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For big guy, expectations high

Lecanto's Greg Simerly looks to make his mark inside and on the wing.

By DAWN REISS
Published November 22, 2006

LECANTO - Senior Greg Simerly can see it in his opponents' eyes when he steps on the court.

"There's the big tough guy," said the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Simerly. "The big grizzly bear.

"But really I'm just a big nice guy who doesn't pick fights. I'm a lover, not a fighter."

Still, Simerly has made a name for himself as a bruiser. As Lecanto's lone returning starter from last year's 22-5, Class 4A, District 4 championship team, expectations are high.

He was a center last year, part of a tandem with Collin Pugh. Simerly started all 27 games, but when the Panthers needed finesse, they turned to Pugh.

This year the situation will be different, with Pugh and Simerly on the court together. Simerly will try the wing as well as playing close to the basket.

"He's just a big strong kid who can rebound inside," Lecanto coach Chris Nichols said. "We can count on him to do those things, but we're going to try to get him away from the basket a little bit."

Although Simerly spent part of the summer at Ohio-based basketball camps - a ritual he's done since fifth grade - he also played AAU basketball and became a mascot of sorts for Lecanto's volleyball team, which needed taller athletes for its players to practice blocking against.

Simerly's extra training, combined with a daily weightlifting routine, helped strengthen his calves and core.

But he took a nasty fall during the fundraising Rails to Trails bicycle ride in October.

"I wasn't paying attention, and I slammed on my breaks," Simerly said.

The spill took a chunk of flesh off Simerly's right ankle and left him sidelined from basketball for six weeks.

In Simerly's can-do, nothing-phases-me way, he took the injury in stride and has practiced harder than ever.

It's his father, Don, Lecanto's 6-foot-9 head junior varsity coach, who is helping his son improve his post moves in the hopes of catching college scouts. It's something Simerly's father is familiar with, after playing for Cedarville Ohio University in the mid and late 1980s.

"He's not afraid of contact," Simerly's father said. "He's someone who doesn't back down from a challenge."

And he knows being versatile is important for Simerly's future.

"I obviously like contact down low, but he wants me to add some finesse," Simerly said. "You know facing up to the basket for the 4-foot jumper."

Don't expect Simerly to give up his backdoor brashness soon. He knows how to power dribble and get fouled. And he likes it too much.

"It's the natural three-point play," Nichols said. "And I think that's a weapon we can make use of."

And Simerly likes his chances from the free-throw line.

"It's the easiest shot in the game of basketball," he said. "What's not to like about it."

Last year, he made it look even easier by averaging 79.6 percent in his 54 free-throw attempts. And he averaged 4.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and one blocked shot a game.

Simerly loves it when the crowd goes wild, cheering as he drives past a defender to the basket.

"It's such an adrenaline rush," Simerly said. "I get all pumped up."

Dawn Reiss can be reached at dreiss@sptimes.com or (352) 860-7303.

[Last modified November 21, 2006, 22:09:31]