(Autumn McPherson Photo)
Wyoming basketball has produced its fair share of electric scoring point guards over the last couple of years. Fort Lewis transfers Obi Agbim and Akuel Kot, as well as six-year point guard Hunter Maldonado, are just a few names that come to mind of high-flying point guards that have recently donned the Brown and Gold.
Recognizing the talented guards who have come through Laramie, Florida Atlantic transfer senior point guard Leland Walker knew Wyoming was the perfect fit for him as well.
“I wanted to come to a school where it’s more guard-heavy, so that’s really why I came to Wyoming,” Walker said. “And [there’s] a coach that really believes in me, too.”
When looking to reconstruct his roster for the upcoming season, Wyoming men’s basketball head coach Sundance Wicks knew Walker could become another name on a long list of talented guards who have once called Laramie home.
“The thing about Leland is he’s as fast as any guard I’ve coached,” Wicks said. “He can score it and he can dime it.”
In no other game was Wicks’ point more apparent than the Cowboys’ narrow loss on the road against a tough Texas Tech team ranked No. 19 in the college basketball AP Top 25 poll. Walker fell just a point short of his career-high with 28 points in a 76-72 loss, showing off his speed and dynamic ability as a point guard with a myriad of creative finishes at the rim while constantly keeping defenders on their back foot.
Walker didn’t necessarily look the part to start the season off, however. In the Cowboys’ first three outings of the season, the transfer senior only averaged six points and was turning the ball over nearly four times a game. Walker didn’t even seem to be half the player he has proved he was capable of being, culminating in a disappointing night against Austin Peay. Walker only played 15 minutes in that one, being held off the scoresheet while also recording a season-high six turnovers.
Was Wicks at all second-guessing his senior point guard after a rough start to the season?
Not one bit.
“I think Leland has to get Leland right,” Wicks said after the Cowboys defeated Austin Peay 79-65, despite Walker’s struggles. “He’s great in practice. He doesn’t show any signs of that stuff–but tonight was uncharacteristic.
“That was as uncharacteristic as I’ve ever seen, for a guy who’s a sure-handed handler who’s handled press and pressure his entire life, that was uncharacteristic. So, I’m gonna give him that off-night.”
Starting his career at Eastern Kentucky as a four-star recruit out of high school, Walker wasn’t necessarily known for having off nights. An all-Atlantic Sun selection his sophomore season, Walker had proven himself time and time again as one of the top point guards in the nation at the D-I level.
And it wasn’t long until he proved his struggles against Austin Peay were just a one-off.
Since that contest, the do-it-all senior has averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the Cowboys’ last five outings and was recently named the Mountain West Player of the Week for his efforts in a lopsided 42-point victory over Denver, as well as his performance on the road in a near upset of Texas Tech.
Big 3 from Leland 👌 pic.twitter.com/AmkFhg5na9
— Wyoming Cowboy Basketball (@wyo_mbb) November 30, 2025
For Walker, it was about when he was going to start pouring in efforts like he has as of late–not if. He’s certainly not planning on letting his senior season end in disappointment.
“I’m excited because it’s my last year and I just got to go out and do what I can do,” Walker said at the beginning of the season.
“We’re playing in Wyoming, so I just want to bring the fans out and just bring Wyoming back.”
