Wyoming is particularly familiar with the transfer culture because just last year two players transferred in Austin Haldorson and Keonte Vernon. In this ever changing landscape and overturn of college basketball Wyoming mens basketball head coach Larry Shyatt stays true to himself and his team.
In recent years transferring has become part of the DNA of college basketball.
This past year 674 Division I college basketball players decided to transfer. There are 351 teams in college basketball, so that equates to nearly two players from each school decided to relocate.
Transfers happen for a multitude of reasons ranging from coaches being fired, to players being unhappy with their role, to players becoming homesick the list goes on and on.
“Everyone has their different reason of why they transferred,” Colorado State forward JJ Avila said at Mountain West media days. “Some did not win as much as they wanted to. I did not win at all.”
Wyoming is particularly familiar with the transfer culture because just last year two players transferred in Austin Haldorson and Keonte Vernon. In this ever changing landscape and overturn of college basketball Wyoming mens basketball head coach Larry Shyatt stays true to himself and his team.
“You cannot pretend you are someone else,” Shyatt said. “I am a builder and a developer.”
Many teams in the Mountain West welcome transfers and some even build the majority of their roster around transfers such as Colorado State with nine transfers.
The transfer culture has become a big part of the college basketball landscape and the Mountain West. Some teams rely on it, some do not prefer it and some find the nice middle ground.
UNLV has made a living on recruiting transfers. This year, senior transfers Cody Doolin and Jalen Kendrick look to play major roles.
San Diego State’s Dwayne Polee II and Angelo Chol transferred in from St. John’s and Arizona, respectively, and likely will be starters this season.
However, San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher has found equilibrium.
“This year will be the first time we have exclusively recruited high school kids,” Fisher said at Media Days.
The transfer culture has become a big part of the college basketball landscape and the Mountain West. Some teams rely on it, some do not prefer it and some find the nice middle ground.
“There is no one way to do it,” Shyatt said. “Both methods are probably very sound.”
Wyoming for the time being will be built on the shoulders of high school recruits. It was not too long ago that seniors Larry Nance Jr., Riley Grabau and Jack Bentz were freshman. And it will not be long until these new freshman of Alex Gorski, Tyrell Williams, Jonathan Barnes and Jeremy Lieberman are seniors. Fans will get to know these players like the current group of seniors. They will play their way into the hearts of Cowboys fans like Nance has. They will become household names in Laramie like Grabau has. They will be around for a while and will leave profound mark on the Wyoming basketball program when their time is done.
“Let’s get the best kids we can, young, and lets build them and develop them,” Shyatt said. “That gives us the best shot we have here in Laramie.”
