Kansas Senior Wayne Simien Named Associated Press Preseason All-America

Nov. 9, 2004

LAWRENCE – Kansas senior forward Wayne Simien was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team Tuesday. Simien earned AP third-team All-America honors last season. He is on numerous preseason All-America teams for 2004-05 and is the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year in both the coaches and media polls.

Wake Forest’s Chris Paul received 55 votes from a national media panel to make the team along with four seniors: Lawrence Roberts of Mississippi State (50 votes), Simien (50), Julius Hodge of North Carolina State (41), and Hakim Warrick of Syracuse (33).

“To be mentioned as one of the top five in all of college basketball is a great honor,” Simien said. “At Kansas, we have an opportunity to play as such a high level competitively, to play with great guys and under a great coach — that’s definitely what has gotten me here.”

The last Kansas Associated Press Preseason All-America selection was Kirk Hinrich entering the 2002-03 season.

“This is probably more of a tribute to what Wayne has done in the past,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self. “I can honestly say he is our most improved player so hopefully he’ll continue to build off what he has already done.”