Which Wyoming hoopster wore it best? No. 10

LARAMIE -- Do you ever see a number on a Wyoming basketball jersey and think of all the great players to wear it?

Yeah, me too.

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In this summer series, I’ll give you my take on which Pokes’ hoopster was the best ever to don each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at UW? What kind of impact did he have on the program?

No. 10 - SEAN DENT

Guard, 1983-88, Trenton, N.J.

Résumé in Laramie

* 127 games played at UW

* School record 249 steals

* School record 93 steals in 1985-86

* Second all-time in career assists with 502

* Second all-time in single-season assists with 183 in 1986-87

* Two-time WAC Tournament Champion

* Two-time NCAA Tournament qualifier

* NIT Championship game appearance

* Inducted into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018

Why Dent?

If you have the nickname "Prince of Pilfer," you're making this list.

The moniker is cool, but also well-deserved. Sean Dent, who suited up for the Pokes from 1983 through the 1987-88 season, capped his career with the program's all-time record in steals with 249, including an eye-popping 93 during his sophomore season.

That's not the only record Dent left Laramie with.

His 502 career assists was the standard for 34 seasons. Last winter, Hunter Maldonado surpassed Dent and now has 513. The super senior could put Dent even further in the rear-view mirror this season if he decides to come back to UW for an additional year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dent said in March that he was happy to see that mark fall, but added that he really likes his nickname. He won't be as happy to see the steals record fall, which is never likely will.

"It's a big thing to have a record," Dent said. "So, that's why there is one record that I really enjoy -- that's the steals record. That's the one that I really hold dear is that record."

Fennis Dembo, Dent's teammate in Laramie, is second in steals with 176.

Dent appeared in 127 games during his time in a Wyoming uniform. He won 91 of those, including 74 over his final three seasons. The 1985-86 campaign culminated with a trip to the NIT Championship game inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The final two wrapped up in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1986-87.

Dent currently lives in Cheyenne with his family. His daughter, Marquelle Dent, is the 15th leading scorer in Wyoming Cowgirls basketball history with 1,337 points between 2013-16.

This shouldn't surprise anyone, Dent is ranked second in UW history in assists with 514 and sixth in steals with 181.

On May 16, Dent was hired as an assistant coach for the Denver University women's basketball program.

Dent's son, Terrance Dent, played guard at Weber State in 2006. One of the assistants on that Wildcats' staff was none other than current UW head coach Jeff Linder.

Honorable mention

This nod goes to another Cowboy floor general -- Chris McMillian.

The Brea, Calif., product played in parts of five seasons (1999-03) in Laramie, going from fully entrenched starter to role player due to injury. Still, McMillian liters the record books very much the same way Dent has.

Well, the same categories, anyway.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound point guard is fourth all-time in career assists at UW with 434. He is eighth in steals with 136 over a 125-game span. McMillian is still ninth all-time in single-season assists with 130 during the 1998-99 season. That same year he averaged 4.6 helpers per game, which still ranks him sixth in program lore. He also landed 52 steals that season, which is 10 in school history.

McMillian is currently an assistant coach at Central Michigan University.

Who else wore No. 10

Rugg (30's), Antone Katana (40's), Bob Burns (50's), Jerry Moore (50's), Bob Moore (50's), Pete Fowler (50's), Terry Eckhardt (50's), Harold Whitefoot (50's), Mike Rawson (60's), Mickey Kaul (60's), Lane Brown (60's), Lawrence Thomas (60's), Kent Best (70's), Ken Randle (70's), Duane Robinson (70's), Lenny Roehrkasse (70's), Jon Cox (70's), Dave Fleisher (70's), Ethan Winterling (70's), Mick Kraly (80's), Robert Howling (80's), Kenny Smith (80's), Levi Porter (90's), Thomas Manzano (00's), Darrious Gilmore (10's), Cody Kelley (10's), Hunter Thompson (20's)

Look who wore the No. 9 best right HERE.

Check out our "Who Wore it Best" football series right HERE.

* All available rosters provided by the University of Wyoming Athletics Department. If we missed a player who wore this number, please email cody@7220sports.com

* A number of players wore different jersey numbers during their careers. From the 1930's through the 50's, players were issued a home and an away jersey.