FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
PAGE 8
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPECIAL SERIES
Sept. 12: Larry Brown, Ted Owens
Sept. 13: Greg Ostertag, Scot Pollard
September 14: Nick Bradford, Jeff Graves, Jeff Hawkins, Ron Kellogg, Ryan Robertson, Billy Thomas
Yesterday: Xavier Henry, Josh Selby
Today: Wayne Simien, Darnell Valentine
Monday: Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Julian Wright
Tuesday: Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison
Wednesday: Marcus and Markieff Morris
Sept. 22: Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush
Sept. 23: Paul Pierce
RETURN OF THE LEGENDS
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Darrell Valentine
YEARS: 1978-1981
Perhaps the greatest defender in school history, Valentine had a nose for the ball and linebacker legs. On Sept. 24, he will likely leave most of the playing to the younger participants. However, under former coach Ted Owens, Valentine was always on the floor, even as a freshman. Valentine's leadership was a reflection of his indefatigable work ethic and athletic prowess.
ACCOLADES
- All-American selection (1981)
*All-American selection (1981)
Academic All-American (1979, 1981)
- Academic All-American (1979-1981)
- One of three Jayhawks to earn All-American honors on the court and in the classroom
- Big Eight Championship (1978)
- First team All-Big Eight selection (1978-1981)
- Fifth in school history with 1,821 points (first among guards) and 609 assists
- First in school history with 541 free throws and 336 steals
- His jersey number, 14, hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse
ON TO THE NBA
One of Valentine's most dramatic moments at Kansas was a rough one. Valentine and the Jayhawks faced Wichita State in the Sweet 16 of the 1981 NCAA Tournament. The game held special meaning to Valentine, who was playing for the first time against his hometown school. Kansas led Wichita State 65-62 with 1:15 left in the game. Valentine bricked a 1-and-1 free throw, and then with the lead cut to one with 28 seconds remaining, blew a lay-up. Wichita State won the game 66-65, its first victory against Kansas.
THESE DAYS
Valentine was the 16th overall pick in the 1981 NBA draft, and spent nine seasons in the league as a player. He served mostly as a defensive ace for the Blazers, the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 8.7 points, 5 assists and 1.5 steals per game for his career.
DEFINING MOMENT
Valentine works with his former team, the Trail Blazers, as director of player development. He works with younger players to ensure that they make the right decisions. With many kids jumping to the NBA after one year of college, Valentine helps ease the transition by sharing advice on responsibility. Some rookies don't know what to do with millions of dollars handed to them in a flash. Others don't understand the meaning of offseason preparation. Valentine is there to pass on his wisdom to guys like Nolan Smith, Elliot Williams, Luke Babbitt and Wesley Matthews.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Wayne Simien
YEARS:2001-2005
Simien was born a Jayhawk. He rooted for the basketball team as a kid, played in basketball camps in Lawrence and was an easy recruit for former coach Roy Williams. He was a scoring and rebounding force in the paint, and his number, 23, was retired on Jan. 29. On that day, legendary broadcaster Max Falkestein summed up Simien's legacy best.
"On the 150th birthday of our state, we honor a young man who is native born, native bred, whi loves Kansas and is one of the nicest guys that you'll ever meet."
ACCOLADES
- First team All-American selection (2005)
- Third team All-American selection (2004)
  - Big 12 Player of the Year (2005)
- Lowe's Senior CLASS Award recipient
- 13th in school history with 1,593 points
- Seventh in school history with 884 rebounds
- Fourth in school history with 38 double-doubles
- His jersey number, 23, hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse
THESE DAYS
ON TO THE NBA
Simien was the 29th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft, and spent two seasons in the league as a player. He never really cracked the Heat's regular rotation, but showed promise as a young power forward with a storied history in college basketball. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game for his career. But the NBA wasn't Simien's calling.
Working as a minister, it seems, is where Simien belongs. After Falkenstein spoke on the day of the jersey's retirement, Simien made his faith clear to a packed Allen Fieldhouse.
He currently works with the University as a religious advisor and mentor of student-athlete development, and as a minister with Called to Greatness, an organization that he founded. The organization features basketball camps and leagues, while also teaching young athletes the importance of religion.
"I really hope my legacy here will be not just someone who grabbed a bunch of rebounds or scored a bunch of points," Simien said. "But I hope that I will be remembered as someone whose life was miraculously transformed by Jesus Christ."
DEFINING MOMENT
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As a kid growing up in Leavenworth, Simien dreamed of days like March 12, 2004. On that day, Kansas trounced Missouri 94-69 in Dallas in a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal. Simien was nearly perfect, scoring 31 points on 12 of 14 shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds and sinking all seven free throw attempts.
"There's no shame playing in the NIT," former Missouri coach Quin Snyder said after the game.
"There's no shame playing in the NIT" former Missouri coach Quin Snyder said after the game. For a native son like Simien, few are sweeter than making Missouri miss the NCAA tournament.
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