Wisconsin’s 2020 class is one of the most exciting in recent history for Badger basketball. The five signees are all likely going to be valuable pieces for UW as Greg Gard continues to move the program forward. In this BadgersWire scouting report series, we are going to take a look at what each 2020 Badger signee will bring to Madison this fall and beyond.
According to 247sports, the highest ranked player in the 2020 Wisconsin class is Ben Carlson. The four-star recruit from Saint Paul, Minnesota brings a versatile game to Madison. The 6-9 power forward led his East Ridge High School team to to a 20-7 record this season, and a 6-1 mark in league play.
Ben Carlson in one word: Carlson is a versatile basketball player. There isn’t one skill on tape that jumps out, but rather a variety of things he does well on the basketball court.
Offense: Carlson did some of his best work against his best competition. Against Cretin Derham Hall, a top-10 team in the state of Minnesota, the future Badger dropped 33 points. With his combination of height and athletic ability, the high school senior can fly to the rim or catch and finish lobs with ease. He can put the ball on the floor and finish with a hammer at the rim. As a jump shooter, the Minnesota native already has a sweet stroke that will translate to the next level. There is a lot that reminds you of Nate Reuvers when watching the four-star prospect on film. Like Reuvers, Carlson is a threat in the pick-and-pop game. He can also grab a rebound at the defensive end and go to coast to coast with the dribble.
The prized recruit in Wisconsin’s 2020 class will certainly add muscle on a college weight program. I expect to see even more improvement in his ability to put the ball on the deck and get to the rim with a variety of dribble moves. There were also moments on tape where he made excellent reads in transition. A lot of times a big bringing up the basketball in transition will be out of control, but Carlson made nice drive and kick passes to open shooters as a point-forward in transition.
Defense: Probably the most impressive aspect of the versatile power forward’s game on film comes at the defensive end. The comparison to Reuvers is most apparent in Carlson’s shot-blocking ability. As a rim protector, his combination of size and jumping ability lead to a ton of monster blocks. Often times he came out of nowhere and erased a shot as the weak-side help defender. He also kept shots in play when blocking them, a skill that helps to ignite the break.
Overall: Carlson is a player that can step in and contribute right away. If he continues to develop as a ball handler and playmaker, and couples that with added work in the weight room, watch out.