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ATHENS, Ohio – Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) hasn't always been in love with basketball; it's brought him some of life's greatest challenges. However, with every challenge, the game of basketball has found a way back into Simmons' life. 

Now, after a career that has featured a MAC Freshman of the Year award and sustained DI success, Simmons is happy to have basketball in his life. 
 
Growing up, Simmons was the son of a former DI basketball player, his mom. His uncle was a collegiate football athlete who had offers to play basketball, and his grandpa was a former basketball coach and referee. The game was inescapable in the Simmons family. 
 
Above everyone else in his family, it was Simmons' grandfather who made him initially fall in love with the game. After Simmons' grandpa died when he was young, he thought he was done playing basketball for good. 
 
Basketball came back into Simmons' life during the COVID-19 pandemic when he and his brother would go out to play because there was nothing else to do. This experience made Simmons fall back in love. 
 
"That was a personal moment in my heart where I kind of realized, like, man, this is what I really wanted, and that's when I really got good," Simmons said. "It was my junior year, and then I got my first couple of basketball offers to go from there."
 
Now with D1 aspirations, Simmons perfected his craft and leaned on his family to become the best player he could be. Coming out of high school, Simmons committed to one of Ohio's Mid-American Conference rivals – the Toledo Rockets.
 
In two seasons at Toledo, Simmons was a force in the MAC. In his freshman season, he was the MAC Freshman of the Year. During his sophomore season, Simmons earned Honorable Mention All-MAC honors after being in the top five in the conference in rebounding with 6.8 rebounds per game. 
 
Something that makes Simmons stand out on the basketball court is his toughness, something that he has taken from both his parents. One moment that stands out to Simmons about his parents is when he and his mom were out practicing so hard that his mom broke her ankle. They didn't stop practicing there; his mom continued to play and only learned later that her ankle had broken. 
 
"My mom's a mentally tough person too, just watching her trials and tribulations as well," Simmons said. "Physical toughness is from my dad, mental from my mom. My dad is really big on imposing your will and just like, hey man, when you step on the court, nobody should be better than you, you should be the toughest person on that corner, regardless."
 
The toughness that Simmons brings is one of the most important things that Ohio coach Jeff Boals saw when recruiting Simmons out of the transfer portal. Among other factors, Boals is excited to add a vocal leader who has experience in the MAC. 
 
"Javan Simmons just gives us a low block presence," Boals said. "He's actually been really, really good from a vocal standpoint, leadership standpoint. Last year with AJ Clayton, he's just a different type of player from him, more like a Dwight Wilson type."
 
At Ohio, Simmons is looking to build on the name that he has already built for himself in the MAC. A big reason why he chose Ohio over other schools in the transfer portal ties back to the importance of his family. Just over an hour away from his hometown of Columbus, Simmons is excited for the opportunity to be close to family. 
 
At The Convo, Simmons expects to have up to 200 people in the stands for some games. As much as Simmons loves having his family in the stands, it also comes with its challenges. 
 
"Some days I really wish I could be here alone," Simmons said. "Some days, you want that, when you look up and you're having a bad game. But, I have plenty of time, whether I play the NBA or be overseas, I'll be alone and my parents won't be there. So I'm just taking it for what it's worth, now."
 
Simmons' family is never shy about providing him with constructive criticism when he's having a bad day, which isn't surprising given his family tree is scattered with successful athletes and coaches. Simmons says that even his grandma will give him a call from time to time to let him know what he can be doing better. 
 
"You know if you hear it from Grandma, it's a problem," Simmons said. "Granny will be like, come on, you gotta run down. You gotta play harder."
 
Simmons said that he and his mom talk on the phone up to five times a day, especially after practices. That relationship has meant more than almost anything for Simmons' career. 
 
"Just calling (my family) and talking to them and being like, listen, I need help with this," Simmons said. "Or even if you're having a mental challenge throughout the day, you know, they get you better than anyone."
 
Since getting to Ohio, Simmons has enjoyed getting to know his new teammates, players that he was previously bitter rivals. During the 2024-25 season, Simmons and Toledo eliminated Ohio in the MAC Tournament. 
 
"We talk about it all the time, and we're laughing about it, but then I know when we step on that court like it doesn't matter, I know it cancels out," Simmons said. "Once I play that first game, whatever happened in the past doesn't matter anymore."
 
Simmons has played two games as an opposing player in The Convo. In those games, Simmons recalls absolutely hating playing in Athens. Remembering what that was like, makes him even more excited to suit up and step onto the floor as a member of the Bobcats for the first time. 
 
"Coming here and hearing them and seeing them cheer and me being an enemy, I'm like, what is that gonna be like now that I'm a player here?" Simmons said. "So I can't wait to feel that, I feel like the people here and the students really played a part in my coming here."
 
One thing that has made the adjustment easy for Simmons is a preexisting relationship with several guys on the team from his AAU days, including Ajay Sheldon, Dior Conners, Carter Reece and Jordan Fisher. 
 
Now, preparing for his first season as a Bobcat, Simmons is ready to go from a hated enemy to a fan favorite inside The Convo. 
 
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