Kansas basketball: All-time Bill Self era Jayhawks team
Forward: Wayne Simien (2001–2005)
Playing for both Roy Williams and Bill Self, Wayne Simien left his mark on KU basketball. As a Kansas native, Simien is still one of the best homegrown talents to be a Jayhawk. Here are just a few of his accolades:
- Three-time Big 12 champion
- 2005 Consensus first-team All-American
- 2005 Big 12 Player of the Year
- 2004 Third-team All-American
- Two-time first-team All-Big 12
- Jersey retired
As a senior, Simien put up 20.3 points and 11 rebounds per game on his way to a first-team All-American selection. Simien went to two Final Fours during his time as a Jayhawk; however, his college career ended on an early upset by No. 14 seed Bucknell in 2005.
The Bucknell loss is still one of the most brutal of the Bill Self era.
After his four years of eligibility were up, Simien was taken with the No. 29 overall pick in the NBA Draft, just barely in the first round. Simien spent a couple of years with the Miami Heat, even winning an NBA title in 2006. Simien retired from professional basketball after finishing the 2009 season with Cáceres Ciudad del Baloncesto in Spain.
Others considered: Perry Ellis, Darrell Arthur, Dedric Lawson