Welcome to Wyoming Hoops: Parker Gerrits
LARAMIE -- "We recruit winners."
Sundance Wicks said that, referring to landing high school standouts Madden Smiley and Chris Pohl in the offseason. The latter could soon be a menace in the paint for the Wyoming basketball program. The other, leading the charge and manning the point.
This third-year bench boss wasn't just talking about success at the prep level, though, when he made that statement. Can't forget the NCAA Transfer Portal, which has been more of a foe to this university than a friend in years past.
Did Wicks flip the script in 2026-27?
It appears so.
The Cowboys return 50% of their offensive production from an 18-win squad that punched its ticket to the postseason for the first time since March of 2022. Promising freshmen Naz Meyer (12.9 ppg) and Gavin Gores (7.3) bought into the mission. So did transfer guards Uriyah Rojas (6.2) and Khaden Bennett (10.2). Those four, along with redshirt rookie Neil Summers, are all back in the mix this fall.
That group also accounted for 15.1 of the team's 35.5 boards per game. Meyer and Bennett each averaged nearly five a night.
Damarion Dennis and his 11.2 points an outing are gone. He's now at Texas Tech, lacing them up for former UW head coach Jeff Linder. Forwards Simm-Marten Saadi (Central Arkansas) and Abou Magassa (UNC Asheville) changed addresses, too. Adam Harakow (Western Michigan) and Jared Harris (Prairie View A&M) also entered free agency.
Outside of Dennis' production, the other four combined to net just 16.4 points per contest.
Wyoming lost its leading scorer, Leland Walker (13.5 ppg), along with Kiani Saxon and Matija Belic to graduation. That trio averaged 21 a game.
Let's meet the 10 new faces on this roster:
NAME | Parker Gerrits
YEAR | Junior
HT/WT | 6' 2", 190
HOMETOWN | Olympia, Wash.
POSITION | Guard
JERSEY NUMBER | 22
PREVIOUS SCHOOL | Washington State
YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY | Two
NOTABLE | Parker Gerrits appeared in 31 games last fall at Washington State, averaging 1.8 points per contest while playing nearly 10 minutes a night. He shot better than 40% from the floor and connected on 15-of-40 from beyond the arc. The junior was Wyoming's first Division-I transfer of the offseason. Gerrits reached double figures one time in 2026, dropping 11 on 4-of-5 shooting in a 104-74 victory over visiting Portland State. He drilled a trio of threes in the rout. He also netted seven in a lopsided road setback at Davidson. A 4A All-State performer at Olympia High School, Gerrits saw action in 32 contests during his redshirt freshman season. In a loss at No. 18 Gonzaga, he scored a then career-high seven points while hitting 3-of-4 shots.
QUOTABLE | "Those guys don't flinch at those things and that's what you want when you recruit guys. Those guys are like, 'I want the opportunity.' They want the opportunity, and if you get the opportunity, that's all you need, man. You got air to breathe, you got a chance to have an impact. Let's go. Let's go to work, baby," -- Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks on signing Parker Gerrits, along with Mike Mora, Micah Curtis and others.
WELCOME TO UW BASKETBALL SERIES:
* Mattia De Martin
* Linus Ruf
MORE UW HOOPS NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:
* 'Extremely Underrated': Wyoming's Basketball Staff Remains Intact
* What Heights Can Wyoming Basketball Program Reach This Season?
* Rojas' Under-The-Radar Re-Commitment 'Huge' For Pokes
* Wicks, Cowboys Sign Kansas 5A Player of the Year
* Pokes Add Another Big Man to 2026-27 Hoops Roster
* Cowboys Add Length at Guard Spot, Sign Former Gold Medalist
* Wick's Cowboys Sign 6-11 Forward to Frontcourt
* Cowboys Land 6-9 Stretch Forward in Transfer Portal
* Wyoming Adds Shooting Guard From Wazzu Via Transfer Portal
* 2026 Wyoming Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- Just The Facts: Size Doesn't Matter For Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium
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