Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Getting to know MT newcomer David Simmons
7/28/2017 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
JuCo transfer feels right at home in the Boro
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Visiting Middle Tennessee almost felt like coming home to David Simmons when he was looking for a place to continue his basketball career.
The upcoming junior from Henderson, Kentucky – a suburb of Evansville, Indiana on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River – spent two seasons at Tallahassee Community College after graduating from Henderson County High School.
Though he quickly settled in and learned in his two years at TCC to appreciate living in Tallahassee, Florida so far away from his family, moving to the Boro after fulfilling his two years of eligibility for the Eagles almost felt like a blessing.
"It really reminds me of home," Simmons said. "A lot of the country out here reminds me of home a lot.
"This was the only visit I came on. I had a lot of other schools recruiting me, but I saw MT in the tournament and knew I wanted to come here. It's a place that fits me and fits the way I like to play, and being so close to home is a bonus."
If Simmons ever felt homesick in Tallahassee, it didn't show on the court.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard played in 61 career games for TCC, averaging 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals. He was the Panhandle Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 and a two-time First Team All-PC member.
Simmons was also an honors student and a freshman representative on the TCC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"The conference I played in was one of the best in the nation, so that definitely prepared me for the type of ball I think I'll see here," he said.
Simmons was recruited to TCC in head coach Mark White's first recruiting class and clearly excelled in his system, leading the Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons in one of the most talented junior college conferences in the nation.
He hopes his experiences under White will prepare him for the program he's stepping into at MT.
"I feel like it prepared me a lot because I had a really strict coach," Simmons said. "Coach White was really big on academics and working hard, so that prepared me a lot for what Coach Davis expects here.
"I think Coach White might have been a little crazier, even. He's always in your face and really makes sure you're doing what you're supposed to in the classroom."
On the court, Simmons hopes to bring versatility with his size and athleticism at the guard spot to the Blue Raiders.
He also wants to be an ignitor when he steps on the floor with toughness and effort.
"I like to do a lot of things on the court, whether that's putting the ball on the floor, finding my teammates, getting to the boards or just making hustle plays," Simmons said.
When he finally takes his first steps onto the floor under the Murphy Center lights against a real opponent for the first time, Simmons knows he'll do so with his family in the stands.
At just under three hours away, Henderson is within easy driving distance from Murfreesboro for Simmons' mom, Lisa, and his family. It's also a nice Sunday drive compared to the almost 10-hour trek from Henderson to Tallahassee.
The closer distance to home doesn't mean he'll be itching to get home every weekend, though. After all, Simmons is still a college student.
"I'm only two hours and 40 minutes from home, but I like it here a lot and don't honestly know how much I will go home. My mom may have to come visit me here," he joked.
The upcoming junior from Henderson, Kentucky – a suburb of Evansville, Indiana on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River – spent two seasons at Tallahassee Community College after graduating from Henderson County High School.
Though he quickly settled in and learned in his two years at TCC to appreciate living in Tallahassee, Florida so far away from his family, moving to the Boro after fulfilling his two years of eligibility for the Eagles almost felt like a blessing.
"It really reminds me of home," Simmons said. "A lot of the country out here reminds me of home a lot.
"This was the only visit I came on. I had a lot of other schools recruiting me, but I saw MT in the tournament and knew I wanted to come here. It's a place that fits me and fits the way I like to play, and being so close to home is a bonus."
If Simmons ever felt homesick in Tallahassee, it didn't show on the court.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard played in 61 career games for TCC, averaging 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals. He was the Panhandle Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 and a two-time First Team All-PC member.
Simmons was also an honors student and a freshman representative on the TCC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"The conference I played in was one of the best in the nation, so that definitely prepared me for the type of ball I think I'll see here," he said.
Simmons was recruited to TCC in head coach Mark White's first recruiting class and clearly excelled in his system, leading the Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons in one of the most talented junior college conferences in the nation.
He hopes his experiences under White will prepare him for the program he's stepping into at MT.
"I feel like it prepared me a lot because I had a really strict coach," Simmons said. "Coach White was really big on academics and working hard, so that prepared me a lot for what Coach Davis expects here.
"I think Coach White might have been a little crazier, even. He's always in your face and really makes sure you're doing what you're supposed to in the classroom."
On the court, Simmons hopes to bring versatility with his size and athleticism at the guard spot to the Blue Raiders.
He also wants to be an ignitor when he steps on the floor with toughness and effort.
"I like to do a lot of things on the court, whether that's putting the ball on the floor, finding my teammates, getting to the boards or just making hustle plays," Simmons said.
When he finally takes his first steps onto the floor under the Murphy Center lights against a real opponent for the first time, Simmons knows he'll do so with his family in the stands.
At just under three hours away, Henderson is within easy driving distance from Murfreesboro for Simmons' mom, Lisa, and his family. It's also a nice Sunday drive compared to the almost 10-hour trek from Henderson to Tallahassee.
The closer distance to home doesn't mean he'll be itching to get home every weekend, though. After all, Simmons is still a college student.
"I'm only two hours and 40 minutes from home, but I like it here a lot and don't honestly know how much I will go home. My mom may have to come visit me here," he joked.
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