. When I was younger, I always had to bring my birth certificate to games because I was so much bigger than everyone else. I was 5-9 in fifth grade. I really liked growing up in Columbus. I had great people around me, a lot of family support, and I really like going back there to see the people I grew up with and supported me along the way.

On being a post player with perimeter skills
It's really a credit to my trainers Tyrell Jackson, Cody Ballard (IBT Academy) and Jay Battle back home. I know I'm a post player here, but when I go home I work out on guard stuff like getting my handle better, improving my jump shot and driving to the bucket. I want to be able to do other things besides playing with my back to the basket. His training is intense and it's kind of like a college workout. He tells me we're not here to just play around and that we're here to do some work.

On the benefit of sitting out last season as a redshirt
I learned a lot from Seth (Millner), JT (Shumate) and AJ (Edu). I have tried to combine all of what they do this season. Seth and JT can really shoot it, and then AJ taught me things about playing with my back to the basket. Going into this season I wanted to work on becoming a reliable shooter. That's helped me to be able to play both the 4 and 5 positions, because last year I could only play the 5. It wasn't just them though. I credit all my teammates for my improvement, because they hold me accountable. The coaches told me that I had a big opportunity this season with spots wide open. Everyone was trying out again, and it was good to have that competitiveness carry over into our practices.

On the program's winning culture
I love all of our coaches, and they're all there if we need somebody to talk to. Coach K holds me to a higher standard and doesn't sugarcoat anything. Off the court, he's also a good family man and treats us like we're one of his own. I had a winning culture in high school, and that's what I wanted when I got to college. Coach K always talks to us about how Marreon Jackson and Spencer Littleson elevated our culture and I wanted to be a part of that. I want to be a key person into why we keep elevating our culture and keep winning.

On career plans after basketball
Once I'm done with basketball I want to get involved in television, radio and podcasts. I'm starting to get some experiences with in some of my classes already. I want to be able to call football or basketball games or even work in a studio show because I have a good knowledge of both sports. I played basketball and football when I was a freshman in high school, but then I decided to concentrate on just one. I really love both sports.

Players Mentioned

Javan Simmons

Footer