# Troy Simons
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Troy_Simons
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Troy_Simons.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Simons
> Source revision: 1341687231
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Troy Simons
| image = Troy Simons, Polk State College.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Simons in 2016
| position = [Shooting guard](/source/Shooting_guard)
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 195
| league =
| team = Free agent
| number =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|7|3}}
| birth_place = [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania](/source/Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S.
| high_school =
*[Brashear](/source/Brashear_High_School)
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
*[University Prep](/source/Pittsburgh_Milliones%2C_University_Preparatory_School)
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
*Imani Christian Academy
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
*[Renaissance Academy](/source/Renaissance_Academy_Charter_School)
([Phoenixville, Pennsylvania](/source/Phoenixville%2C_Pennsylvania))
| college =
*[Polk State](/source/Polk_State_College_Eagles) (2015–2017)
*[New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico_Lobos_men's_basketball) (2017–2018)
*[Kent State](/source/Kent_State_Golden_Flashes_men's_basketball) (2019–2020)
| draft_year = 2020
| career_start = 2020
| years1 = 2020–2021
| team1 = [Tigers Tübingen](/source/Tigers_T%C3%BCbingen)
| years2 = 2021–2022
| team2 = [Kharkivski Sokoly](/source/Kharkivski_Sokoly)
| years3 = 2022–2023
| team3 = [Plymouth City Patriots](/source/Plymouth_City_Patriots)
| years4 = 2023
| team4 = [U.D. Oliveirense](/source/U.D._Oliveirense_(basketball))
| years5 = 2024
| team5 = [Killester](/source/Killester_Basketball_Club)
| highlights =
*[Super League](/source/Super_League_(Ireland)) All-Star Third Team (2024)
*[NJCAA](/source/National_Junior_College_Athletic_Association) scoring champion (2017)
}}
'''Troy Simons''' (born July 3, 1996) is an American professional [basketball](/source/basketball) player. He played college basketball for [Polk State College](/source/Polk_State_College), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico_Lobos_men's_basketball) and [Kent State](/source/Kent_State_Golden_Flashes_men's_basketball).
==Early life and high school career==
Simons grew up in [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh) and attended four high schools: [Brashear](/source/Brashear_High_School), [University Prep](/source/Pittsburgh_Milliones%2C_University_Preparatory_School), Imani Christian Academy, and [Renaissance Academy Charter School](/source/Renaissance_Academy_Charter_School) in [Phoenixville, Pennsylvania](/source/Phoenixville%2C_Pennsylvania).[{{cite news |last1=Psaros |first1=Harry |title=Troy Simon's Mentor Discusses His Journey to Pitt |url=https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/03/11/troy-simons-mentor-discusses-journey-pitt/ |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=Pittsburgh Sports Now |date=March 11, 2017}}] He was a two-sport athlete, playing wide receiver on the football team in addition to basketball.[{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Brad |title=Hill District native Troy Simons' wild basketball journey takes him to Germany |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2021/07/15/dream-pro-am-basketball-league-troy-simons-hill-district-native-germany-pro-basketball/stories/202107140005 |access-date=December 2, 2021 |work=[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette) |date=July 15, 2021}}] When Simons attempted to transfer back to University Prep, he was ruled ineligible and missed his senior season of basketball. He considered attending prep school at [Montverde Academy](/source/Montverde_Academy), but instead chose [Polk State College](/source/Polk_State_College) after his mentor Rico Abbondanza sent film to coach [Matt Furjanic](/source/Matt_Furjanic)[{{cite news |title=Kent State men's basketball picks up transfer from New Mexico |url=https://www.record-courier.com/sports/20180608/kent-state-mens-basketball-picks-up-transfer-from-new-mexico |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=[Record-Courier](/source/Record-Courier_(Ohio)) |date=June 8, 2018}}] He was named first team All-[Suncoast Conference](/source/Suncoast_Conference) and to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII All-State Team and participated in the 2017 NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.[{{cite web |title=Troy Simons named to NJCAA All-Star Game |url=https://www.polkeagles.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170413otpeo2 |website=[Polk State College Eagles](/source/Polk_State_College_Eagles) |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |date=April 13, 2017}}] Simons initially committed to [Middle Tennessee State](/source/Middle_Tennessee_Blue_Raiders_men's_basketball) before his sophomore season before de-committing and signed with [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh_Panthers_men's_basketball) in March 2017 over offers from [Iowa State](/source/Iowa_State_Cyclones_men's_basketball) and [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati_Bearcats_men's_basketball).[{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Craig |title=Top junior college scorer Troy Simons commits to Pitt basketball |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2017/03/06/troy-simons-pitt-juco-transfer-university-prep/stories/201703060131 |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette) |date=March 6, 2017}}] Due to a communication issue, he changed his commitment to [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico_Lobos_men's_basketball).[{{cite news |last1=Grammer |first1=Geoff |title=Lobos sign high-scoring JC guard Simons |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/989285/lobos-sign-high-scoring-jc-guard-simons.html |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=[Albuquerque Journal](/source/Albuquerque_Journal) |date=April 17, 2017}}]
Simons scored a season-high 24 points on November 14, 2017, in a 103–71 win against [Omaha](/source/Omaha_Mavericks_men's_basketball).[{{cite news |last1=Rosales |first1=Glen |title=New Mexico Lobos romp past Omaha |url=https://durangoherald.com/articles/194759 |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=[Durango Herald](/source/Durango_Herald) |agency=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |date=November 14, 2017}}] On January 5, 2018, he was issued a one-game suspension by the [Mountain West Conference](/source/Mountain_West_Conference) after receiving a technical foul and ejected against [Boise State](/source/Boise_State_Broncos_men's_basketball).[{{cite news |last1=Chester |first1=Jared |title=MWC Hands Troy Simons a One-Game Suspension prior to Saturdays game with San Jose State |url=https://www.krqe.com/news/mwc-hands-troy-simons-a-one-game-suspension-prior-to-saturdays-game-with-san-jose-state/ |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=KRQE |date=January 5, 2018}}] As a junior, Simons averaged 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game and led the Lobos with 52 steals. After the season, Simons transferred to [Kent State](/source/Kent_State_Golden_Flashes_men's_basketball).[{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball Announces the Signing of Troy Simons |url=https://kentstatesports.com/news/2018/6/8/mens-basketball-announces-the-signing-of-troy-simons.aspx |website=[Kent State Golden Flashes](/source/Kent_State_Golden_Flashes) |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |date=June 8, 2018}}] He posted a season-high 27 points on February 15, 2020, in an 87–72 win against [Ohio](/source/Ohio_Bobcats_men's_basketball).[{{cite news |title=Kent St. rides Williamson's scoring burst to beat Ohio |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401172691 |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |work=[ESPN](/source/ESPN) |agency=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |date=February 15, 2020}}] Simons averaged 12.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 39 percent from three-point range.[{{cite web |title=Troy Simons signs with Tigers Tübingen |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/troy-simons-signs-with-tigers-tu%CC%88bingen/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |date=September 11, 2020}}]
==Professional career==
On September 11, 2020, Simons signed his first professional contract with [Tigers Tübingen](/source/Tigers_T%C3%BCbingen) of the [ProA](/source/ProA).[{{cite web |last1=Schmidt-Scheuber |first1=Miles |title=The Tigers Tuebingen Get Troy Simons |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/news/644126/The-Tigers-Tuebingen-Get-Troy-Simons |website=Eurobasket |accessdate=September 12, 2020 |date=September 11, 2020}}] He averaged 11.3 points per game as a rookie.[{{cite web |title="Prometey" had almost no problem in Kharkiv |url=https://prometeybc.com/en/novosti/prometey-had-almost-no-problem-kharkiv |website=[BC Prometey](/source/BC_Prometey) |access-date=December 2, 2021}}] In February 2022, he left Ukraine and joined the [Plymouth City Patriots](/source/Plymouth_City_Patriots) of the [British Basketball League](/source/British_Basketball_League).[{{cite web |title=Plymouth City Patriots take on the London Lions twice in one weekend |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/plymouth-city-patriots-take-london-6733461 |website=Plymouth Live |access-date=April 5, 2022}}]
Simons re-joined the Plymouth City Patriots for the 2022–23 season, but left the team in January 2023 to play out the season with [U.D. Oliveirense](/source/U.D._Oliveirense_(basketball)) of the [Portuguese League](/source/Liga_Portuguesa_de_Basquetebol).[{{cite web|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Troy-Simons/394513|title=Troy Simons|work=eurobasket.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|url-access=subscription}}]
In January 2024, Simons joined [Killester](/source/Killester_Basketball_Club) of the Irish [Super League](/source/Super_League_(Ireland)).[{{cite web|last=Lennon|first=Barry|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/from-escaping-ukraine-war-to-chasing-league-title-for-killester-troy-simons-seeking-basketball-treble/a1865010486.html|title=From escaping Ukraine war to chasing league title for Killester – Troy Simons seeking basketball treble|work=[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)|date=April 13, 2024|access-date=July 11, 2024}}] He helped the team reach the Super League final in April 2024[{{cite web|last=Diallo|first=Raf|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/2024/0411/1442981-from-a-hasty-exit-out-of-ukraine-to-a-final-in-dublin/|title=From a hasty exit out of Ukraine to a final in Dublin, Troy Simons is aiming to cap a fast start at Killester|work=[RTÉ](/source/RT%C3%89)|date=April 14, 2024|access-date=July 11, 2024}}] and was named to the All-Star Third Team.[{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/-national-league-all-star-teams-revealed-for-2023-24-season|title=National League All-Star teams revealed for 2023/24 season|work=[Basketball Ireland](/source/Basketball_Ireland)|date=April 12, 2024|access-date=July 11, 2024}}] He averaged 21 points per game.