2 weeks Ago By Pat Ruff
DENVER — Dream realized. Shaun Wysocki — like so many kids who’ve had hoops dreams — had always longed to be a Division I player. Tuesday, that dream came true with Wysocki bouncing via the transfer portal from Division II Minnesota State University Moorhead to Division I University of Denver.
ADVERTISEMENT The 6-foot-6 and ultra-athletic Wysocki officially signed with the Pioneers on Tuesday after a freshman year spent doing big things with national Division II power Minnesota State Moorhead. Wysocki, who originally figured to redshirt this past season with the Dragons, instead became a starter shortly into his freshman campaign and helped them reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II tournament. Wysocki finished the season averaging 7.
6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. In heading to the University of Denver, he follows his Minnesota State Moorhead coach there.
Tim Bergstraser was announced as Denver’s coach on Monday. He’s bringing with him four Dragons players — Wysocki, fellow freshmen Carson Johnson and Corleone Dandridge (redshirted this year), and junior Logan Kinsey. “I’m really excited,” Wysocki said.
“It’s a process we’ve been going through for the last two weeks or so. So, to make it official feels great. It’s going to be great being able to continue to play with the four of us (Wysocki, Johnson, Dandridge and Kinsey) and to do it playing at the next level.
I’ve always dreamed of playing Division I and I’ll be doing that in the Summit League.” Wysocki will be doing it with a coach who believes in him. “Early in the season, coach took a chance on me (making him a starter) when I thought I was going to redshirt,” Wysocki said.
“He feels I can contribute at the Division I level. I know he has faith in me.” In bringing Wysocki to Denver, Bergstraser has a player who figures to be one of the top athletes in the Summit League.
A great leaper, Wysocki was an elite track and field athlete at Century and holds school records in both the long jump and triple jump. He was a dunking machine for the Century basketball team as a senior when he finished as the Big Nine Conference Player of the Year. Still, Wysocki is focused on refining his game before the 2025-26 season starts.
He feels he has some improvement in front of him before taking on a Division I schedule. He’s certain he’ll get there with a rigorous offseason of training. ADVERTISEMENT Mostly, he wants to add muscle to his 6-6 frame.
“It’s going to mean me getting in the weight room and eating and lifting a lot,” Wysocki said. “Skill wise, I want to be able to knock down the 3-point shot. Things will be different at the Division I level.
I’ve got a lot of work to do. But I know that I have time to do it.”.
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