Draft Workouts 2005 - Wayne Simien
With the 2005 NBA Draft rapidly approaching and the Celtics holding the 18th, 50th and 53rd picks overall, Celtics.com will be bringing exclusive behind the scenes info from some of the draft workouts held at The Sports Authority Training Center in Waltham.
Wayne Simien is a power forward out of Kansas who averaged 20.3 points and 11.0 boards per game as a senior in 2004-05. The 6-9 forward has been one the top pivot men in college basketball for several season, as he shot above 53.0% from the field in each of his four seasons at Kansas and helped guide the Jayhawks to a Final Four appearance in 2004. Although he’s not a flashy player, Simien can knock down the mid-range jumper, is a good passer and is a natural rebounder. He’s projected to be drafted anywhere from the late lottery to the late first round.
Celtics.com: How do you think your workout went today?
Wayne Simien: It went great, I had the chance to compete against some great guys, and to have the opportunity to workout with a great organization like this is an honor.
Celtics.com: You’re from Kansas, which has a lot of tradition, but what is it like to workout for an organization like the Celtics and see all the banners on the wall?
Simien: Yeah, I saw a lot of great tradition at Kansas. Coming here and seeing Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers after watching them in the NBA, and now that they’re in the front office trying to keep the Celtics legacy going is great.
Celtics.com: Is there anything specific your trying to show off in these workouts?
Simien: Nothing too specific, I am just trying to continue to do the things that made me successful in college. I try to go out, play hard and have fun while I’m doing it.
Celtics.com: Both Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz are Kansas alums, have you had the opportunity to talk to them?
Simien: Not really, but I do remember when I was a sophomore in high school and wanting to go to Kansas and play with those guys, and I would love to be able to play with them now.
Celtics.com: I have gotten the impression that you’re late lottery to late first-round in the draft, where do you feel you stand?
Simien: I do not know exactly where I stand because there have not been that many workouts. I just want to go out and play hard and compete hard and do the things that made me a First-Team All-American this year and I think everything else will take care of itself.
