r
Meet North Forsyth's Jairus Simms
North Forsyth's senior
point guard J aims Simms is
an official bailer. I only need
ed to watch one game to rec
ognize that. He instantly
become one of my favorite
bailers in the city when I saw
him play last week.
The six foot, 185-pound
star transferred to North
Forsyth after moving from
High Point over the summer.
J-Simms played his first two
seasons at High Point Central,
then played last season at
High Point Christian, where
he averaged 17 points and
almost 10 assists per game.
He also recently committed to
play his college ball at High
Point University.
I caught up with one of the
city's newest standouts to see
what he thought about the tal
ent in Winston-Salem ?
before North beat a talented
Winston-Salem Prep squad on
Tuesday. He and I also talked
about how he ended up at
North, Mt. Tabor's C.J.
Harris, girls, coach Sean
Vestal and his Scout.com rat
ing.
I definitely enjoyed talk
ing with J-Simms. Take a
look at some of the cool
things we discussed earlier
this week.
Anthony: What's good,
J?
Jairus: What's goin' on.
Anthony: You got it. I'm
chilling. (Smiles.) I saw you
get down on Carver last week.
I was impressed, bruh.
Jairus: Ye-sir.
Anthony: (Smiles.) It
looks like you're doing your0
thing. Is this going to be your
year?
Jairus: Ye-sir.
Anthony: What do you
think about the talent here in
Winston?
Jairus: I think it's real
diverse. It's a lot better than
High Point. There's more
schools and competition. I
? thought this would be a great
place for me to spend my sen
ior year.
Anthony: That's what's
up. Why did you choose
North?
Jairus: My mom and I
actually moved to Winston.
She works like, right down
the street from North Forsyth
High School. It was between
Mt. Tabor and North Forsyth.
I knew a couple players over
here. I thought it would be a
good, new home for me.
Anthony: Interesting that
you mentioned Mt. Tabor.
You've made this rivalry
more intense with your move.
(Both laugh.)
Jairus: Yes sir. (Giggles.)
I've played with CJ? Mike
and Josh (Hicks) when I was
young. We played AAU
together. I felt like this was a
better system over here. I felt
like I could run and have
more freedom with coach
Vestal. I like the way he runs
things over here.
Anthony: What's the best
part about the North team?
You guys look really long.
Jairus: Oh yeah. We're
real athletic too. We run every
chance that we get.
Anthony: Are you guys
already talking about winning
a state championship?
Jairus: Yeah. It's either
state championship or failure.
I believe we're the best team
in the city. We can be the state
champions with work. I think
so.
Anthony: OK. I like
what I saw from you in that
Carver game. But someone
beside me told me that you
weren't showing half your
game. Were you holding
back?
Jairus: (Laughs.) Nah, I
mean. It was kind of first
game jitters. I believe that as
long as we got the W every
thing was OK.
Anthony: I hate it this
interview is coming out after
the Prep game. I would've
loved to talk about that.
Jairus: Ye-sir. (Giggles.)
We're ready tonight. It's
I going to be tough. But I think
e we're going to go in there and
l> take care of business.
L Anthony: What's the best
K part of your game?
Jairus: Uh, I believe it's
limy ability to get past the
?defender and getting into the
Sane. I also feel like I make
She right decisions.
Anthony: (Smiles.) Your
. Spin move is crazy.
I Jairus: (Smiles.) Yeah, I
? ye that too.
Photo by Tun Wilson
North Forsyth's talented point guard Jairus Simms skies over the Carver defense during a game last week.
Anthony: What things
did you work on during the
off season?
Jairus: My perimeter
shot. I really felt like I needed
to work on that. My mid
range game is pretty good. I
just needed to work on my set
shot in the perimeter.
Anthony: You recently
committed to High Point.
What made that the school for
you?
Jairus: I really enjoyed
the campus when I took my
official visit. Being around
High Point all my life, I felt
like that would be a good look
for me,
Anthony: I ask all of the
area guys for a Top 5 of
Winston players. So, give me
your top five.
Jairus: A top Five? OK.
Me, C.J. (Harris), Mike
(Grace), Kemeko Walls,
Gerry Hairston and Josh
Hicks. That's my boy.
Anthony: How are the
One-on-One
with A nthony Hill
little ladies treating J-Simms
at North?
Jairus: Oh, it's lovely.
(Both laugh.)
Anthony: If you could
date any celebrity who would
she be?
Jairus: Stacy Dash. She's
old school. But she's bad,
though.
Anthony: No doubt.
What gets you hyped before
games?
Jairus: Uh, LiP Wayne,
Gucci Mane and O.J. Da
Juiceman.
Anthony: If you could
Sjmms
trade places with any bailer
who would it be?
Jairus: I'd say Derrick
Rose. I like his game. I
believe he should get Rookie
of the Year.
Anthony: I saw they had
you as a two star bailer on
Scout.com. (Jairus laughs.)
What's up with that?
Jairus: I definitely think
I'm underrated. It was really
my fault. I've been playing
with the Gators since I was
14. I was being loyal to the
Gators. And, 17-and-under is
really when you showcase
your talents to the coaches
and show them what you real
ly have.
We only participated in
about two of those showcases,
where scouts could really see
me. That's why I think I'm
two star. But I believe that
I'm better than a lot of point
guards around the nation. I'm
underrated right now. That's
something I need to live with.
Anthony: OK. Let s fin
ish with free association.
Jairus: OK.
Anthony: Uh, Chip
Walls. (North teammate)
Jairus: Buckets.
Anthony: Coach Vestal.
Jairus: Dedication.
Anthony: Winston
Salem
Jairus: Tough competi
tion.
Anthony: Vikings.
Jairus: Excellent.
Anthony: 4-A State
Champs.
Jairus: North Forsyth.
Anthony: Winston
Salem Prep.
Jairus: A loss tonight.
Anthony: Allan Jones.
(West star.)
Jairus: Muscle.
Anthony: (Laughs.) J
Simrns.
Jairus: Tie your shoes
tight.
Anthony: (Both laugh.) I
like that.
Make the holiday meal vour
0 J
crowninc achievement.
O
11k holiJ.iv inc.> 1 is not a time t<> Icaw anvthing to ihance,
especiallv when serving. i tr.ulition.il favorite like C hittcrlings.
So go w ith the hand th.it has been .1 holida\ favorite fur out
(0 vcars: ^leenell i. (. >ur chitterlings are triple cleaned.
And sure to satish all your part\ guests.
Start Today!! I
get 1 -800-S
$25 ?*,.J
Triad Pest Control, Inc.
wasp (9277)
"Wr'r r Goinq Grron,
Come Willi Un!"