Class Of 2009 Player Watch: Dyricus Simms-Edwards

December 30, 2007

11:45 A.M. CST

Considering the rich basketball tradition and high level of talent that has encompassed high school basketball in the Peoria area over the years, when a player from that region starts becoming highly touted we take notice.  Such is the case this season with Dyricus Simms-Edwards, a 6'1 junior point guard from Washington High School in Washington, IL.

We got an opportunity to watch Simms-Edwards in a quarterfinal contest vs. Hersey at this year's Pekin Holiday Tournament and came away extremely impressed.  In a 57-46 loss to Hersey, Simms-Edwards scored 17 points.  But more importantly, we thought despite his team's loss Simms-Edwards was the best player on the floor in that game.  That is a heavy statement when one considers that the contest also featured a pair of recruits who have signed with D1 schools in Washington's 6'3 Matt Roth and Hersey's 6'8 Luke Fabrizius.

Simply put, Simms-Edwards is a heady point guard who is a good penetrator and quick to the basket.  He makes good decisions with the ball and gets everyone involved.  Not only that, but Simms-Edwards also showed that he can shoot the ball from beyond the arc, converting from three-point range, as well as hit shots off the dribble.  Defensively, he is an outstanding man-to-man defender who gets into the passing lanes and be quite disruptive.

Recruiting-wise, Simms-Edwards has already drawn considerable D1 interest and is a top recruiting priority in the class of 2009 for Bradley University.  We expect his recruitment to take off even more come this spring and summer when he competes on the AAU circuit with the Illinois Wolves, a team that is loaded with outstanding D1 guards, including 6'4 Joe Bertrand and 6'3 Diamond Taylor from the class of 2009 and 6'1 DeAndre McCamey from the class of 2010.

At the present time, there is no doubt in our mind that Simms-Edwards is a solid mid major prospect.  However, with continued work and progression, he is capable of emerging as a high major when it is all said and done.

Continue to check in with Illinois Prep Bulls-eye for all of the latest as it pertains to high school basketball and recruiting in Illinois.