LARAMIE — Wyoming guard Riley Grabau already had played a year with the Cowboys when a fellow Coloradan, Josh Adams, joined the program in 2012. It did not take long for Grabau’s jaw to drop.
“Words can’t describe how much Josh’s athleticism is through the roof,” Grabau said. “I’ve been with him for three years now, seeing him in games, seeing him practicing alone. I’m still amazed at what the guy can do.
“I’ve seen him do things and think: ‘Are you kidding me? Wow.’ “
Adams, from Parker, and Boulder native Grabau have started 33 games this season, both play a bit over 33 minutes per game and each is listed at 6-foot-2.
That’s where the similarities end. Adams’ highlight dunks are candidates to make “SportsCenter.” Grabau is the steady point guard often found closing out games at the free-throw line.
“Riley is our point guard, and it’s hard for me to not have him on the floor,” coach Larry Shyatt said. “And Josh can do things that get the crowd going and us going.”
Adams was voted MVP of last week’s Mountain West Tournament after averaging 18.7 points for three games. Grabau averaged 10.3 points. The third perimeter player in Wyoming’s three-guard look is 6-4 Charles Hankerson Jr., from Miami.
“As a kid, you always dream about being in the Big Dance and having everybody watching you and achieving what you want in life,” Grabau said. “That’s what I was kind of thinking about when I came here.”
He is at his best when it matters most. He has converted 92-of-98 free-throw attempts for 93.9 percent, best in the nation. Having your best ballhandler who is almost automatic from the free-throw line can be a huge advantage in a tight game.
“Riley’s teammates know how and when to get him the ball,” Shyatt said.
The Colorado products have been instrumental in Wyoming (25-9) earning its first NCAA Tournament berth in 13 years. As a No. 12 seed, the Cowboys play fifth-seeded Northern Iowa (30-3) on Friday in Seattle.
Adams and Grabau arrived in Laramie with impressive high school accolades, although neither was recruited as a blue-chipper. Grabau led Boulder High School to the 2011 Class 5A state championship game, but his best offer, after Wyoming, was Western Kentucky.
Adams soared to score the spectacular, winning basket in Chaparral’s 2012 Class 5A state championship game, but his offer list beyond Wyoming was Portland, Hawaii, Northern Colorado and South Dakota.
“Wyoming is an underdog school and I’m an underdog player, so it was a perfect match for me,” Adams said.
Cowboys coaches are not reluctant to recruit players other programs may take a pass on.
“There are not a lot of young men who grow up wanting to play for the University of Wyoming,” Shyatt said. “What we have to find is interest from players who want to grow, want to get better, want to be part of the process, players who want to win, but want to do things the right way.”
Two other Coloradans are on the Wyoming roster: redshirt freshman Alan Herndon, a 6-9 forward from Widefield near in Colorado Springs, and 6-10 freshman Jonathan Barnes of Ponderosa in Parker. Herndon is in the regular rotation, averaging 15 minutes, 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Barnes has played sparingly.
More Colorado talent is on the way north. Wyoming signed perhaps the top high school senior in Colorado this past season, 5-foot-10 point guard Austin Conway, who last weekend helped lead Overland to the big-school state championship.
Shyatt said he’ll always give Colorado, and in particular, the Denver area, major recruiting attention.
“It’s cyclical in Denver, like everything else,” he said. “There have been some great years (for talent) in Denver. What I think our coaches have done a great job of is they know who not to go after.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
Front range flavor
A look at Coloradans on Front Range Division I teams who were regular starters this season:
COLORADO
F Wesley Gordon, 6-9 Soph. (Sierra, in Colorado Springs)
C Josh Scott, 6-10, Jr. (Lewis-Palmer, in Monument)
DENVER
F Marcus Byrd, 6-7 Jr. (Highlands Ranch)
G Nate Engesser, 6-3 Jr. (Colorado Springs Christian)
G Brett Olson, 6-5 Jr. (Highlands Ranch)
NORTHERN COLORADO
G Cameron Michael, 6-5 Soph. (Loveland)
WYOMING
G Josh Adams, 6-2 Jr. (Chaparral, in Parker)
G Riley Grabau, 6-2 Sr. (Boulder)
Note: Must have started more than half the games; none for Air Force, Colorado State.
