Four-star senior KJ Simpson talks recruitment after receiving release
College basketball has seen a lot of change over the last year or so due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is asking themselves, well, what would happen if the pandemic didn’t strike. The world will never know but now we’ve seen tons of change come with the dealing of this global pandemic.
In the college basketball world, we’ve seen a hectic transfer portal, coaching changes, etc. For KJ Simpson, he signed his NLI on November 11th, 2020, and was under the impression he’d be an Arizona Wildcat under Sean Miller.
Now, we are in the month of April and Simpson has asked for his release from the Arizona basketball program as newly-minted head coach Tommy Lloyd will be taking over for Sean Miller.
“I had a respectful conversation with Coach Lloyd and Coach Murphy, and we just decided that for both of us it’d be best if I parted ways with them. Grateful for the opportunity I had and the chance they gave me but yes I’ve parted ways with them,” Simpson told Stockrisers.com on Arizona.
Simpson with no doubt in my mind will have a very nice select choice of programs. A skilled guard with tons of athleticism and tons of basketball knowledge. He’s one of those guys that when he has the ball in his hand, you know something great is about to happen. Simpson has had a stellar senior season and has led his team to seven wins over their first eight games.
He talked with Stockrisers.com and discussed which programs are in the mix and even tells us which two virtual meetings he was able to complete.
Which programs would you say are heavily involved since your release?
“Well from those I’ve spoken to I know definitely Colorado and Oregon are heavily involved. UCLA, USC, Texas Tech, Oregon State, BYU, Cal, and Minnesota just in the span of a couple of days.”
Who are the newer schools to enter the mix?
“Texas Tech and Minnesota are the new schools.”
You first zoomed with Colorado after your release, how did that go?
“Well, Colorado was the first to set up a zoom with me, and the conversation was great. It was as if nothing happened meaning they felt the same way they did before when recruiting me and made sure I was aware of that along with how I’d be a great fit at Colorado.”
Then you capped off a zoom with Oregon’s staff, what was the message from the staff to you?
“The Oregon zoom was great as well. It was my first time having a zoom with them so I got to put faces with voices and had great conversations with the whole staff. I got an introduction to the campus and their history, and they showed me the reason I’d be fit to be an Oregon Duck.”
We discussed this, but, reiterate that is Arizona still in the mix?
“Unfortunately Arizona isn’t in the mix of things. I had a respectful conversation with Coach Lloyd and Coach Murphy, and we just decided that for both of us it’d be best if I parted ways with them. Grateful for the opportunity I had and the chance they gave me but yes I’ve parted ways with them.”
Where do things stand with a decision timeline?
“For me commitment-wise, I don’t want to drag this on and on. My family and I are constantly talking and paying attention to detail but because we have already been through this before we don’t want to dwell and wait too long. I don’t have a set date on when I will be committing, but I’m not looking to put this decision on hold for a long time either.”
Final thoughts, how is your season going so far?
“As far as the season is going, I’ve just been trying to focus on that because I have a job to do here at Chaminade and I’m proud of what we’re accomplishing. We still have a lot more games ahead of us but this team is full of heart. My teammates and I are trying to make this year special, especially because this game was taken from us for so long with covid, we want every opportunity we can get. It’s my senior year, and after all these years of those past seniors being the top dawgs it’s my turn and I’m very proud about our start and extremely excited for what’s in store.”