#11 Simisola Shittu Season 2018-19

General:

• Shittu, from Burlington, Ont. and the Vermont Academy, signed his National Letter of Intent with the Commodores in November in 2017.
• A consensus five-star forward/center Shittu was considered one of the best frontcourt prospects to enter college basketball in 2018-19.
• Played in 32 games as a true freshman and made 31 starts.

Freshman (2018-19):

• Played in 32 games and started 31.  Averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
• Had five double-doubles on the season and scored in double figures in 19 games as a true freshman.
• Scored career-high 21 points against Ole Miss; named the conference’s Freshman of the Week after averaging 19 points, nine rebounds and 3.5 assists against UNC Asheville and Ole Miss.
• SEC’s second-leading freshman rebounder with 6.7 rebounds per game.  His rebound total tied for the fourth-most by a Vanderbilt freshman in a single season (A.J. Ogilvy).
• Scored 21 points in the SEC opener against Ole Miss, and it was the most by a Vanderbilt freshman in an SEC opener since A.J. Ogilvy scored 25 points in an 80-73 win over South Carolina at Memorial Gym on January 9, 2008.
• Posted 15 rebounds in win at USC, which tied for the ninth-most rebounds in a game in the last 20 years.
• Ranked in top 10 in SEC in defensive rebounds per game (7th, 5.13) and free throw attempts (9th, 151).

Prior to Vanderbilt:

• Attended the Vermont Academy in Rockingham, Vt.
• Averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists per game on the spring and summer AAU circuit for CIA Bounce.
• Was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2018, Vanderbilt’s second honoree in the class of 2018 (point guard Darius Garland).
• Also a Jordan Brand honoree.
• Averaged 19.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for Vermont Academy in 2016-17.
• Ranked seventh-best prospect in the class of 2018 and the number-one ranked power forward by Rivals.com.

Personal:

• Oluwasimisola Shittu.
• November 7, 1999.
• Son of Adesoji and Omena Shittu.
• Has one brother, Tayo.
• Undecided in major.
• Advice to young people:  “If you put in the work, everything will take care of itself.”