K.J. Simpson not your average freshman
Watching K.J. Simpson play, one could assume he’s far along in his college career, in reality however it’s his first season. Throughout the year he has not only continuously outplayed his age, but also proved to be a vital part of the CU basketball team.
Simpson is the author of some of the Buffalo’s biggest moments this year, stepping up in the clutch and providing a steady hand when needed.
Looking back on the long basketball season, Simpson made waves on the young CU basketball team and should be a big reason to excite CU fans for the future. Coming from West Hills California, the young baller solidified himself as a key part of the team putting up 211 points in just his first season and being named on the Pac-12’s All-Freshman Team.
Last year, one of the black and gold’s best-ever basketball players Mckinley Wright IV took to the NBA after a storybook career with the Buffaloes, leaving huge shoes to fill on the Buffs squad. Accompanied by other players leaving for other colleges including Jeriah Horne, Dallas Walton and D’shawn Schwartz, left CU with two scholarship seniors and many questioning what will happen in the next season.
But head coach Tad Boyle led the Buffaloes to water as just nine days after Simpson decommitted from Pac-12 rivals Arizona, he was headed to the Flatirons to play.
What made Colorado stand out as the clear choice then was Boyle’s consistency, when Simpson first told the head coach he committed to Arizona nothing changed with Boyle’s persistence CU still wanted Simpson no matter what happened.
Through Boyle’s sentiments, he decommitted from Arizona saying Tad and CU felt different than any other school.
“Wow, like, he’s a man of his word, you know, and it just felt right,” Simpson said about his future coach.
It took longer for Simpson to unpack his clothes than it did to get accompanied with his new team. He knew a few guys prior to joining, playing with Jabari Walker on an AAU team, previously spending time working out with Evan Battey in LA and played against fellow freshman Julian Hammond in high school.
The bonds were quickly formed and within just weeks of getting to Boulder, Simpson and the team flew out to Costa Rica and the Virgin Islands to play basketball and have some fun.
Buffs Island Vlog: Snorkeling St. Thomas 🦀 pic.twitter.com/mw9OguJR0u
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) November 19, 2021
Simpson was surprised, aided by the opportunity to jet ski and snorkel around the Caribbean Islands, he was shocked at how quickly the relationships formed.
“I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s wild. Well, that just bonded us. Our bond was so strong too. We’re brothers like we are all in.” Simpson spoke about the whole squad.
Coming into Boulder, Simpson was no stranger to the spotlight as he was a four-star top 100 ranked prospect who had a very successful high school career. He not only left Chaminade High School the leader in career points with 2,345 points but in his final year, he led his team to a state championship. Simpson didn’t just help them to the championship win either, he scored 15 points in the fourth willing his team to win.
Not only his talent but his drive and passion on and off the court is what put him on the map for teams like Arizona, USC and Colorado.
When Tad was recruiting and coaching Simpson, one thing was clear, he was not going to be a normal freshman on the team. Not in his skill level or role with the squad. Simpson was going to be one of the guys to step up on the young squad to make the difference.
He not only had to step up as a potential future replacement for McKinley Wright IV but when one of CU’s best current guards and defensive guard Eli Parquet went down, Simpson had to adjust quickly.
Throughout the season, Simpson settled in and became a force off the bench for CU. He steadily increased his minutes throughout the season, seeing only 13 minutes in his first game and ending his regular season recording 30 minutes.
He played an extremely important role for the Buffs, being a leader and spark plug off of the bench. He was just sixth on the team for total minutes throughout the season but only started one game, proving he was a big factor in the CU game plan.
Being the sixth man was a fairly new role to Simpson, but he capitalized, working hard enough to become a leader off the bench for CU as a Freshman.
He exceeded the high expectations set for him, as Simpson led the team in assists and assist per game for CU, was just 5th on the team for most points throughout the season and tied for second on the team with total steals all while coming off the bench.
Simpson’s value was immense throughout the season as the freshman started to become a leader on the team.
“I feel like a lot of freshmen, you know, they can kind to get away with things you can be like, Oh, it’s your freshman year. But the conversations I had with coach Boyle is that he can’t do that with me this year like we just were too young. We need the younger guys to step up. That’s something that I have embraced. I have a voice, it’s an important voice and I make sure to use it as much as I can,” Simpson said on growing his role.
As Simpson continued to step up throughout the season, racking up two Pac-12 Freshmen of the Week awards, it was clear that he is the future of Buffs basketball.
You would think the pressure would build upon Simpson’s shoulders but it was nothing new for the baller.
“I know there is pressure, but I accepted it. I didn’t take it as a negative like, Oh wow, I have to step up now. No, this is something that I knew already coming in,” Simpson said about how he challenged his role head on.
Simpson made headlines with his high-flying act above the rim. This was illuminated countless times throughout the season as Simpson’s fearless attitude led him to rise above the rim and have many showstopping plays including an absolute poster on the Tennessee team, which very well could be the most electrifying play by a Buffalo all season.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Simpson isn’t the biggest guard on the court, but this doesn’t disable his ability to get to the rim and finish. He proved height doesn’t matter all that much when talent, dedication and intelligence are the keys to his performance.
Simpson ranked top-20 in the Pac-12 for assists per game all while recording fewer minutes than anyone ahead of him. His outstanding performance was recognized throughout the conference receiving a spot on the All-Freshman team.
Simpson wants to be remembered as a Boulder legend when it’s all said and done.
“I just want to be recognized as someone who brought their all to the table and did it the right way. Just like, exactly how, I know it’s hard, but exactly how Ev(an Battey) is perceived,” Simpson said.
Simpson and the rest of the Colorado squad ended with an exclamation point to end their regular season at home, capping off a wild up and down first season with a dominating victory over the second-best team in the nation.
Good morning, Buff Nation 😄#GoBuffs | @jabari521 @KSimpsonJr pic.twitter.com/Ryp52NVY4m
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) February 27, 2022
Simpson’s nine points in the second half and 30 minutes helped pave the way for one of the most exciting moments in the CU Events Center with the win on Senior Night against No. 2 Arizona. The atmosphere was rocking out of the gym, as the final buzzer beater sounded off, Simpson and the rest of the squad were embraced by a storm of adoring CU fans.
“That win was almost like a dream. Especially being my history with Arizona and it’s all love there but it was just bittersweet that we beat the number two team in the country, on Senior night, in front of a packed arena and the fans rushed the floor after,” Simpson said. “That’s stuff you dream about, it doesn’t always happen where fans rush the floor so it’s for sure an unforgettable moment I’ll forever share with Boulder and my brothers!”
There were a ton of questions coming into the season, with the new squad as important players left the year before, no one was sure what the season was going to look like. However, CU’s hole at the guard position was filled by Simpson, who proved not only could he contribute to big wins now but be a part of a special future.
With high hopes and the right place to do it, Simpson and CU are a perfect match. From the minute rumors swirled around Simpson coming here, Boulder was pumped. The excitement outweighed Simpson’s expectations. “I felt so much love here, and that’s something that I didn’t know I was going to feel right away,” he said.
“I touched down at the airport. I had a new shirt on and someone already showed love to me,” he said. The feelings were mutual, Boulder embraced Simpson, and Simpson embraced Boulder right back.
