For Ben Simmons’ career in college, it’s more awards and a possible future filled with dollar signs.
On Monday, the Associated Press announced Simmons as the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year and an unanimous member of the SEC’s First Team.
Simmons was also named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches last week, and has accrued two other national freshman of the year awards.
Simmons and SEC Player of the Year Kentucky sophomore guard Tyler Ulis were unanimous choices to the league’s first team.
The first team included Ulis, Simmons, Ole Miss’ senior guard Stefan Moody, Kentucky’s freshman guard Jamal Murray and Texas A&M’s senior forward Jalen Jones as the league’s top five players.
Simmons is the third player in Division I history for most double-doubles in one season by a freshman with 23, tying former UCLA star Kevin Love.
Report: Simmons near signing deal with Klutch Sports
Simmons, a possible No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, is close to penning a contract with Klutch Sports, a LeBron James-funded agency.
James, Klutch Sports and Rich Paul, James’ agent, have been recruiting Simmons since 2014 when he attended James’ Skills Academy, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
In the report, James’ sister, Emily Bush, has worked as a marketing and branding employee for Klutch Sports since 2014, the beginning of Simmons’ recruitment. The agreement for Simmons to sign with Klutch has been in effect for more than a year now, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Simmons is expected to train in Cleveland or Los Angeles during the pre-draft process.
Simmons, though, has enjoyed his time in Baton Rouge, he said after Saturday’s 71-38 loss to Texas A&M.
“I want to play with these team for as long as I can,” Simmons said. “I love my teammates and my coach and stuff. These guys are like brothers to me. I don’t want to leave.”
For Simmons, he said he didn’t expect LSU’s number of wins and losses to come out the way it did, but he just focused on his training.
“For me, I just wanted to play and do whatever I can to win for my team,” he said. “I didn’t tell myself where I was going to be, or where the team was going to be. All I knew was we were going to go out and work hard and try to get better everyday.”
Johnny Jones set to close season on Tuesday
LSU coach Johnny Jones is set to close out the 2015-16 season with a press conference at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
As a whole after Saturday’s loss, Jones found himself in a state of disappointment.
“So as a season, we’ve had some great ups,” Jones said. “Any time you end the way we did [Saturday], you’re very disappointed.”

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Javier Fernández

LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons (25) shoots the ball during the Tigers’ 80-71 victory against Missouri on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in the PMAC.