Name: Number: Height: Weight: Year: Position: Hometown: High School:	Oliver Keith Simmons 51 6' 8" 218 Sophomore Guard Nashville, Tenn. David Lipscomb

General:

Fundamentally sound ... Must continue to get stronger ... Will back-up the power forward position.

1995-96:

Saw action in 21 games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per outing ... Played in his first collegiate game against Morehead State, scoring two points, grabbing three boards and blocking three shots ... Hit his first career three-pointer on his first career three-point attempt in the win over Wake Forest during the Midwest Regional final ... Scored a career-high six points against Ole Miss ... Played in 12 junior varsity games, averaging a double-double -- 18.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game ... Was second on the jayvee squad in blocks with 22 and field goal percentage with 56.2%.

High School:

Scored 2,874 points in his high school career to become the school's and Metro Nashville's all-time leading scorer ... Named Tennessee's Class AA Player of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons ... Named first-team All-State and Class AA Mid-State Player of the Year by The Tennessean ... Averaged 25.4 ppg and 9.3 rpg his senior year to follow his 25.7 ppg and 9.8 rpg as a junior ... Shot a blistering 69.7% from the field, 71.3% from the foul line as a senior ... Led squad to a 28-7 mark and a berth in the state semifinals in 1995 ... Earned all-tournament honors for his play in the state tournament.

Pitino On Simmons:

"Oliver is fundamentally very sound. He knows how to pass, catch and understands how to play the game. What he has to do is become stronger and better conditioned. Once he reaches those goals, basketball will be very easy for him."

Simmon's Highs

                 Opponent    Date
Points:      6   Ole Miss      1/6/96
FG Made:     2   Twice
FG Atts:     4   Ole Miss      1/6/96
3FG Made:    1   Wake Forest  3/23/96
3FG Atts:    1   Wake Forest  3/23/96
FT Made:     3   Vanderbilt    3/2/96
FT Atts:     4   Three times
Rebounds:    4   Twice
Assists:     1   Ole Miss      1/6/96
Turnovers:   2   Twice
Blocks:      3   Morehead    12/16/95
Steals:      1   Morehead    12/16/95

UK Season Stats

YEAR    G-S  MIN-AVG  FG-A   PCT  3FG-A   PCT   FT-A    PCT  REB-AVG  PF-D  A  TO  BS  S  TP-AVG
95-96  21-0  100-4.8  13-27 48.1    1-1  100.0  10-18  55.6   24-1.1  20-0  3   9   4  2  37-1.8

The Simmons File:

Full Name: Oliver Keith Simmons
Nickname: Big O or Ollie
Birth date: January 18, 1976
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pa.
Parents: John and Mary Ellen Simmons
Siblings: Eric and Ivy
Major: Business
High school coach: Randall Bostic
Favorite food: Steaks
Favorite class: Economics 202
Favorite book: The Firm
Favorite TV show: Fresh Prince
Favorite movie: Billy Madison
My highlight of last summer: The beach
Favorite sports figure: Scottie Pippen
Favorite NBA team: Chicago Bulls
If I started a team, the four other players I'd choose would be: Jordan, Pippen, Shaq and Magic
If I could change one thing in college basketball, it would be: That players got paid
My greatest moment in sports: Winning the state championship, earning Mr. Basketball honors and winning the national title
If I were not playing basketball, I would be: Working and trying to go to school
The best player I ever faced was: Jamal Mashburn
The one thing I like most about basketball is: The fast pace and competition
The thing I like about playing for UK is: The fans
The thing that impresses me most about Coach Pitino is: How he succeeds in everything he does ... He makes you better ... He makes you step up to the challenge
My advice to youngsters is: Go after your dreams
My primary inspiration in sports is: Myself