Being a freshman in college is hard enough, but with the time and commitment it takes to be part of University of Wyoming athletics, some students find freshman year becomes similar to being a small duck in a big pond.
However, the three freshmen on the UW men’s basketball team seem to have it mostly figured out. Josh Adams, Austin Haldorson and Jason McManamen are the new ducks in the big pond.
“It’s not like high school ball anymore. Before you were playing with your team members and never really getting ready for the specific team you’ll be playing against,” Adams said. “In college, though, you’re playing with and against everyone who was the best on their high school team.”
Adams played for Chaparral High School in Parker, CO and was the player who tipped the 5A Colorado State winning ball in the 2011-2012 basketball season.
Haldorson is from Highlands Ranch, Colo., and played for Highlands Ranch High School. He also was ranked 7th best prep player in Colorado by ESPN with a Scouts Grade of 80 points out of a possible 100, and he led his team to its second-straight appearance in the “Final Four” of the Colorado 5A State Championship Tournament.
McManamen, from Torrington, played for Torrington High school. He was the top 2012-13 basketball prospect in Wyoming and earned All-State and All-Conference honors his last three seasons while helping guide his team to two state titles.
These three freshmen bring a lot of talent and skill to the team, which could help the Cowboys during their years competing in Laramie.
All three players agree they chose UW over the other colleges that looked at them because of the Cowboys’ coaching staff and the program’s set-up. McManamen said it was always his dream to play for the UW Cowboys and represent his state.
It seems that with most basketball players, it is either a family sport or a sport they have played since they were young and has become the only sport they truly love. The three freshmen were born into the sport and find they have family who have always backed them up in their basketball careers.
“I was born with a ball in my hands,” Adams said. “The love I have for basketball is over every other thing in my life.”
Haldorson, who is 6 foot 9 inches, said people told him he should play because he’s tall and because he loved the sport. All three new Cowboys agreed that, aside from loving the sport, they play because they’re tall.
When asked about being the new athletes on the team, they agreed that it was hard. High school was more spaced out and allowed more free time for the players. However, in college, they find it is very hard to have any down time as student athletes.
With the successful season the Cowboy team is having so far this season, the three freshmen are ready to show why they were chosen to play for the University and are ready to show why they were the best from their high school teams.
This season and these next three seasons, fans need to be watching these young men. They may be UW’s key to something big.
