Wynnewood’s Shawn Simmons commits to the St. Joseph’s men’s basketball team

Shawn Simmons announced Saturday that he will commit to the St. Joseph’s men’s basketball team, becoming the Hawks’ third pickup from the 2023 class following Xzayvier Brown and Anthony Finkley.

The 6-foot-7, 180-pound wing from Wynnewood landed on his decision days after taking an official visit to the campus.

“I got to see different classrooms and met all the people behind basketball operations,” Simmons said. “Then I sat in [coach Billy Lange’s] office, and he just told me the plan he has for me once I get there.

“Their vision matched me and my family’s vision so it really felt like I was already going to the school.”

Simmons called Lange soon after the visit to tell him the news. He “eased into it” while the fourth-year coach sat on the beach, sharing their respective vacation plans. Lange leaped up and started hollering when the four-star playmaker said he wanted to commit.

The Hawks first got involved with Simmons’ recruitment his freshman year at Friends’ Central, not long after Lange was hired. Lange extended an offer on Dec. 12, 2021. Simmons picked the Hawks over offers from Maryland, Xavier, Seton Hall, and Temple.

His decision largely came down to how much the St. Joe’s staff consistently kept in touch with him, emanating the family atmosphere he was looking for.

» READ MORE: Roman Catholic’s Xzayvier Brown commits to St. Joe’s

Simmons transferred to Hillcrest Prep in Gilbert, Ariz. this past season. His family hasn’t been able to see him play much in high school because of pandemic-related restrictions then moving 2,000 miles away from home. The thought of having his whole family — who all live within a 10-mile radius — filling Hagan Arena sealed the commitment to St. Joe’s.

“It came pretty fast, like the end of the recruitment,” Simmons said. “I really didn’t start thinking about my decision until this year. It was kind of hard, but once it felt like the right fit, it was like all the pressure was off my shoulders.”

Simmons considers himself as a versatile guard capable of fitting in seamlessly with the Hawks’ free-flowing system.

“It’s open on the court where everyone gets to do what they do best and be real active,” Simmons said. “I’m excited to just be able to play my game without thinking too much because everybody really feeds off each other’s IQ. I feel like that’s what I do best: playing with other players at a high speed with everyone making the right plays.”

Added Simmons: “I’ve played against [Brown and Finkley] in AAU [with Team Durant] and just growing up in the city … Xzayvier is a great point guard with a high IQ and Anthony has great energy. We’re going to play well together. We all match each other so this is going to be a good incoming class.”

» READ MORE: Anthony Finkley went from basketball scout team to a starring role at Roman Catholic