Darryl “Buddy” Simmons II, a 5-foot-11 guard transferring from Gardner-Webb, brings a much-needed scoring punch to St. Bonaventure this season.
The incoming junior averaged 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Most notably, Simmons shot an impressive 38.9% from beyond the arc, hitting 2.8 3s per game, a skill the Bonnies sorely lacked last season. St. Bonaventure connected on just 31.2% of their 3-point attempts last season, a key factor in their early exit from the Atlantic 10 Tournament and NIT loss to Kent State.
With Simmons’ shooting ability and scoring mentality, he has the potential to make an immediate impact and elevate the Bonnies’ perimeter offense.
“Buddy is a battle-tested guard who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. While he might be smaller in stature, he brings tremendous heart to the court,” said St. Bonaventure General Manager Adrian Wojnarowski.
Assuming he earns a spot in the starting lineup, Simmons will likely share the backcourt with Dasonte Bowen. In his 11 games last season, Bowen showcased his ability as a strong facilitator and on-ball defender who can also attack the rim. With Bowen pushing the tempo and Simmons, Joe Grahovac and Achille Lonati providing reliable perimeter shooting, the Bonnies’ offense could become much more dynamic and difficult to defend.
“I enjoy coach Schmidt’s up-tempo offense,” said Simmons in an Instagram post announcing his commitment to St. Bonaventure.
With the college basketball season approaching, teams are gearing up to start practicing, so it’ll be fun to hear reports from camp on how Simmons fits in with the team.
