Jaiun Simon is a redshirt sophomore on the Dayton men's basketball team from Mableton, Georgia. He appreciates everything Dayton has to offer, from the basketball facilities to the Red Scare cheering the team at every home game.

Simon is a communication major who enjoys playing video games, drawing, and working with cameras in his free time. Even as a third-year player, he has stepped into a leadership role, ensuring teammates do their jobs and stay ready when his name is called.

During his time at Pebblebrook High School, Simon earned second-team Class 7A All-Georgia honors as a senior. He averaged 19.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists during the 2022-23 season. As the only underclassman starter in 2021-22, he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds and received honorable mention All-Georgia recognition. Simon was also a four-year varsity player and three-year starter. Dayton knew what it was getting when it offered Simon, a player who understands the game.

Simon redshirted the 2023-24 season after turning 18 in August 2023. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 32 games, averaging 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high five points against St. Bonaventure on Jan. 18 and recorded a career-best four rebounds against La Salle.

In his second year of athletic competition, Simon's role expanded significantly. He appeared in all 36 games, making 16 starts and averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He set new career highs in scoring and rebounding while shooting 48% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 80.5% from the free-throw line. He also recorded a streak of 25 consecutive made free throws, with a season-high nine against Loyola Chicago. Simon grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds, along with two steals, against Davidson and posted five double-digit scoring performances, including a career-high 14 points against Loyola Chicago.

Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A: Being a Flyer means everything to me. I've been here for 3 years, and this has been one of the best experiences of my life. Being away from home and the community we have is something special.

Q: What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: An influential moment in my career was when Malachi Smith got hurt, and seeing the way Javon Bennett stepped up for the program and handled the situation like a true leader.

Q: How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: Being a student-athlete has taught me many lessons that I've learned to value in life, on the court and in the classroom, and it has made me a better man.

Q: What are your future goals and aspirations after graduating from UD?
A: My future goals and aspirations after graduating from UD are to play basketball professionally while also pursuing my other interests in life.

Q: What's one moment this year where you felt like 'I belong here'? What did you learn from that experience?
A: A moment I felt like I belonged here was this year when we played here. After Frenchie and Malcolm got hurt and Jordan got hurt, I came in and stepped up big that game. It made me feel like I belonged and made me feel valued. I learned to always stay ready because you never know when the opportunity is going to present itself. The week before, I was in the gym getting extra conditioning, lifting, and working out, and when my moment came, I was ready.

Q: If you could go back to high school, what would you do differently to prepare for college basketball?
A: Honestly, I wouldn't do anything differently. I feel like the journey you go on is one you go on for a reason. Everything happens for a reason, so I would go through the same journey. I wouldn't change anything.