LARAMIE — Wyoming head men’s basketball coach Sundance Wicks announced the addition of four players to the 2024-25 roster on Wednesday. Two of the players bring experience from the …
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LARAMIE — Wyoming head men’s basketball coach Sundance Wicks announced the addition of four players to the 2024-25 roster on Wednesday. Two of the players bring experience from the Missouri Valley Conference with one from the Coastal Athletic Conference and the recommitment of former signee Obi Agbim of Fort Lewis College.
“We had four visits in five days and had to go four for four,” Wicks said. “We got what we needed and added some great players to a great group of guys we already had on this roster. We got two big guys that are very versatile, and it is hard to find players like that right now in college basketball. Every one of our big guys on this roster bring something different to the table and you must be ready to play a different style of play and brand of basketball based on your opponent. I think having depth at the bookend spots is massive. It was also crucial to get a playmaking guard in Obi (Agbim) and playmaking wing like Jordan Nesbitt. At all positions 1-5 you want to be balanced and have depth at those spots. For our first initial class, this group really ties this team together with the talent we have coming back, and we couldn’t be more excited to get our guys in the gym.”
Wicks on Cowboy Roster
“I think it is extremely valuable for the great folks of Wyoming to understand how much went into the re-recruitment of this roster and the special players we already had like Kobe, Oleg, Nigle, Jehvion, Matija and Touko. Our staff did an amazing job reaching out to the current roster immediately after it was announced that we got the job in the first 24-72 hours. There are some extremely talented and special players that needed to know they were wanted and still are wanted. We had to show them the love they deserved!” Wicks said.
“The returners like Kobe, Oleg and Nigle have already stacked a year of development in Laradise and understand the inner workings of what it means to be Cowboy Tough. It is extremely important to have those foundational and cultural pieces in place for the continued elevation of our program. Kobe has an elite sniper weaponry with some real wiggle. Oleg is a monster in the middle and has been classically trained in high level pick n’ roll production. While Nigle has real size along with his ability to shoot the ball and could end up having serious gap gravity.
“Then you throw in the new signees like Touko, Matijua and Jehvion and you put the icing on the cake. Touko and Matija are both highly skilled and highly competitive proven winners and connectors at their previous spots. Recruiting players who have won along their journey will always be a premium in our program. Jehvion is special talent with an amazing feel for the game and sees two players ahead. He also comes from winning at his high school, Oswego East and his AAU program, the Illinois Wolves. This group of OKC’s (Our Kinda Cowboys) is going to be amazing to coach and be in the trenches with every day!”
Scottie Ebube – 6-10 – 275 Pound – Center
– Southern Illinois
Ebube will have two seasons of eligibility with the Cowboys after spending the last three seasons at Southern Illinois. A native of Mundelein, Ill., Ebube appeared in 31 games for the Salukis last season. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in just under 12 minutes per game this past season. Ebube was extremely efficient from the field, shooting 69.0 percent (80-of-116) overall. He added a career-high 15 points against Queens and recorded a career-high eight rebounds against Murray State. As a redshirt freshman, he added 3.2 points per game along with 1.8 rebounds in 12 games.
He was a two-time All-State selection in high school at Mundelein High School. He also earned All-Area selections twice. He led his team to a 43-6 record in his final two seasons of high school.
Wicks on Ebube
“We call him Scottie Boom because he will bring the Boom back to the Dome of Doom. He is well versed in playing a physical, pressure paint kind of play. We call him a pressure post because he puts pressure on the rim, puts pressure on the rim in transition and pressure on the rim in duck-ins, leg whips and seals. He will be a formidable force down low. He has a great head for the game, a great heart for contact and has elite hands. When you find a guy who likes to play physical it is really a diamond in the rough. We are fortunate to have a guy that CAN anchor us down low and give us the physicality in the post. Cowboy fans will love to watch Scottie and his physicality,” Wicks said.
Cole Henry – 6-9 – 240 Pound – Forward
– Northern Iowa
Henry will have one season of eligibility after spending the last five seasons at Northern Iowa. A native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Henry recorded 3.0 points per game and 1.8 rebounds along with 1.4 assists last season. As a junior, Henry added 5.2 point along with 4.1 rebounds per game.
He redshirted the 2019-20 campaign before playing in 104 games the last four seasons. Henry was efficient during his Panther career, shooting 54.6 percent (148-of-271) from the field. Henry has also been successful in the classroom, earning MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) Honor Roll accolades during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Henry was a four-year letter winner in two sports at Oskaloosa High School, located in Iowa. He earned varsity honors as a center in basketball and in football as a quarterback. Cole also earned two All-State Team honors in basketball and one in football. His father, John, is the head men’s basketball coach at William Penn University an NAIA institution in Oskaloosa.
Wicks on Henry
“Cole’s weapon is his passing. In his translation to 40-minutes, he would average nearly six assists per game. He is a point-post. You can play him in a Princeton offense, a five-out delay and he handles it like a guard. He makes decisions like an elite guard in passing situations. We will play a brand of basketball based on the opponents we are playing and try to create advantages and Cole is a player that fits that role. He is a relentless competitor, and he is as tough as nails. He is Wyoming through and through and he will fit very well here in Laramie. He defines the Cowboy Way and fans will see that on day one.”
Jordan Nesbitt – 6-6 – 210 Pound – Guard –
Hampton University
Nesbitt will have one season of eligibility with the Cowboys coming to Wyoming from Hampton University. A native of St. Louis, Mo., he is a balanced player adding 10.2 points per game last season along with 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per night. As a junior at Hampton, Nesbitt added 14.9 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per night.
Prior to his time at Hampton, he spent his sophomore season at Saint Louis and freshman season at Memphis. He has scored over 1,000 career points and is nearing 500 career rebounds and has over 250 careers assists.
He played his high school basketball at St. Louis Christian Academy. He added 16.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He was rated as a four-star recruit out of High School and a preseason Sports illustrated All-American.
Wicks on Nesbitt
“Jordan has everything you are looking for in a high major player. He has the talent; the production and we are going to help make Jordan a very efficient player. This is a guy that will surprise a lot of people and he is truly a hidden gem. Fans are going to see a guy that loves the game of basketball and is an alpha competitor. He is also a phenomenal teammate, and his energy is outstanding. You can’t help but smile and laugh when you are around him because he brings and infectious energy to everything he does. He will be a player Cowboy fans will love with the energy he brings every single night,” Wicks said.
Obi Agbim – 6-3 – 180 Pound – Guard
– Fort Lewis College
Agbim spent two seasons at Fort Lewis College and one season at Northeastern Junior College and one Season at Metro State. Agbim has led his team at Fort Lewis College to 58 wins over the last twp seasons. Last season, Agbim earned First Team All-South Central Region and First Team All-RMAC honors. He was also named the RMAC Tournament MVP. He averaged 15.5 points per game along with four rebounds and 2.9 assists per night.
In the RMAC Championship game, Agbim had a career night. He recorded a career-high 33 points and was 10-of-12 from the field. He scored 20 or more points seven times last season. He earned Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore.
At Northeastern Junior College, Agbim added 16.8 points per game. In high school at Rangeview High School in Aurora, Colo., Agbim earned Class 5A All-State First Team honors. He helped lead his team to a state title as a junior.
Wicks on Agbim
“When you are looking for a lead guard you have to have somebody that has played at a high level for a very long time and over the last two seasons he has won at a high level. He is a winner, and you have to have guys from winning programs that know how to win. He has a great spirit that will connect him with his teammates. He has the ability to create easy buckets for his teammates and score on all three levels. He was one of the best defensive players in the nation last season in the pick and roll defense. He is an elite on ball defender and that has a high correlation to winning basketball games. Fans will see a player that will play both ways at an elite pace and energy. He is a big get for our program,” Wicks said.