LARAMIE – Cort Roberson, one of the revered "Blue-collar Boys" from the 2022 NCAA Tournament team, set the standard for Wyoming walk-on players.
 
"To do a thankless job for four years, well now I have a chance to thank him," UW head coach Sundance Wicks said after surprising Roberson last season with a scholarship for his final semester. "That was a special moment to me because I know how much this place means to him, I know how much sacrifice he has put into this. And he's seen the best and the worst of it here, but that's what makes him a real guy because we never get out of this thing unscarred.
 
"Cort Roberson will forever be a foxhole guy for me."
 
Talan Taylor, a freshman walk-on Wicks added to complete the Cowboys' 2025-26 roster, has had conversations with Roberson and aspires to earn respect from his coaches and teammates while doing the dirty work to get the program back into the spotlight.
 
The 6-foot-4 guard grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, dreaming of playing in the Arena-Auditorium because his father and other family members are proud UW graduates.
 
"Getting the opportunity to be a walk-on here just knowing Sundance, I felt like I couldn't pass that up because I love the University of Wyoming and the opportunity to wear the brown and gold has always been a special thing in my life," Taylor said. "My dad grew up in Star Valley and I have family throughout the whole state. He raised me to love Wyoming and going to sporting events, so I've always just loved the Pokes."
 
Former UW head coach Jeff Linder, who recruited Roberson, contacted Taylor before leaving for Texas Tech. During a visit to campus last season, Wicks told him to think about walking on with the Cowboys instead of pursing opportunities to play in junior college.
 
"I wanted a walk-on who has a deep-seeded love for the Cowboys more than anything else," Wicks said. "Somebody who has got a past here. His dad and his uncle both got two degrees from the University of Wyoming. Talan has pictures of himself with Larry Nance Jr. He loves the Cowboys, and I wanted that to be in our locker room, just a love for Wyoming."
 
Admittedly, Taylor was not feeling the love during the grueling eight weeks of summer workouts Wicks and his staff put the team through. He was injured during the early portion of the sessions and was still catching his breath long after the final sets of sprints at 7,220 feet.
 
Adjusting to the Mountain West level of play is an ongoing process for Taylor and other newcomers coming up from high school, junior college and Division II ranks.
 
"I'm doing everything with the team, and I feel just as much a part of it as everybody else. Sundance has made that clear and talked about how I have the same opportunity as everybody else. I'm just trying to prove myself like everybody else," Taylor said. "I definitely have to improve level wise. (Last week) we did a running competition, and I need to be in better shape if I want the opportunity to show everything I've got. It's a step up and these eight weeks have shown that, but I felt I've improved."
 
Taylor averaged 14.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while leading Hillcrest High School to the Idaho state tournament title game. He recorded over 100 made 3-pointers in his final two high school seasons and shot 41 percent from behind the arc as a junior with 60 makes.
 
"You can always have an idea in your mind what it's like, but until you get in the trenches it's like Mike Tyson, everybody's got a plan until I punch you in the face," Wicks said of Taylor's early transition from high school to UW. "I think this summer kind of punched Talan in the face a little bit and that's a good thing because you learn how to handle hard. …
 
"One thing I know, if you have a deep seeded love for something it's going to be really hard for you to hang those sneakers up. He's got a real chance to be a Cort Roberson type in the future."
 
(Editor's note: This is the 10th in a 12-part series introducing fans to UW's new men's basketball players. Next up: Simm-Marten Saadi).
 
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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