Former LSU forward Ben Simmons is in elite company now.

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted the Melbourne, Australia native with the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, joining Hall of Fame Center Shaquille O’Neal as the only two LSU players to be taken first in the draft.

For the first time since 1992, LSU has had players taken in the first round for two straight years after Jarrell Martin was picked 25th by the Memphis Grizzlies last year. O’Neal and Stanley Roberts were the last two LSU players to be drafted in the first round in back-to-back year.

It was also the second straight year a Southeastern Conference player was selected No. 1 after former Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Simmons averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in his lone season at LSU.