The LSU Tigers basketball team has a lot to be excited about next season, what with No. 1 recruit Ben Simmons set to play for the school next year. As a result, the university launched a marketing campaign built around Simmons’ jersey.
LSU also covered all of its bases and launched said campaign with Simmons’s permission and that it was approved by compliance, per ESPN’s Darren Rovell.
A New Era: LSU official tells me it had permission from Ben Simmons to market him like this, compliance approved it pic.twitter.com/xdaZ6BzSD4
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 21, 2015
Kami Mattoli of The Sporting News also reported on the statement LSU made about the campaign.
“This year’s campaign will focus on the arrival of the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Ben Simmons, and his chosen jersey number ’25,'” the release stated. “Through this ’25’ campaign, fans wishing to become season ticket holders will have the opportunity to lock in their season tickets for the 2015-16 men’s basketball season in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center,” LSU said in a press release.
With Simmons now officially on board, LSU will look to become an SEC contender with his help as well as that of incoming freshmen Brandon Sampson and Antonio Blakeney. The Tigers went 21-11 (11-7 SEC) in their third season under Johnny Jones and ranked 12th in the nation in rebounding. The team also made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009 and lost to N.C. State in the Round of 64.