Ben Simmons and LSU to tour Australia in August
Louisiana State University's (LSU) basketball squad - featuring Melbourne's Ben Simmons - will tour Australia in August, giving Australian basketball fans a chance to see the Boomer in action.
Photo Credit: Ken Waz/USA Basketball
The LSU Tour Down Under will see the Louisiana State University Men's Basketball team tour Australia as part of their pre-season training schedule. Location and ticket information can be found below.
I will be heading back home to Australia in August with @LSUBasketball - Newcastle- Melbourne - Sydney - just some of the stops on the list
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) April 23, 2015
Along with Ben Simmons, the team will also feature Darcy Malone, the 7-footer out of Canberra who will be entering his junior year at LSU this coming season.
Malone averaged 0.9 ppg and 1.4 rpg in limited minutes at LSU this year, with the hope of an increased role next season. He was also a member of the Australian U17 team - a squad featuring Dante Exum and Ben Simmons - that won a silver medal at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship.
LSU head coach Johnny Jones spoke about Australia as the ideal destination for a pre-season tour - citing his team's connection to the country, as well as the competition they'll face.
It’s not a coincidence (we’re going to Australia) at all. This was something that was planned with really (Ben) in mind, having an opportunity for him to go home as well. A lot of his family will have an opportunity to see him but it’s also a great challenge for us to go over there.
The Australian Boomers' Olympic qualifiers are also in August, but Simmons - a projected top-3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft - has made it clear that he'll make the most of his time at LSU, with the expectation that he'll attend summer school in June.
The 6'10 Simmons has had an extremely busy past few weeks, competing in the McDonald’s All American game, winning a third straight DICK’S National Championship, as well as participating in this year’s Nike Hoop Summit event.
Tour
SATURDAY, AUG 15 LSU vs Newcastle All-Stars Broadmeadow, NSW Buy Tickets SUNDAY, AUG 16 LSU vs Sydney Kings (Radio stream) University Sports and Aquatic Centre, NSW SOLD OUT TUESDAY, AUG 18 LSU vs QLD All-Stars Auchenflower, QLD SOLD OUT THURSDAY, AUG 20 LSU vs Melbourne United Dandenong Basketball Stadium, VIC Buy Tickets SATURDAY, AUG 22 LSU vs Melbourne United Hisense Arena, VIC
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