Former Kansas University forward Wayne Simien relaxes Thursday in Allen Fieldhouse. Simien, who has had some health problems the past two years, will be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers' summer league team July 11-20 in Las Vegas. He'll also host a camp July 29-31 at Free State.

Former Kansas University forward Wayne Simien relaxes Thursday in Allen Fieldhouse. Simien, who has had some health problems the past two years, will be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers' summer league team July 11-20 in Las Vegas. He'll also host a camp July 29-31 at Free State.

Kansas' Wayne Simien shoots over Oklahoma State's Joey Graham during one of his final games at Allen Fieldhouse.

A young woman approached former Kansas University basketball All-American Wayne Simien as he ran some errands in Lawrence the other day.

She did not want an autograph.

“She said, ‘I have a story I remember about you, not on the court but at Jayhawker Towers,'” Simien said of his living quarters from 2001 to ’05.

“She said, ‘My grocery bag broke and everything fell out. You stopped, helped me pick up my groceries and helped me carry them to the room. I’m trying to teach my two sons to have that same kind of character.’

“I was like, ‘Man, that’s pretty powerful,” added Simien, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound gentle giant who played for the NBA’s Miami Heat for two seasons, sat out last year to rehab a knee injury, and is now on the summer roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“She didn’t come up to me and say, ‘Wayne I remember how many points you scored,’ but that’s the thing she remembered and is trying to teach to her boys. That’s one of the reasons I’m having this basketball camp.”

Simien, 25, this week announced his plans for his first “Called to Greatness” basketball camp for boys and girls grades 4-12 to be held July 29-31 at Free State High. The camp will not only focus on basketball instruction and 5-on-5 scrimmaging, but spiritual matters. Simien’s Web site (iamctg.org) says to “expect training to be rooted in Scriptural teaching. For example, each camper will learn what the Bible says about perseverance, attitude, aiming high and setting goals.”

“We want to call these kids to be great in every area of their life, not just basketball, but as students and future role models,” said Simien, who plans on bringing in guest speakers from “all over the country, different coaches and professional athletes touching on different subjects young people face as well.”

Simien, who reached two Final Fours in his four seasons at KU (he’s the schools seventh-leading rebounder and 12th leading scorer) – has faced many obstacles, in the form of injuries.

Simien – he had knee and shoulder woes at KU – played in 43 games his rookie season with the Miami Heat, but just eight in 2006-07. He was hit hard by salmonella poisoning and the infection had him in the hospital nine days.

“I didn’t think I was going to die, but it was pretty tough. I was always confident I was going to be able to pull through,” Simien said. “I had my family right there with me and I had my faith rooted in Jesus Christ. I was not fearful about dying. I’ve felt great this last year and a half going on two years, no symptoms, no tests or results or anything like that. Right now I believe I’m healed.”

Just as the salmonella cleared, he suffered a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery last summer. The Heat traded him to Minnesota. The Timberwolves, who paid the final year of his contract, told him not to report to preseason camp since he needed additional rehab on the knee.

“My knee is feeling good,” Simien said. “I was at minicamp with the Cavaliers just a few weeks ago. We were doing two a days and pretty intense work on the court. It responded well. I played well. I’m encouraged how it’s reacting so far.”

He’ll participate for Cleveland’s summer league team July 11-20 in Las Vegas. He’ll be joined by recent KU grad Darnell Jackson, who was a second-round pick of the Cavs, and possibly Billy Thomas, who is signed through next season with Cleveland.

“It’s something I was joking with Danny Ferry (Cavs’ GM) about, how he always tries to keep Jayhawks around with Drew (Gooden) and Scot (Pollard) being there before (two seasons ago), now Darnell with the second pick. They know how to keep the right guys around.”

Simien, who recently moved into a house in Lawrence with his wife Katherine and daughter Selah (another baby is on the way in December), is hoping the NBA works out now and for years to come.

“I don’t see that as of right now,” Simien said of playing in Europe. “There is always that possibility. Not many people get a chance to say they get to do something they love for a living. If that means the NBA or another league or overseas … I will be excited to be a part of basketball and play basketball anywhere.”

He’s remained upbeat seemingly his entire life … never questioning his faith amidst his injuries and illnesses.

“There’s really no telling why or who in that regard. I just know I’ve learned so much from being in these tough situations,” Simien said. “I know it all will work out for the best. I’m excited to see what will happen in the future.”