Three-Star Prep School Point Guard Inks with Cowboys

Wake Forest and Villanova have reached out. South Carolina, VCU, Drake, Florida Gulf Coast, Ohio, Dayton and St. Joe's, among others, have offered the three-star prospect.

So, why Wyoming?

"Just everything coach Linder talked about," Theodosiou (pronounced Theodochio) said Saturday from his home in Waterloo, Ontario. "I couldn't turn down the opportunity to play as a freshman. I know nothing is guaranteed, but the opportunity to play right away -- I couldn't turn that down. I have an opportunity to play quite a bit and have a role on this team."

Simple enough.

Theodosiou joked he could be the youngest Division-I player in the country next season. He said he completed the ninth grade twice (giving him four years of high school credits), granting him the option of returning to prep school for an additional year or to head off to college. Linder's words did the trick.

How did the Cowboys even enter the picture?

One of Linder's newest assistants, Nick Whitmore, made the initial contact. After all, he comes to Laramie from the prep school circuit. He also has a long history of recruiting international players. That's where the connection was formed. Wyoming's staff watched a couple of games and the offer was extended.

Saturday, it became official.

Linder hasn't had a true point guard since Marcus Williams ran the show during the 2020-21 season. Hunter Maldonado was shifted to that spot the following year and remained there through 2023.

"That was another big thing," Theodosiou said of making this decision. "It seems like (Linder) has some really good guards this year, but not a true point guard who can score, get everyone involved and make everyone better. He needed that.

"... Linder is a great coach and sends point guards into professional basketball. They thrive and develop under his guidance."

Theodosiou's official visit included a private workout with coaches. Before he was offered, he even played 5-on-5 with his new teammates. It was obviously an impressive showing.

"I performed well," he said. "My passing was really good throughout the scrimmage. Guys were surprised I could make some reads like that. I was in a lot of ball screens, which Linder wants me in. It was a preview."

Theodosiou, who lives about an hour outside of Toronto, said didn't really know what to expect when it came to his new home. The Mountains and overall scenery were a given, but he said he was pleasantly surprised by Laramie and the campus.

"They wined and dined me. I had a really good visit," Theodosiou said. "They took me to some great restaurants. Believe it or not, The Sugar Mouse was my favorite place. It's a cupcake shop."

NIL deal?

"That would be great," he said with a laugh.

It's not often you have the opportunity to ask an incoming freshman his thoughts on the upcoming season. Most don't play, let alone a guy who won't turn 18 until late October. Theodosiou said he didn't give a second thought to the fact the Cowboys won just nine games a year ago and lost nearly their entire roster -- 10 players -- to the NCAA Transfer Portal.

That's old news.

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people," he said. "Our freshman class is really underrated. We'll have our bumps early on, but come March we will be contenders to get in that tournament."

Theodosious joins a freshman class that includes forward Cam Manyawu and guards Kael Combs and Nigle Cook. Linder has also brought in sophomore forward Oleg Kojenets and junior guard Kobe Newton, along with senior guards Sam Griffin and Akuel Kot. Forward Mason Walters is a graduate transfer from the University of Jamestown.