Wyoming Basketball Loses Freshman to NCAA Transfer Portal

LARAMIE -- Both Noah Reynolds and Nate Barnhart entered college basketball's version of free agency the day the NCAA Transfer Portal opened a season ago.

Seven others would soon follow, including the Mountain West's Preseason Player of the Year Graham Ike, leaving Wyoming's basketball roster in ruins.

Fast forward one year.

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No current Cowboys hit the open market on Day 1, though more than 400 others around the country did. Jacob Theodosiou waited until Tuesday.

The 6-foot-4 freshman guard announced on X he would be entering the portal after just one season in Laramie. The Canada native appeared in just 11 games, logging 51 minutes of court time, those mainly coming early in the non-conference slate and during lopsided affairs.

He scored seven total points, draining one field goal in an 80-59 rout of South Dakota Mines. Theodosiou played a season-high 20 minutes in that one and added a free throw. During conference play, the former three-star prospect was on the court for just nine minutes.

"A big thank you to coach (Nick) Whitmore, coach Bryston (Williams), coach (Ken) DeWeese, coach (Jeff) Linder, and the entire support staff and my teammates for their full support this past year at the University of Wyoming," Theodosiou penned on social media. " I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal and looking forward to the next chapter."

Theodosiou was the 20th-ranked point guard in the nation, according to UW's website, and left Western Reserve Academy in Ohio a year early to join the Cowboys before the 2023-24 campaign. Recruiting services tabbed him the No. 7 recruit in the state of Ohio and a Top-200 prospect in the country.

The Waterloo, Ontario product was also courted by Villanova, South Carolina, Dayton, Drake and many other Division-I programs.

"Jacob is an elite passing guard who possesses a terrific IQ and feel for the game," Linder said in a prepared statement last July. "He comes to us after playing with the Canadian National Team and at one of the top high school programs in the country. During his time at Western Reserve Academy he was coached at a high level by Pete Hutchins and Matt Garvey. We are thrilled to welcome Jacob to the Cowboy basketball family."

Theodosiou was just the second native of Canada to play for the Cowboys, joining Dave Lodgins, who suited up in Laramie from 1984-88.

The ninth player to ink with Wyoming last offseason, Theodosiou said he was lured to the program thanks to an opportunity to see the court as a freshman.

"I know nothing is guaranteed, but the opportunity to play right away -- I couldn't turn that down," he said last July. "I have an opportunity to play quite a bit and have a role on this team."

Theodosiou joked then that he could be the youngest Division-I player in the country at just 17 years old. He said he completed the ninth grade twice (giving him four years of high school credits), granting him the option of returning to prep school for an additional year or to head off to college.

Whitmore made the initial contact. Linder sealed the deal.

"It seems like (Linder) has some really good guards this year, but not a true point guard who can score, get everyone involved and make everyone better. He needed that," Theodosiou continued. "... Linder is a great coach and sends point guards into professional basketball. They thrive and develop under his guidance."

The loss of Theodosiou opens up an additional scholarship.

Wyoming's staff is still awaiting decisions from Brendan Wenzel and Kenny Foster, who both have one season of eligibility remaining.

Linder and Co. inked two more Canadians in the latest recruiting cycle, signing 6-foot-9 wing Oliver Faubert and 6-foot-5 guard Dominic Pangonis. Jehvion Starwood, a 6-foot-3 guard from Oswego, Ill., and 6-foot-5 forward Dylan Warlick from Edmond, Okla., are also joining the program.

Jonas Sirtautas, a 6-foot-10 forward from Lithuania, spent the season with the team in Laramie but was ruled ineligible. According to Linder, he's as "good of an athlete" as he has ever coached.

The transfer portal is open until May 1.

Eleven players, not including Wenzel and Foster, are currently on scholarship. Division-I programs are allowed up to 13 full-ride players on the roster:

Jonas Sirtautas

Oliver Faubert

Dominic Pangonis

Jehvion Starwood

Dylan Warlick

Oleg Kojenets

Kael Combs

Cameron Manyawu

Kobe Newton

Nigle Cook

Caden Powell

* Brendan Wenzel