The Race for the Top Pick is Closer Than You Think

The general consensus is that the freshman phenom out of LSU, Ben Simmons, will declare for the 2016 NBA draft and be picked 1st overall. This general consensus was also seen last year, when Duke Center Jahlil Okafor was presumably the first overall pick. This is why they play the games people.

Karl Anthony-Towns and DeAngelo Russell were picked in front of Okafor even with Okafor's Blue Devil's taking the Championship.

This isn't a " Ben Simmons is overrated" article. Nor is it a bandwagon for folks to jump on. The facts are, the race for the number one pick is much closer than many think.

Ben Simmons can attribute his fading light to another fantastic freshman for a team previously mentioned. Brandon Ingram of Duke has stepped in to question whether Simmons is the right way to go at the top of the draft.

Before we say anything more on the subject, let it be known that the hype surrounding Ben Simmons is 100 percent warranted. There may not be a more prolific talent since Lebron James entered the 2003 draft. His game back it up.

Simmons has a rare combination of size, ball-handling and pass vision. For someone standing at 6-foot-10 and have the elite athleticism Simmons has immediately warrants discussion as to where he would land in the 2016 draft. The measurables are great. However, teams want to see a player produce. Simmons has done that as well.

So far, Simmons is averaging a double-double, scoring 19.3 points a game and racking up 12.0 rebounds a game as well. He leads all freshman with 19 double-doubles this year alone.

The real questions that pertain to Simmons is the intangibles. He is carrying a less-than talented LSU team and not doing a great job. The Tigers are fighting for a spot and are currently on the bubble according to Joe Lunardi. Simmons has been criticized for tending to fade away late in close games. Many question if Simmons has it in him to lead an NBA team and carry said team into the limelight, which is what a potential number one overall pick should be able to do.

Simmons also does not have much of a game passed the free-throw line. He is a less-than sufficient mid-range shooter and is a liability on the perimeter. His scoring comes from the paint. As we all know, at the next level, it gets increasingly hard to score down low even with the athleticism shown by Simmons.

Yet, it isn't likely an NBA team would pass up on such a talent because of intangibles, especially if said intangibles do not pop up off the court.

What Simmons lacks, may be found in Brandon Ingram.

Late last night, the Blue Devils were down 60-68 against hated rival North Carolina. The game couldn't have been bigger. Ingram who hadn't made much of an impact on the offensive end of the ball to that point, took the game into his hands.

Ingram proceeded to score 3 straight tough baskets to close the gap to 2 points. Duke wouldn't look back and eventually beat the Tarheels by a single point. 

Imgram can score. Offensively, he is often compared to Kevin Durant. His long frame and deceptive athleticism helps his get to the basket. He can score from all over the court. He is a solid rebounder and defender.

The 6-foot-10 forward does not have the NBA-ready build that Simmons possesses. They seem to be polar opposites. One complements the other. Ingram isn't as NBA-ready as Simmons is. Ingram's perimeter game is what makes him stand out. We have seen what a team like Golden State can do when they are hitting from the 3-point line. Before you know it, you're down 30. The NBA is moving towards a more perimeter-orientated game which Ingram would fit perfectly into.

Simmons would have trouble fitting in on a team like Golden State.

Nonetheless, Simmons is a once-in-a-generation type player and it will take some real balls for a team (most likely Philly) to pass on such a prospect.

Just know that Ingram is closing the gap. If Simmons cannot carry the LSU tigers into the tournament, look for Simmons' stock to fall further. Ingram's Blue Devils now have a real chance at the title. We will see this Summer.