Montverde Academy is known for developing its students academically and also leading them to success in athletics. The school’s varsity basketball team is nationally ranked and is credited for sending more than 65 players on to the collegiate level via scholarship over the past 10 years.
Montverde Academy’s 2014-15 varsity basketball team included Ben Simmons (LSU 2015-16), a three-time national champion as well as a McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand All American and Gatorade Player of the Year. After a successful high school and college basketball career, he is now headed to the big leagues.
During last night’s NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers chose Simmons over Duke’s Brandon Ingram in the first overall selection, but the Los Angeles Lakers quickly picked up Ingram with the second overall pick. The Boston Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown, a California forward from the University of California, Berkeley, in the third pick.
Simmons is the first top pick in any sport to come from a school in Lake and Sumter counties.