Wisconsin basketball got bad news on Thursday when star guard and three-year starter Chucky Hepburn entered the transfer portal.
The news came on the heels of star guard A.J. Storr committing to Kansas, making it clear how much the program was losing after a solid 2023-24 campaign.
Related: Wisconsin basketball’s potential replacements for transfer guard Chucky Hepburn
Those departures now include Hepburn, Storr, senior forward Tyler Wahl and several depth pieces. It’s a new age of college basketball, one where four-year players are becomingly increasingly rare.
Greg Gard has work to do in the transfer portal to make up for the lost production. He’ll likely need a starting point guard, starting wing and experienced forward — all of that while keeping whats left of the roster together.
There are reasons for optimism, mainly the entrance of top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag. But Badgers fans were despondent at the news of Hepburn leaving and how it signaled the current age of the sport.
As Gard and his staff continue to search for productive replacements, here is an updated look at Wisconsin basketball’s roster entering 2024-25:
Note: this list does not include walk-ons or Wisconsin’s future transfer portal activity.
2023-24 averages: 8.2 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 54.5% shooting, 30% from 3.
McGee was one of 2023-24’s biggest surprises. He emerged as the team’s primary backup point guard — and his value became clear when the team struggled during his extended absence.
2023-24 averages: 1.9 minutes, 0.1 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.3 blocks
Hodges struggled to see the floor in 2023-24 despite Wisconsin’s overall lack of depth at forward. That is trending to be the case again in 2024-25, though plenty of time remains until the season begins.
2023-24 averages: 28.9 minutes, 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, 57.8% shooting, 45% from 3.
Crowl’s play was yet again pivotal to Wisconsin’s success in 2023-24, especially his shooting from deep. The veteran center has one year of eligibility remaining and will look to take a substantial leap entering 2024-25.
2023-24 averages: 6.1 minutes, 1.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 steals, 31% shooting, 25% from 3.
Ilver was barely a part of Wisconsin’s rotation in 2023-24. It’s hard seeing those numbers dramatically increase in 2024-25, but who knows what the forward rotation will look like.
2023-24 averages: 28.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 44% shooting, 39% from 3.
Klesmit was an under-the-radar transfer addition entering the 2022-23 season and has blossomed into one of Wisconsin’s key starters. He’ll be back to play big role next season.
2023-24 averages: 9.4 minutes, 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 49% shooting
Gilmore has been a solid member of Wisconsin’s forward rotation for several years now. That should continue in 2024-25 regardless of what the Badgers do in the transfer portal.
2023-24 averages: 18.3 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 45% shooting, 47% from three
Blackwell was one of several new additions entering 2023-24 who emerged as a big-time player. Not many on Wisconsin’s roster have more potential than Blackwell who already has a dynamic offensive game.
2023-24 averages: 9.6 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals, 42% shooting
Winter was thrust into important action as a true freshman and should continue to improve entering 2024-25. He is Crowl’s eventual replacement but will play a big bench role until that happens.
247Sports ranking: No. 103 in class of 2024, No. 11 point guard, No. 3 from state of Minnesota
Freitag should become an immediate contributor for the Badgers after a storied high school career. He appears to be the Badgers replacement for the big loss of Chucky Hepburn.
247Sports ranking: No. 105 in class of 2024, No. 22 shooting guard, No. 4 from state of Minnesota
Add sharpshooter Jack Robinson to Wisconsin’s growing depth in the backcourt. He may not play right away, but Greg Gard has the future looking bright at the position.
Wisconsin has massive holes to fill in the transfer portal, and already is after several of its top guards and forwards.
There will be transfer additions. The question is how many.
2023-24 averages: 33.2 minutes, 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 52% shooting, 31% from 3.
Hepburn surprisingly entered the transfer portal on April 18, leaving behind a massive void of leadership and production.
2023-24 averages: 7.3 minutes, 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 38.5% shooting, 30% from 3.
Essegian entered the transfer portal on March 24 after seeing his minutes dip in his sophomore season. He has taken visits to several Big Ten schools and should find a solid second home.
2023-24 averages: 28.9 minutes, 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 43.6% shooting, 32% from 3.
Storr entered the portal after the season and recently committed to Kansas. That makes seven schools in seven years for the talented guard.
2023-24 averages: Did not play
Yalden entered the transfer portal on March 28 after not seeing the court during his freshman season. The former four-star recruit had off-the-court issues with the Badgers that led to him not traveling with the team to road games.
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