He’s now more than a casual observer of Roy Williams’ program.

He’s a future Jayhawk player.

Simien, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward who averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds last season for the Class 6A state champion Pioneers, has verbally committed to Kansas, ending the recruiting process before it really started.

“It’s a lifelong dream. That is what I would call it,” Simien said Thursday.

“I’ve always wanted to go to KU. It feels good to be part of the family.”

Simien he hit 63.5 percent of his floor shots and 73 percent of his free throws last season has been a fixture at KU home games the past two seasons, sitting behind the KU bench on unofficial recruiting visits.

He’s a Jayhawk through and through.

“It’s been his lifetime dream to play at Kansas. He’s been going to coach Williams’ camp since he was 8-years-old. I’m really happy for him,” Leavenworth High coach Larry Hogan said of Simien, who helped the Pioneers to 23 wins in 25 tries.

“He had a great season. He’s been a joy to coach,” Hogan said. “He’s just a great kid. He has a tremendous work ethic. After we won state (on a Saturday), several of the kids were in the weight room Monday afternoon. Wayne was one of those kids. He’s willing to put in the time needed to be the best he can be.”

In fact, Simien says he’s already working out improving his outside shooting skills.

“This past year, I played a lot on the inside and I saw a lot of double and triple teams,” Simien said. “Coach (Hogan) said I will move outside a bit next year. Coach Williams says I’ll probably be a four (power forward) at KU, so I’ll work on developing all parts of my game.”

Hogan says Simien is an accomplished junior. He’s tickled to be able to work with the player one more season.

“He is an excellent shooter, a power post player for us,” Hogan said. “He is going to be able to move out on the floor. He hit 2 of 5 three-pointers and has that ability to step out and shoot. He is also a very good defender. Of course he must get better to play on the next level. You’d have to ask coach Williams, but I’d say he probably would be a 4-man (power forward).”

Simien said a recent conversation with coach Williams convinced him to end the recruiting process early.

“The recruiting process is something I wanted to experience but when I learned coach Williams definitely wanted me, I accepted the scholarship,” Simien said. “I can give up the recruiting process to be a part of this program.”

Simien said he followed the Jayhawks as a youth but really became hooked, “when Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz played there. They were great players and KU always had such good teams under coach Williams,” he said.

“I’ve gotten to know some of the players. I decided to play for the best coach in the country and play with the best players.”

Simien, by the way, received a scare earlier this season when he passed out on the bench during a game. He was diagnosed with a heart problem and recently had surgery to correct the problem.

“He’s perfectly fine,” Simien’s dad, Wayne Sr., said. “All it was … a valve on the backside of the heart closes when you are born. Wayne’s never closed. You find it a lot in younger kids. There’s a risk of infection if it isn’t closed.

“They did the procedure last Thursday and by Friday he was at school with the leg bandaged up.”

Doctors went through a vein in the leg to reach the area in the heart.

“The doctors say he’ll be more active than ever. I find that hard to believe. He’s pretty active now,” Hogan said with a laugh.

NOTES

Leavenworth High has sent three players to KU throughout history: Clint Johnson, Brad Sanders and former Lawrence High coach Ron Lang.

Simien cannot sign a letter of intent until next November. A good bet would be him making an official visit at next October’s Late Night With Roy Williams. That visit would be a mere formality, as he’s firm in his commitment to KU.