Getting to Know 2017 Simon Wright

With the Friars getting a recent commitment from a member of the class of 2017 in Javon Taylor, let’s take a look at another member of the rising sophomore class with a Providence offer: Simon Wright.

Providence was the first school to offer 2017 Simon Wright from Minnesota. Wright plays for the Howard Pulley (Nike EYBL) team on the grassroots circuit which is the same program that Providence recruits Alex Illikainen, Amir Coffey and Jarvis Johnson all play for. While Illikainen and Johnson are somewhat recent additions to the Howard Pulley program, Wright has “known Amir since I was in kindergarten. Him and my older brother have played on the same team since Amir was in 1st grade, and he is also my high school teammate.” Coffey is a member of the class of 2016.

Being a rising sophomore, Wright played mostly with the 15U Howard Pulley team during the AAU season but he did play up with the 17U EYBL team for two tournaments including the AAU Super Showcase in Louisville during the final July live period. “I feel my [AAU] season went really well. I played my best ball in July when it counted.” Wright has grown over the last year and tells me he is now 6’6 and 190 lbs and said “I see myself playing either the 2 or 3 [in college].”

When asked to describe his game and what NBA or college player his game resembles Wright said, “I’m a lefty slasher, knock down shooter, and can finish above the rim. I like to model my game after Manu Ginobili.” Wright lists his biggest strength right now as shooting. “I’m now learning to make defenders pay when their hand is down. Rebounding and defense are also part of my game.” As for what he needs to work on: “I’m working to improve my ball handling everyday.” When I asked Errol Carlstrom from Howard Pulley about Simon Wright he called Wright “the quintessential student athlete…great student, great athlete.” Carlstrom describes Wright’s game as “multidimensional, able to defend, rebound, go to the basket and shoot the 3” and told me that Wright “is a great teammate, a leader, a cheerleader and a hard worker.” Those sound like attributes Ed Cooley likes.

Ed Cooley personally offered the scholarship and with the way Cooley has been able to identify talent early before the player blows up, I’d say Friar fans should keep an eye on the young lefty from Minnesota over the next couple of years.

Click here to see Simon Wright’s Friar Crystal Ball page.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

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Mike Hopkins

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