Junior forward Wayne Simien, who was named Most Valuable Player at Thursday’s Kansas University men’s basketball awards ceremony, reiterated he would return to KU for his senior season to a crowd of 1,200 fans at Horejsi Center.

The futures of two other Jayhawks, however, likely include other destinations.

Freshman Omar Wilkes dropped a bombshell after the ceremony, indicating he would transfer to an undisclosed school after this semester.

Meanwhile, sophomore Moulaye Niang said he had been granted a release and would visit Texas Christian and San Diego State in successive weeks.

Wilkes, a 6-foot-4 guard from Los Angeles, played 21 games in 2003-04, averaging 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds while logging 3.5 minutes per contest.

“I’m leaving KU with absolutely no ill will toward any of the players or staff,” Wilkes said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and I’ve built many great relationships, which I’m sure I will continue on a personal level off the court now. I believe it’s in my best interest to pursue my education and my basketball career closer to home where I can interact more with my family and feel more comfortable.”

Wilkes said he was likely to transfer somewhere in or around Los Angeles, and KU coach Bill Self said he could understand why.

“Omar told me Tuesday of some concerns about his situation here at Kansas — primarily being so far away from home,” Self said. “He and I discussed it at length, and we decided we would talk about it again after the team’s awards ceremony. Omar has now made the decision to transfer closer to home.

“It goes without saying Omar is one of the best young men that I’ve had the opportunity to coach. He went through some typical freshman struggles in which he didn’t play as much as I’m sure he would have liked over the course of the season, but certainly his presence was felt and he impacted our basketball team.

Kansas University sophomore Moulaye Niang attends the men's basketball awards ceremony Thursday at Horejsi Center. Niang was granted his release by KU and coach Bill Self.

“Omar did very well in school, and I really believe he is going to be an excellent college basketball player. Unfortunately for Kansas, it will now happen on the West Coast.”

Niang likely will move to TCU to play for former KU assistant Neil Dougherty or play at San Diego State.

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A native of Senegal, the 6-11 Niang played high school ball in El Cajon, Calif.

“I love it here,” Niang said of KU. “I love the people, the coaches, the fans; the only thing I’m having a hard time with is the playing time. I am the type of player who wants to be part of everything and I want to play.

“I want to do whatever I can to help my team win. I feel like right now sitting on the bench I’m not helping the team do well. I got my release from coach, and now I’m going to see what the future holds.”

6Sports video: Wilkes, Niang to transfer

Niang, who averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in 27 games this past season, likely will land at San Diego State.

“I cannot tell you that. I cannot tell you for sure right now I am leaving,” Niang said. “I will visit those places and see what I think.”

Self said Niang still would have a spot on the team if he returned to KU.

Wayne Simien, left, recieves the Dr. Forrest C. Phog Allen MVP Award from coach Bill Self. Simien won the cup during Thursday's basketball awards ceremony at Horejsi Center.

“Moulaye expressed to me although he loves Kansas, he loves the people here and he’s had a very good experience here his first two years, now that he’s becoming a junior it’s time for him to play more minutes. I certainly understand where he’s coming from,” Self said.

“We will support any decision that he makes. Moulaye is a terrific young man, and I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to coach him.”

As far as Simien, the third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 Conference pick was gracious, thanking his teammates for helping him win MVP honors.

“It’s tough to see Brett (Olson), Jeff (Graves) and Bryant (Nash) go. I have great memories of them as my teammates,” Simien said. “To be able to be on the court and compete is a blessing. I’ll be back next year.”

• New award: Junior point guard Miles claimed the first “Danny Manning Mr. Jayhawk Award.” It goes to the player who, according to Self, “has the best attitude, cares so much and is totally unselfish, a leader in the locker room, one guy who encompasses everything.”

Self said that player was Miles.

“If everybody cared as much as this guy, the University of Kansas would never lose a game,” Self said.

Of the award, he said: “It was my idea. I think we have a lot of people’s names on awards, Danny is not one of them. I think Danny’s name deserves to be on an award. At Illinois, we had back-to-back winners of this type of award to walk-ons who never played. It goes to players who through their work show how much they care every day.”

• Roberts still involved with two schools: KU associate head coach Norm Roberts has not been commenting publicly about his involvement with head-coaching positions at St. John’s and Miami.

“I’m just waiting to hear (from them),” Roberts said.

Self indicated: “I think Norm is involved with both situations. I don’t think he will know anything before the weekend is over.”

Self told the fans “we’ll keep our fingers crossed,” that Roberts, who he called a “best friend,” would land a head-coaching job soon. “He’s been invaluable, a vital cog in wherever we’ve been,” Self said.

• One more signee?: Because of the NCAA’s 5 and 8 rule, KU can sign just one more player this year even with Wilkes and Niang leaving. A team can sign no more than five players in one year and eight in two. KU signed four last year and has signed three this year.

KU is pursuing Malik Hairston, 6-5 from Detroit, and has started recruiting Alex Galindo, 6-6, 203 from St. Benedict’s High in Newark, N.J.

• No more leaving: Self, who has had discussions with all his players this week, said he did not expect any additional players to leave the team.
• Next season: Self was optimistic about next year in speaking to the fans: “This year we knocked on the door. Next year is time to kick it in,” he said.