LARAMIE – The friends you make in college are friends you will have for life.
 
In the case of Sundance Wicks, the bond he formed with two teammates at Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., is so strong that he will now coach their sons at Wyoming.
 
Wicks' relationship with his former college roommate, Northern Colorado head coach Steve Smiley, has been well documented in recent years. Smiley's son Madden Smiley, Wicks' godson, is a promising freshman guard for the Cowboys who was a two-time Class 5A Player of the Year in Colorado.
 
Another familiar face was added to the roster when freshman guard Kelan Gruver, the Class 5A Player of the Year in Kansas, joined the program as a walk-on. His dad, longtime high school coach Drew Gruver, started alongside Wicks and Smiley on Northern State's 2002 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship team.
 
"Me, Steve Smiley and Drew Gruver all played together for two years," Wicks said. "So, I know that Kelan can play the game, but the thing he knew coming up to this level was the physicality of it all. He's going to have to take the year to develop his body and push himself through hard things."
 
Gruver is currently listed at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds while Madden is 6-4, 180 pounds and consistently making winning plays on the defensive end during UW's summer workouts.
 
The developing guard is coming off a memorable senior season playing for his dad at Bonner Springs (Kan.) High School.
 
Gruver's 3-pointer with under two minutes to play proved to be the difference in the Braves' 53-50 victory over two-time defending champion Kapaun-Mt. Carmel. He scored 21 points to lead Bonner Springs to its first state title in 42 years, and Drew Gruver was named the 5A Coach of the Year after the historic 27-1 campaign.
 
"I like to think I'm a good shooter. I know that I've put the work in to be a good shooter, and I knew that that would help me at this level," Gruver said. "For me right now it's going to be developing my body, getting stronger, adjusting to the physicality.
 
"It has been difficult coming in as walk-on. It's not easy, and especially with this coaching staff, they're going to be on you, which is a good thing. You want them to challenge you and help you grow as a player."
 
After leading Bonner Springs to a state championship, Gruver's father estimated that he made 15,000 shots over the previous 10 summers. They also spent countless hours in the car commuting to Kansas City, Mo., so he could play better AAU competition.
 
As Gruver has learned, Wicks and his staff coach the walk-ons as hard as established returning players like Khaden Bennett, Gavin Gores, Nasir (Naz) Meyer and Uriyah Rojas, as well as experienced transfers.
 
Drew Gruver warned his son to prepare for a daunting step up in competition and intensity when he accepted his only offer to play Division I basketball from UW.
 
"My dad was just like, 'Be ready for the energy,'" Gruver said of his dad's scouting report on Wicks. "He hasn't disappointed so far. … Coach Wicks stuck his neck out for me, gave me the opportunity, and I just decided that this was the best opportunity for me to grow and develop as a basketball player and as a person.
 
"Playing for Coach Wicks isn't for everyone, so I'm excited for the challenge."
 
Gruver finished his high school career with 1,498 points and shot 38% behind the arc with 241 made 3s. Wicks is confident if he sticks with the process of getting stronger in the weight room and developing other aspects of his game, he can contribute on the court.
 
"He's a futures bet for us where if he continues to fight through this and come out of the other side of the crucible, he'll be hardened a little bit by the fire and the flame and the journey," Wicks said. "Struggle is a good thing for some of these guys that have won a lot. The first time that you face that and it hits you head on, how are you going to respond? I think that makes you a better player as you go forward."
 
While Smiley is pushing for an immediate role, Gruver is embracing whatever role helps the Cowboys win.
 
"If I have to be the water boy, so to speak, or the energy guy, I need to be able to do that," said Gruver, who plans to major in civil engineering. "I need to do what's best for the team."
 
(Editor's note: This is the fifth in a 10-part series introducing Cowboy fans to Wyoming's new men's basketball players)
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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