Aamir Simms has solidified place as all-time Clemson great

On3 imageby:Matt Connolly03/18/21

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Aamir Simms could very well lead Clemson past Rutgers, past the winner of Houston and Cleveland State and into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Simms is the type of player who can carry a team in the Big Dance, and Clemson has the pieces around him to make a run.

But no matter what happens Friday night against the Scarlett Knights, whether Clemson survives and advances or sees its season come to an end, Simms has solidified his place as one of the best players in Clemson basketball history.

“I’m very proud of him. He’s had an unbelievable career,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “He’s been a great leader and worker and a tremendous player.”

Simms and senior guard Clyde Trapp are the only two Tigers on this year’s team who have played in the NCAA Tournament before.

Trapp did not score in Clemson’s last trip to the Big Dance, but Simms was a key contributor off the bench in 2017-18. In three games he averaged 20 minutes as the Tigers beat New Mexico State and Auburn, before falling to Kansas in the Sweet 16.

That season was the start of what would end up being a special career for the Virginia native. The following year Simms averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game, before leading the Tigers in points, rebounds and assists last season.

In 2019-20, Simms became the first player in Clemson history and just the seventh player in ACC history to lead his team in points (13), rebounds (7.2) and assists (2.6) in a season.

“He’s a great person to look at and follow and model because of his mentality, his approach, his maturity, his work ethic, to what you can be if you’re talented and you apply yourself at the highest of levels,” Brownell said.

Brad Brownell and Clemson will begin NCAA Tournament play Friday night. (John Byrum/Getty Images)

Simms followed up his breakout season in 2019-20 by leading the Tigers in points, rebounds and assists again this year.

Entering the NCAA Tournament he is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. If Simms ends this season leading Clemson in all three categories, he will be the first player in ACC history to do so twice over the course of a career.

Simms has also taken over a leadership role this year, mentoring Clemson’s younger players and trying to set the Tigers up to have more success in the future.

“Your senior year is your year that you’re going to remember the most. You hope it’s a good one, because that’s the one that you probably have the biggest impact on the team as a player, both in terms of your productivity, but also your voice.” Brownell said. “That’s something that has been really interesting to watch, the young players, especially the young big guys, watching Aamir every day.”

For Simms to begin his career as a contributor for an NCAA Tournament team and now end his career leading the Tigers back to the Big Dance is fitting. He would love to make some noise while he’s here and keep playing well into March.

But no matter what happens, Simms has cemented his place as a Tigers legend.

“I just hope that people see what I did during my time here and what I wanted to accomplish and what I did accomplish. And what I want this program to be in the future, and in the near future at that,” Simms said. “I just hope that I left a really good impression and people just saw someone that gave it their all every time they were on the court. And most importantly had fun while I was playing.”