(UW Atheltics release)
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Cowboy basketball team will practice in the Capital City of Cheyenne inside the Laramie County Community College Recreation and Athletics Center Saturday. The practice, which is opened to the public, will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fans and media are invited to join the Pokes for autographs and photos.
Wyoming returns two starters in senior guard Justin James and sophomore guard Hunter Maldonado. James was a First Team All-Mountain West selection this season averaging 18.9 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds per night and 3.1 assists per game. In conference play, James averaged 20.8 points per game ranking second in the MW. James scored 20 or more points 15 times this season including a career-high 33 points on two occasions. Maldonado averaged 5.3 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per night.
Other returners include senior guard Nyaires Redding (3.7 PPG, 1.3 APG), senior forward Jordan Naughton (2.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG) and sophomore forward Austin Mueller (1.1 PPG, 0.5 RGP). Redshirt freshman Hunter Thompson earned valuable experience last season redshirting for the Cowboys.
Wyoming added three junior college transfers in A.J. Banks (Pratt CC, Kan.), Lwal Dung (Neosho CC, Kan.) and Jake Hendricks (College of Southern Idaho).
The Cowboys also added five prep school players to the roster in Bradley Belt (Washington Academy), Tariq Johnson (Mt. Zion Prep), Brandon Porter (Washington Academy), Trevon “TJ” Taylor (Hillcrest Prep) and Trace Young (Mt. Zion Prep).
The Cowboys spent the summer in Laramie working out with new strength and conditioning coach Marcus Edwards. The group also worked on skill development with the coaching staff. The group has also been parts of several events within the Wyoming community.
The practice is another in a series of outreach opportunities that the University of Wyoming Athletics Department conducts throughout the state.
