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Barack Obama Just Tipped Aussie Basketballer Ben Simmons For Greatness

Barack Obama Just Tipped Aussie Basketballer Ben Simmons For Greatness
BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 05: Ben Simmons #25 of the LSU Tigers reacts to a dunk against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU defeated Kentucky 85-67. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Revere via Getty Images
BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 05: Ben Simmons #25 of the LSU Tigers reacts to a dunk against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU defeated Kentucky 85-67. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

College basketballer Ben Simmons is getting all sorts of praise this season, but it doesn't come much bigger than from the White House.

Barack Obama himself, a famous basketball junkie, tipped the Aussie college phenom who has been widely touted as a future #1 overall NBA draft pick, for greatness while visiting Baton Rouge, near New Orleans.

Simmons has dominated for the Louisiana State University Tigers this year, averaging over 20 points and 12 assists per game. Per game. That's incredible.

The 19-year-old forward is taking college basketball system and if Obama is any kind of prognosticator this is just the beginning -- after mentioning Simmons in the same breath as all-time legend Michael Jordan.

"I thought I might mention you've got an OK basketball player named Ben Simmons in the house," Obama said in jest (and to huge cheers) in his address at McKinley High School.

Obama then followed up his address with a bit of Q and A on Twitter.

When asked to rate LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan as the Greatest Of All time, the unabashed Chicago native inevitably tabbed MJ as his GOAT.

Then he gave a special shout-out to our own Ben Simmons.

Simmons has won the White House. Next stop: the NBA.

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