Simpson is a 6-9, 220-pound forward/center from Chicago. He attends
Simeon High School under the direction of head coach Robert Smith.
Simpson transferred to Simeon this past summer after playing at Leo
High School for head coach Noah Cannon. Simpson is also a member of
the Illinois Warriors AAU team, coached by Larry Butler.
Simpson averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks last season
during his junior year at Leo. He earned All-Catholic League honors,
leading Leo to the 2007 sectional finals where the Lions were beaten
by his current school in two-time defending state champion Simeon.
Simpson was named special mention all-state by the Chicago Tribune
and honorable mention all-state by the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette
and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA). He is rated
a three-star recruit by Scout.com and is widely
considered one of the top two big men in the state of Illinois.
"We are excited to sign Stan and feel he will be a versatile big man
for us with his ability to play both the power forward and center
positions," Weber said. "His strength as a junior was more
rebounding, shot blocking and scoring down low. He can score with
his back to the basket and has worked hard on his skill development
and post moves. In addition to his inside game, he is now starting
to face up and can shoot it well out to 15 feet. He helped Leo have
some success and now he is playing for a perennial power with Coach
Smith at Simeon. Stan will benefit from the competition he'll face
in practice each day and from playing in one of the top conferences
in the nation in the Chicago Public League."
Simpson continues the proud tradition of standout Simeon basketball
players selecting the University of Illinois. He will join a list of
Simeon alums to attend Illinois that includes Nick Anderson, Deon
Thomas, Bryant Notree, Ervin Small, Kevin Turner and current junior
Calvin Brock.