LARAMIE – A.J. Wills has an IMDB page after making his on-screen hoops dream come true.
 
Wyoming's sophomore point guard appeared in the 2021 television series "Swagger," a sports drama inspired by Kevin Durant's AAU days.
 
In the 2023 movie "Shooting Stars," an adaptation of the LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger book, Wills played the role of Willie McGee, one of James' childhood friends and high school teammates.
 
The film credits didn't automatically grant Wills a lead role in the "Mountain Made" documentary about the building of the 2024-25 Cowboys.
 
"This is reality. It's not method acting around here," Wicks said with a smile. "You're not playing a character you're playing yourself really. I hope all our guys came play themselves well as they go forward in life.
 
"A.J. is a great guy, an unbelievable human. He's just got a good aura about him."
 
Wills, a Holy Cross transfer, doesn't expect to immediately step into the spotlight during his first season at UW.
 
Obi Agbim, a 6-3 senior transfer from Fort Lewis College who Wicks has described as the on-court "conductor" of the Cowboys, will be the starting point guard. Jordan Nesbitt, a versatile 6-6 senior transfer from Hampton, can also run the point.
 
"I try to do whatever I can to help the team," Wills said. "We have a lot of seniors, so I know this is their last year and they want to go to the tournament. Whatever I've got to do to help buy in and get as many wins as possible I'm just here to do it."
 
Wills' parents, Avery and Star Wills, run a basketball academy in his native Virginia. His older sister, Taj Cole, played at Georgia, Virginia Tech and professionally. She is also "phenomenal" basketball skills trainer.
 
"Growing up in Virginia basketball was really competitive," Wills said. "I grew up in a basketball family. My parents have an AAU program, a high school program. So, it was like an everyday thing for me. I was always in the gym and that's how I fell in love with it."
 
Last season as a true freshman, Wills averaged 5.5 points and shot 36% on 3-pointers at Holy Cross. The developing 6-2, 160-pounder also had the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the Crusaders.
 
"What I like about A.J. is he's got a high feel," Wicks said. "You could look at the size and say the frame is light, but sometimes that is an advantage. You look at the smaller guys and they can get through some of the cracks other guys can't get to.
 
"I think A.J. is going to be really important for us as we go forward here."
 
When asked what he was looking for in a program after putting his name in the portal, Wills said "a home." The sophomore will have three years of eligibility at UW to play for Wicks and his assistants.
 
"I wanted a coaching staff that trusts me enough to run this point guard position," Wills said. "It doesn't even have to be as a starter. But I wanted to play for somebody that trusts me to deliver on the court and do everything that aligns with our culture."
 
Wills knocked down a 3 and had an assist in six minutes off the bench during UW's 80-63 exhibition win over the College of Idaho last Friday.
 
"I feel like we're getting closer and closer every day," Wills said when asked about the team chemistry with 10 new players joining the roster in the frantic weeks after Wicks was hired. "That's the great part about our team is we've got so many different talents and different sizes and different styles of play. And we have a coach that can put all of that together."
 
The Cowboys officially tip off the Wicks era against Concordia-St. Paul at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium (the Cowgirls host Colorado at 5:30 p.m. to begin the doubleheader).
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
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