K. J. Simpson
No. 2 – Colorado Buffaloes | |
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Position | Point guard |
League | Pac-12 Conference |
Personal information | |
Born | 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 | |
College |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Kenneth "K. J." Simpson Jr. (born August 8, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Colorado Buffaloes of the Pac-12 Conference.
Early life and high school[edit]
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 play college basketball at 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[edit]
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, 1.5 steals, and 3.8 assists per game as a sophomore.[6]
As a junior, Simpson was named to the first-team All-Pac-12, averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game and shooting 48% 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]
References[edit]
- ^ "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.