Report: Wisconsin pursuing one of the transfer portal’s top players

Report: Wisconsin pursuing one of the transfer portal’s top players

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard has work to do in the transfer portal as the Badgers work to improve after a disappointing first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament.

He and the Badgers staff are putting in the effort. They’ve already been linked to accomplished forward Mikeal Brown-Jones. Now, they are connected to one of the portal’s top players: former Omaha power forward Frankie Fidler.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

Fidler is 247Sports’ 14th-ranked transfer and 3rd-ranked power forward in the portal. In his 2023-24 season, he averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists on 45% shooting and 35% from 3.

The 6-foot, 7-inch forward played high school basketball with Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn — making the connection easy to make. He improved dramatically during three seasons at Omaha and appears poised to play a big role on one of the nation’s top teams.

The Badgers have starter minutes available with Tyler Wahl’s departure. Fidler is undersized for the position, but he would immediately become one of Wisconsin’s best players.

Gard and his staff will have plenty of competition as they work to land the transfer forward. The talented wing will be one of most pursued players in the portal this offseason. But the Badgers are swinging big, which is needed after 2023-24’s deflating finish.

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