Wayne Simien is beginning to reap the benefits of staying in college one more year.

Simien, Kansas University’s 6-foot-9, 255-pound senior power forward from Leavenworth, who last spring decided against early entry into the NBA draft, Tuesday was named Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of league coaches.

“It’s good to be considered one of the top players in the conference. (I’ve) definitely worked for it,” said Simien, the only unanimous choice on the coaches’ All-Big 12 team, which included KU senior Keith Langford.

“Everybody knows the preseason stuff doesn’t mean much. You make sure you handle your business and continue to give your team the best opportunity to win … W’s, that’s more important to me.”

The Jayhawk duo shared all-league honors with Oklahoma State’s Joey Graham and John Lucas and Iowa State’s Curtis Stinson.

KU’s J.R. Giddens and Aaron Miles were named honorable mention all-league with Missouri’s Jimmy McKinney and Linus Kleiza, Oklahoma’s Kevin Bookout, Texas’ Jason Klotz and P.J. Tucker and Texas A&M’s Antoine Wright.

OU’s Taj Gray of Wichita was named Newcomer of the Year and Texas’ Daniel Gibson Freshman of the Year.

Simien was pleased to see Langford garner first-team mention.

“I think he definitely deserves it, especially the way he played last year fighting through the injuries and what-not,” Simien said of Langford, a 6-4 senior from Fort Worth, Texas, who had offseason knee surgery to repair cartilage damage.

6Sports video: Big 12 coaches heap hype on Simien Bio: Wayne Simien Bio: Keith Langford

Of the first-team mention, Langford said: “It’s cool. It’s all preseason. My biggest thing is winning.

“Obviously, coaches have a different perspective that writers don’t. Not to knock any writers, but coaches put their whole lives into scouting talent and showing what a player means to a team even though it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet a lot.”

His surgically repaired right knee is feeling strong.

“I feel good, better than I have in months. It feels good to know I have physical capabilities I had awhile ago,” Langford said.

Simien, who had a groin injury last season, also is healthy.

“My body feels great. I’m feeling good, moving good, running good,” Simien said. “We’ve got a few guys nicked up, but not me.”

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Galindo’s injury: Freshman shooting guard Alex Galindo has yet to practice this season because of a groin pull. He mostly has worked out on the stationary bike and shot on the side.

“It’s hard not being out there with my teammates,” Galindo said Tuesday. “I’m slowly getting back to playing again. I’ve been doing some drills until it starts to get sore. I’m doing more and more.”

Galindo, who said he expected to return to practice later this week, said he aggravated a groin injury dunking in warmups at Late Night in the Phog.

He is trying to be a sponge on the sidelines.

“I’m listening to what coach is saying so when I get out there I won’t be far behind,” he said.

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More bumps, bruises: Freshman forward C.J. Giles sat out practice Monday and Tuesday because of shin splints. He will return to practice Thursday. … Junior forward Moulaye Niang missed much of practice Tuesday because of an ankle sprain, but the injury isn’t considered serious.

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Recruiting: Coach Bill Self, who has filled three of four scholarship slots for the class of 2005 with Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs and Julian Wright, said he did not envision landing anybody else during the fall. He said he would continue to recruit next semester and did not plan to save the scholarship for the ensuing year. The early signing period runs Nov. 10-17.

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Newton on hand: Former KU forward Milt Newton, director of player personnel of the Washington Wizards, attended Tuesday’s practice.

“I’m making the rounds. You come out and watch practice, watch guys,” Newton said. “You try to get a little idea who is doing what. I’ll go to some other schools, too.”

Several individuals with KU ties are in front offices of NBA teams, including R.C. Buford, senior vice president/general manager of the San Antonio Spurs, and Kevin Pritchard, director of player personnel of Portland’s TrailBlazers.

“Kansas is a program deep in tradition, not only with players but coaches,” Newton said. “You get such a good foundation here, how to play the game and a good education. It’s a great place.”

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Self on Langford and Simien: “Based on past seasons, I think they are very deserving, but those guys would be the first to tell you it really doesn’t mean much. Now the job is to go out and play like first-teamers, play like player of the year. They are very capable of being on that team at the end of the season. Only if Kansas does well, will they be deserving.”