Herndon gives verbal commitment to play hoops at Wyoming

Life hasn't been the same since an unfamiliar number flashed on Alan Herndon's phone in April.

Herndon didn’t recognize the number of Wyoming basketball coach Larry Shyatt and let the call go to voice mail as he played video games with Widefield teammate Anthony Saunders. Herndon then listened to the message and went into a state of shock that persisted through Thursday, when he gave a verbal commitment to the Cowboys and their offer of a full scholarship.

“I might be on Mars right now, I’m flying so high,” Herndon said. “That first call blew me away because I wasn’t ready for it at all. I had to wait until my dad got home because I didn’t know how to react.”

The 6-foot-8 Herndon, who averaged 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds last season, leapt onto Wyoming’s radar in April. The Cowboys' staff saw Herndon play a club tournament with The Force in Denver and he immediately became a recruiting target for the program that went 21-12 last season, including a 6-8 mark in the Mountain West.

Widefield coach Brent Garretson thinks Herndon’s ability to handle the ball and play on the perimeter set him up to be a Division I prospect ("He breaks the press for us."). That same versatility carries to the defensive end, where Herndon can guard the 2, 3 or 4.

“Alan’s the most impressive kid that I’ve coached for a lot of reasons,” said Garretson, whose long career has included a successful stint at Sierra. “All the way down -- his attitude, family, size, skill level. I remember when he was a sophomore and we’d do drills in practice. Then, when practice was over, he and his dad (Mike) would be out there working on the same things.”

Garretson, Herndon’s family, friends and Ken Lambrecht, coach of The Force, were all on hand as Herndon gave his nonbinding commitment.

“It’s awesome,” Garretson said. “It’s incredible. Everyone here is smiling.”

Herndon has one season remaining at Widefield and could emerge as a dominant force in the area, filling the void left by Colorado-bound stars Josh Scott (Lewis-Palmer) and Wesley Gordon (Sierra).

“I’m ready to be that guy,” said Herndon, who averaged 11.5 points over the final nine games of the season. “Everybody’s saying I could step into that role. I just want to do what I can for Widefield.”