Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
LARAMIE – Nearly five months ago, Austin Mueller committed to play basketball at the University of Wyoming.
Wednesday, that became official as the 6-foot-6, 200-pound forward from ThunderRidge High in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, signed with the Cowboys. Mueller, a senior at ThunderRidge, will enroll at UW in the summer of 2016.
Mueller committed to UW on June 17.
“When I first went up there it was pretty evident to me that’s where I wanted to spend my next four years with a great coaching staff, great facilities and a family atmosphere you get from all the teammates and guys up there,” Mueller said.
As a junior Mueller helped lead ThunderRidge to a 24-4 overall record and an appearance in the Colorado Class 5A state championship game. He scored eight points in the title game, but ThunderRidge lost to Overland 55-42 thanks to a game-high 18 points from current UW true freshman guard Austin Conway.
Mueller earned All-Continental League honors last season.
He was recruited by Colorado, Northeastern, Denver and Northern Colorado. When Mueller committed, he said his final choices in schools came down to UW and Northeastern.
In the classroom, Mueller owns a 3.7 grade-point average.
“I don’t like him, I love him that’s based on the whole picture,” UW coach Larry Shyatt said. “He’s very humble. He’s one tough hombre. He’s versatile, he can play multiple positions. He’s competitive. He’s got great try.
“He’s got character, family values and is an outstanding student. That equates to a better chance of success as a college basketball player. This young man is what I consider a great college prospect. He wants to get a degree, and wants to do all the things a college basketball player is expected to do.”
Shyatt sees Mueller as a forward at the college level, but has the potential to play shooting guard if he becomes a better 3-point shooter.
“First I would say Austin has a swagger and a confidence the way he plays,” ThunderRidge boys basketball coach Joe Ortiz said. “He’s fearless. He’s a great shooter. He’s very athletic. He’s working on his full game, but I think Austin can play early at Wyoming.
“It’s a great fit for him.”
There was a connection between Shyatt and the Mueller family. Mueller’s father, Tim, played college basketball at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1980s for coach Dave Grube, who was an assistant coach when Shyatt played basketball at the College of Wooster in Ohio in the 1970s.
Mueller is the ninth player Shyatt has signed from Colorado since 2011, and five current players hail from the state. Mueller will fill the scholarship vacated by UW’s only senior this season, Josh Adams, who is from Parker, Colorado.