Which Wyoming hoopster wore it best? No. 53
LARAMIE -- Do you ever see a number on a Wyoming basketball jersey and think of all the great players to wear it?
Yeah, me too.
In this summer series, I’ll give you my take on which Pokes’ hoopster was the best ever to don each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at UW? What kind of impact did he have on the program?
No. 53 - XAVIER DUSELL
Guard, 2020-current, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Résumé in Laramie
* 55 games played at UW
* 8.5 points per game
* 41.8% shooting from the field
* NCAA Tournament appearance
Why DuSell?
True, it's a sample size -- just 55 total games -- but Xavier DuSell's body of work during his young career has already been impressive.
During that span, the sophomore has reached double digits in scoring 23 times. He netted 21 points in a crucial overtime victory over Fresno State in last year's regular-season finale, drilling five 3-pointers. In the opening game of the Mountain West Tournament, DuSell scored just eight points, but hit a go-ahead triple with just 30 ticks remaining to lift the Pokes past UNLV.
During a December road tilt with No. 11 Arizona, the home-state kid led the Cowboys with 22 points. DuSell also sunk a career-high six threes in a rout of Hastings College.
The part of DuSell's game that doesn't always show up on the state sheet is his lockdown defense. Jeff Linder raves about his effort on that end of the floor. The Cowboys' second-year head coach also says, at times, DuSell's basketball IQ is so high that it can hinder him on the court.
"You know, when he's good, he just lets it go," Linder said, adding that the freshman tends to overanalyze certain situations. "After the UNLV game, in the locker room, I mean, I told him, 'man, you have to stop to look in the mirror."'
That's when DuSell responded with that season-saving performance against the Bulldogs. Ten days later, Wyoming was in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history and the first time since 2015.
Let's be real here -- DuSell has plenty of room to grow. There are just four other players who have worn the No. 53 jersey, but this is his number for the taking.
Here's just a glimpse of why DuSell could be one of the special ones when the dust settles.
"He cares. That's the thing -- he cares," Linder said. "He really cares about being a good player, being a good person, being somebody that represents the University of Wyoming and what it's about to be a member of our basketball team."
Who else wore No. 53
Alan Eastland (60's), Dick Wilkinson (60's), Dan Lorah (60's), Mike Wells (70's)
Look who wore the No. 52 best right HERE.
Check out our "Who Wore it Best" football series right HERE.
* All available rosters provided by the University of Wyoming Athletics Department. If we missed a player who wore this number, please email cody@7220sports.com
* A number of players wore different jersey numbers during their careers. From the 1930's through the 50's, players were issued a home and an away jersey.
LOOK: Pokes' unis through the years
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