FILE PHOTO/Arizona Summer Wildcat Former UA shooting guard Miles Simon looks for a shot against a Kentucky defender during the 1997 National Championship game. Simon is looking to land a roster spot this season with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.

Miles Simon walked into McKale Center Thursday barely recognizing the place he used to call home.

A new multi-million dollar scoreboard hung above center court, a state-of-the art weight room was added and the soon-to-be opened Hall of Champions made Simon realize that it has been a long time since he has been to his alma mater ÷ two and half years to be exact.

But all the changes to McKale pale in comparison to how much the 26-year-old has evolved since leaving Arizona in 1998.

ãHe has really matured in two areas, number one in life and number two in knowing what it takes to get in to the NBA,ä UA basketball associate head coach Jim Rosborough said.

Itâs the getting into the NBA part that Simon has put as his number one priority.

ãThis is my year,ä he said. ãItâs just a matter of time. I have definitely taken the right steps and now I need to find the right team.ä

Simon will get a chance this summer to get back into the NBA for the first time since 1998-1999 when he played five games with the Orlando Magic.

The shooting guard will play for the Atlanta Hawks in one of the NBA Summer Leagues in Boston.

ãThis is my best chance since I played with the Magic to get back into the league,ä Simon said.

The 26-year-old is coming off a season where he dominated the Continental Basketball Association earning Most Valuable Player honors and leading the Dakota Wizards to the championship. He averaged 23 points per game and led the league in 3-point field goal percentage (63-136, .463) and free throw percentage (190-207, .918) during the regular season.

He also ranked 7th in assists per game (5.1) and 8th in field goal percentage (310-602, .515). On Feb. 5, he set a CBA record with his 60th consecutive free throw.

ãMiles has been out of Arizona for four years now and he has paid his dues,ä Rosborough siad. ãI have always liked Miles and I agree with him that this is his year (to get back to the NBA).ä

During his collegiate days, Simon was a key member of Arizonaâs National Championship team in 1997. In the championship game against Kentucky, the junior scored 30 points and won tournament MVP.

After getting drafted 42nd in 1998 and playing in only five NBA games, he went to Europe.

Simon last season got an opportunity to play for the Los Angeles Clippers summer league team and made it all the way to the final cut before the season started.

ãIt has been a hard road but now I know what it takes,ä he said. ãItâs just a nice feeling now that Iâm getting a lot of the notice I always knew I deserved.ä

His popularity at Arizona is still as high as it was when he played for the Wildcats.

His picture in the Arizona Hall of Fame in McKale Center has been stolen twice in the last couple months and there is still an empty spot where his picture from the 1997 season once hung.

Simon said itâs nice to know that his popularity has still not changed in McKale.