Wichita State basketball coach Gregg Marshall put senior JR Simon on a scholarship at a team dinner on Sunday.

Marshall said Friday at the Missouri Valley Conference’s media day he learned of the news. He wanted to wait until Sunday to tell Simon.

The news was spread Sunday at Simon’s grandparents’ house, surprising him and his teammates.

“My initial reaction was excitement, honored and thankful,” Simon said. “I’d like to thank God. I’ve been very blessed especially the past four years just to be in this position.”

Simon, a senior guard from Oklahoma City, played 64 games during the past three seasons at WSU.

Marshall said that the NCAA gave WSU a waiver to use the scholarship after Peyton Allen left the university earlier this semester.

Marshall could then choosewho to appoint the scholarship to.

“I just felt like I was able to reward a young man who’s been a part of our program for three-and-a-half years. He represents himself, his family, and the university in a first-class way,” Marshall said. “We were able to appeal to the NCAA to get that scholarship to put it to use and give it to someone very deserving and I can think of no one that deserves it more than JR.”

The scholarship was kept a surprise to everyone but the coaching staff and Simon’s roommate and good friend, Zach Bush.

Knowing a few days before the announcement, Bush felt excited for Simon.

“They had told me a few days before, so I knew it was coming,” Bush said. “I was really excited for him because he didn’t know it was happening. It’s a really cool and exciting thing for a student athlete, especially as a walk-on.

“He’s worked just as hard as every other guy out here and he proved he’s a solid player.”

Simon received support from current and past teammates, friends, fans and family. The support came in person and online via Twitter and Facebook. Shocker basketball alumni Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker shared their congratulations.

In a tweet, VanVleet said: “There’s not a more deserving guy in the world. Love you bro (you owe some of that to @JustMe_Z_235 [Zach Bush] tho).”

“I’m pretty close to Ron and Fred and so hearing something from them was really nice,” Simon said. “I heard something from Ron right when it happened, and Fred called me that night and talked to me for a while he had a lot of good things to say as well.”

Simon said his main goal was to get a scholarship before he graduated.

“Hard work usually pays off in whatever you do. Just because it may not seem noticed, it usually pays off in the long run,” Simon said.  “I take that with me in whatever I do. I just work hard in whatever I’m doing and it’s all going to work out in the end.”