Wyoming’s Rookie Big Man Drawing Some Impressive Comparisons

LARAMIE -- One coach called him a "unicorn."

Another compared his frame and play to former Wyoming legends like Josh Davis and Larry Nance Jr.

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A teammate said he's just an all-around freak athlete.

"Those are just words," freshman forward Gavin Gores said, followed by a slight shoulder shrug. "I know I have a long way to go and a lot of work to put in. So, I just have to stay focused and stay present."

Yes, he's as mellow and laid back as he sounds. That might be his biggest issue on the court, too, his head coach added, flashing that trademark smile.

"The world's his oyster right now, as far as upside is concerned," Sundance Wicks said. "You know, talent is the least important thing he possesses. He's got a lot of stuff underneath the hood."

Gores is every bit 6-foot-10. He tips the scales at 224, too.

The Wisconsin product garnered the attention of Big Ten programs like Illinois and Minnesota, among others, after averaging more than 34 points per game, to go along with 14 rebounds and nearly three assists, during his swan song at Cumberland High School.

In 103 prep contests, Gores netted an astounding 2,360 points, 1,108 rebounds, 174 assists and 119 blocks. He was an All-State performer with three stars behind his name. 247sports.com labeled him the 46th-rated power forward in the nation.

Those other schools were late to the party.

In fact, Wicks found Gores more than two years ago. The intention at the time was to have him man his frontcourt at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Despite the change of address, the goal didn't waver -- he wanted the big man out west.

Admittedly, the other offers were tempting, Gores said, but in the end, the relationship with the Cowboys' second-year bench boss trumped all newcomers.

"The vision he created for me," the rookie said. "Playing in the Mountain West, too, is an awesome opportunity."

Chris McMillian agrees with the Davis comparison, but said Gores has even more upside than his former Wyoming teammate, a guy who before playing a dozen years of professional basketball, including five in the NBA, etched his name in the history books with 956 rebounds and 173 blocked shots during his four-year stint in Laramie.

For one, the Cowboys' newest assistant added, Gores is taller and more athletic. While both possess a toughness, blue-collar mentality and a high-hoops IQ, what separates Davis from Gores, for now, is a young unbridled confidence.

"Josh Davis was just a different kind of dog," he said. "You know, he had this major chip on his shoulder. I'm not saying Gavin doesn't, but Josh and I were both kind of thrown to the fire right away, and by the time league play came around, we were rocking and rolling."

That's the plan for Gores, too.

Will Martin, another new addition to the staff, whose main responsibility lies with the paint patrollers, started his basketball journey in Lexington, Kentucky as a basketball manager under John Calipari. He went on to prep future first overall NBA draft pick Anthony Davis. He also bounced from Tulsa to San Francisco to Martin Methodist College to, most recently, Missouri Western.

Martin helped lead the Wildcats to a national championship back in 2012. He has the diamond-encrusted ring to prove it. Anthony Davis was on the team. So was Michael Kidd-Gilcrest, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague.

You know who else could've slid into a lineup like that? Gores, Martin added.

"There's not many times where I can walk into a gym and say, 'Man, that's a Kentucky level athlete. Gavin Gores is a Kentucky level athlete," Martin said. "When you look at just the intangibles and the things that he's been given, his God-given ability, but also his length, his size, his verticality, he's a Kentucky level athlete."

Honing his skill set, discipline and the ability to process information, comes next.

"The sky's the limit for that kid," Martin added. "He's a unicorn."

Kiani Saxon has been on the receiving end of a Gores' dunk or two. The graduate transfer, who played under Martin the previous two seasons in St. Joseph, dropped the label "freak" when it comes to his practice sparring partner.

The 6-foot-8 New Zealander raved about Gores' work ethic and effort on the floor. He called him a coach's dream.

"He's just got a motor where he can go, go, go," Saxon said. "He's always wanting to get better. He can also jump out of the gym."

Gores said last winter he tried to catch as many Wyoming games on television as he could. It was fun, but, admittedly, frustrating. He wanted to see more wins, for one. He also envisioned himself in the lineup, helping the cause.

Now, he'll finally get that chance in Wicks' new-look run-and-gun attack.

Though, like any good student, he says his focus is on the defensive end of the floor and pulling down boards.

"That's really all I need to do this year," he said with a grin.

Or so he says.

"He's got competitive excellence," Wicks said. "He's always trying to learn, he's always in the gym. Those things, you can't teach. So, that's how you know he's got a chance -- because he cares."