Tag: camren hunter

Greg Gard compares a current Wisconsin Badger to Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson

Greg Gard gave high praise to one of his transfer additions:

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard spoke with reporters at his annual Garding Against Cancer charity event on Friday.

It was his first time with the media since landing Camren Hunter, John Tonje and Xavier Amos from the transfer portal. The roster looks different than on April 25 when the head coach had to address the departures of star guard Chucky Hepburn and wing A.J. Storr. The roster looks like it can compete in a tough Big Ten in 2024-25.

Related: Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 starting lineup and rotation with latest transfer addition

The roles of the incoming transfers remain a question. Amos will almost definitely start at power forward, while Tonje and Hunter will battle in a competitive backcourt rotation.

It sounds as though Gard is high on Hunter’s potential. The Badgers head coach compared his build to that of former Villanova and current Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson.

“I recruited Jalen Brunson several years ago. … (Hunter) reminds me, I hope he can become as good a player. We talk about ‘jackpot’; that would be jackpot,” Gard said. “But big, left-handed, big body, really strong. … We played against (Brunson) in the NCAA Tournament so we have a pretty good reference to his type of game. And Cam has similar attributes. I’m not saying he’s Jalen Brunson … but you look at him physically and he reminds you of that.”

Hunter joins the Badgers after missing the 2023-24 season at Central Arkansas with an injury. He was terrific as a sophomore in 2022-23, averaging 16.9 points, 5 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 42% shooting and 31% from 3.

The transfer guard figures to battle for a starting role with Tonje, top recruit Daniel Freitag and rising star John Blackwell. Either way, he figures to play a big role for Gard’s team in 2024-25.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Wisconsin basketball appears in Joe Lunardi’s 2025 bracketology

Wisconsin basketball appears in Joe Lunardi’s 2025 Bracketology

Wisconsin men’s basketball program appeared in Joe Lunardi’s latest 2025 March Madness men’s field prediction on Thursday. 

Fresh off their round of 64 loss to No. 5 James Madison, Lunardi projected Wisconsin as one of the last four teams to make the tournament.

Wisconsin, alongside Saint Mary’s, Illinois and NC State, is forecast as an “on the bubble team” in the way-too-early estimates for 2025.

Over the past few weeks, UW’s program has experienced a complete shift in personnel. Thus far, the Badgers have landed Missouri transfer guard John Tonje, Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter and Northern Illinois power forward Xavier Amos via the transfer portal.

With the departures of former Badgers Chucky Hepburn (portal), AJ Storr (portal) and Tyler Wahl (graduation), Greg Gard’s starting lineup will look much different in the fall. 

Wisconsin boasts four Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight bids and 10 Sweet 16 seasons in its storied history. The crew finished 22-14 a season ago, but will welcome three newcomers and freshman Daniel Freitag into the rotation next season.

BREAKING: Wisconsin basketball lands first transfer portal addition

BREAKING: Wisconsin basketball lands first transfer portal addition

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team secured the commitment of former Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter from the transfer portal on Sunday. Hunter was in Madison last week for a visit and he decided to become a Badger.

Hunter sat out the 2023-2024 campaign due to a medical redshirt, but he averaged 16.9 points, 3.9 assists and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 42.3% from the field in 2022-2023 with the Bears. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete carries multiple years of eligibility with him to Madison.

Wisconsin had seven players from its roster this past season enter the transfer portal, including starting point guard Chucky Hepburn (Louisville). It’s unclear whether Hunter will be in a position to take over as the team’s primary ball-handler in 2024, but he will likely compete with sophomore John Blackwell and four-star freshman Daniel Freitag for the role.

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Greg Gard’s staff was catching significant criticism for the lack of activity in acquiring replacements in the portal, so far this offseason. Fans must hope Sunday’s move is just the tip of the iceberg in Madison.

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Wisconsin hosts top transfer portal SG Camren Hunter on official visit

A big development for the Badgers:

Wisconsin basketball hosted top transfer shooting guard Camren Hunter on an official visit on Friday.

The former Central Arkansas star posted pictures of the visit on Instagram, including of him in a No. 11 Wisconsin jersey.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

Hunter averaged 16.9 points, 5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals on 42% shooting and 31% from 3 as a sophomore in 2022-23. He did not play last season. The shooting guard is listed as a four-star transfer by 247Sports, specifically ranked as the No. 165 overall transfer and No. 28 shooting guard.

Wisconsin was late to pursue the top transfer. He entered the portal on March 7, and quickly received heavy interest from programs including St. Louis, Butler, West Virginia and Florida State.

The Badgers are making a strong late push — which could have some real weight given his visit.

For more on Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal activity, check out our ongoing tracker of the Badgers transfer portal visits and targets.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Wisconsin basketball makes a late push for a four-star transfer guard

Wisconsin basketball making a late push for a four-star transfer guard

Wisconsin basketball is in pursuit of former Central Arkansas transfer guard Camren Hunter, according to 247Sports’ Dushawn London.

Hunter entered the portal on March 7 and quickly drew heavy interest. London reported the veteran guard “recently visited St. Louis, is nearing a decision and has recently heard from Wisconsin, Butler, West Virginia and Florida State.”

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

The transfer guard averaged 16.9 points, 5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals on 42% shooting and 31% from 3 as a sophomore in 2023-24. He is listed as a four-star transfer by 247Sports, specifically ranked as the No. 165 overall transfer and No. 28 shooting guard.

Hunter played a huge role for the Bears during each of his first two collegiate seasons, and he entered the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

Wisconsin is badly in need of a transfer splash after missing on most of its top targets. The program must replace the backcourt production of Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr. The potential addition of Hunter would be a big step toward accomplishing that goal.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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