Rojas’ Under-The-Radar Re-Commitment ‘Huge’ For Pokes
LARAMIE -- Retention was at the top of Sundance Wicks' to-do list early in the offseason.
While he coaxed marquee names like Naz Meyer, Khaden Bennett and Gavin Gores to stay put, Wyoming's head basketball coach says it was an under-the-radar sales job that could pay major dividends as the Cowboys attempt to improve on an 18-win season and again look to punch their ticket to the postseason, preferably this time the NCAA Tournament.
"Uriyah Rojas was huge for us," the charismatic bench boss emphatically stated, referring to the man who could potentially be running the point this fall. "His offseason has been fantastic."
The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., product averaged just over 16.5 minutes a night during his first year in Laramie. He appeared in all 33 games, but made just two starts. That happens when you play second fiddle to Leland Walker, the team's leading scorer and assist man.
Rojas netted 6.2 points a night on 39.1% shooting and dished out nearly two helpers in a limited role. He showed flashes of what he can bring to the table, none more so than in a road setback at San Diego State.
During a rare Walker off-night, one that consisted of a team-worst four turnovers, five fouls and just 2-of-6 shooting from the field, Rojas stepped in and steadied the ship, finishing with 11 points and five assists.
When your best isn't at their best, the Aztecs typically pounce. Wyoming lost by just nine.
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Rojas netted 11 points in four conference games. He hit 13 in a victory over Denver. The former Chaffey College sharpshooter torched the nets in a 79-65 meeting with Austin Peay. He scored a season-high 23 on 8-of-14 shooting. He drilled six of his seven attempts from deep that night inside the Arena-Auditorium.
Rojas splashed 30-of-96 shots from beyond the arc in 2025-26.
Why did he choose to return?
"I wanted to finish what we started last year," Rojas penned on social media in early May. "We are turning the program around and can win a conference championship. I had great talks with coach Wicks after the season and feel that he will put me in position to have a great senior year.
"With the core group we have coming back and our elite coaching staff, I believe we can do something special."
Confidence isn't an issue for Rojas, but consistency can take that self-assurance to another level, Wicks said last week. That means more court time. That means dedication -- on and off the floor -- to the craft. That means added comfort in the system.
That takes more than one year.
That was also the sales pitch to Meyer and Gores. Like Rojas, they listened.
"You're going to look at what Uriyah has done with his body, his conditioning, his cardio, the way he's, I mean, he's still got a chip on his shoulder," Wicks added. "He's been an unbelievable leader for us and has taken over that vocal presence that Leland had. He's going to take a massive step -- and he has already.
"He wanted to be a Cowboy."
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