Tag: wisconsin basketball recruiting

A top 2021 Wisconsin basketball target pushes back his commitment date

James Graham will make his decision later this week

Just days after 2021 Wisconsin target James Graham announced his top four schools, the small forward has decided to push back his commitment date from yesterday until this Friday.

The final four consists of Auburn, Maryland, Memphis, and Wisconsin. Although Maryland and Auburn seem to be in the drivers seat, with a number of 247Sports insiders projecting Graham to the Terrapins, pushing back his commitment date further opens the door.

“I just want to make sure I find the right spot for me and I feel I need a little bit more time,” Graham told Brian Snow of 247Sports. 

Whoever lands the Wisconsin native is getting one of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021.

The 6-8, athletic forward has a sweet stroke from the outside that forces defenses to step out and respect him. Either as a catch-and-shoot threat, or getting in his bag off the dribble, Graham has excellent range and a high release point on his jumper. The Wisconsin PGC stud feels like the modern forward. He runs the floor with ease, can pull up from anywhere on the hardwood, and finishes with authority at the rim. The Nicolet star also showed flashes of his passing ability out a face-up or post-up during his junior year.

Stay tuned on Friday to see where Graham ends up.

A key 2021 Wisconsin basketball target sets his decision day and his final four schools

One of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021 has narrowed his decision down to just four schools, and set the date and time for his commitment. James Graham III, who has exploded on the Wisconsin AAU scene over the past year with Wisconsin …

One of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021 has narrowed his decision down to just four schools, and set the date and time for his commitment.

James Graham III, who has exploded on the Wisconsin AAU scene over the past year with Wisconsin Playground Club, is set to make a decision on Monday, August 17 at 10 AM central time according to his Twitter.

The Badgers are joined by Auburn, Maryland, and Memphis in the 6-8 small forward’s final four.

Graham is a 6-8 SF with a versatile skill set. The Milwaukee native plays for one of the top Wisconsin club programs in the state in Wisconsin Playground, and has already had an impressive start to his summer circuit.

According to Movement Hoops, Graham averaged 21 points per contest and hit 47 threes for Nicolet as a junior en route to a 22-3 overall record.

Graham has risen all the way up to No. 57 in the 247Sports 2021 class rankings.

The 6-8, athletic forward has a sweet stroke from the outside that forces defenses to step out and respect him. Either as a catch-and-shoot threat, or getting in his bag off the dribble, Graham has excellent range and a high release point on his jumper. The Wisconsin PGC stud feels like the modern forward. He runs the floor with ease, can pull up from anywhere on the hardwood, and finishes with authority at the rim. The Nicolet star also showed flashes of his passing ability out a face-up or post-up during his junior year.

In terms of his recruitment, Maryland is the heavy 247Sports “crystal ball” favorite. Seven 247Sports analysts have all projected that Graham ends up with the Terrapins.

Wisconsin fans should stay tuned on Monday morning for a decision from one of the top players in the Badger state.

 

Wisconsin basketball recruiting 2021 commitment tracker

The BadgersWire Wisconsin basketball recruiting tracker will be updated consistently to bring you the latest on Badger commits in the class of 2021. In addition, player cards for each Wisconsin commit will be included to give you some more …

The BadgersWire Wisconsin basketball recruiting tracker will be updated consistently to bring you the latest on Badger commits in the class of 2021. In addition, player cards for each Wisconsin commit will be included to give you some more information on each future Badger.

Wisconsin basketball had an excellent early period in 2021, landing three commits before October of this past year. Matthew Mors, Chucky Hepburn, and Chris Hodges currently make up a Wisconsin 2021 group that is ranked as the fourth best unit in the Big Ten, and the seventh ranked class nationally.

The current class (updated July 14) 

  • PG Chucky Hepburn, Nebraska (Bellevue West)
  • PF Matthew Mors, South Dakota (Yankton)
  • PF Chris Hodges, Illinois (Schaumburg)

NEXT…..player cards for all three Badger commits

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

What 2021 Badger target James Graham would bring to Madison

A breakdown of one of the fastest rising players in 2021

It was not a matter of if Wisconsin was going to extend an offer to James Graham, one of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021. It was a matter of when, and that when came yesterday when the Badgers made it official with their offer, the latest in a long list for the Nicolet star.

Graham is a 6-8 SF with a versatile skill set. The Milwaukee native plays for one of the top Wisconsin club programs in the state in Wisconsin Playground, and has already had an impressive start to his summer circuit.

According to Movement Hoops, Graham averaged 21 points per contest and hit 47 threes for Nicolet as a junior en route to a 22-3 overall record.

Graham has risen all the way up to No. 57 in the 247Sports 2021 class rankings, and now holds offers rom Michigan State, Georgetown, Auburn, Georgia, Memphis, Iowa and more.

The 6-8, athletic forward has a sweet stroke from the outside that forces defenses to step out and respect him. Either as a catch-and-shoot threat, or getting in his bag off the dribble, Graham has excellent range and a high release point on his jumper. The Wisconsin PGC stud feels like the modern forward. He runs the floor with ease, can pull up from anywhere on the hardwood, and finishes with authority at the rim. The Nicolet star also showed flashes of his passing ability out a face-up or post-up during his junior year.

His handles still have room to improve, but in his junior year he showed the ability to create for himself with high-level footwork either with his back to the basket or on the perimeter. The next step for Graham, as is the next step for many high school juniors, is adding strength in the weight room in order to be able to grind at the next level.

It’s no secret as to why Graham is one of the fastest rising players in the nation right now. The do-it-all small forward will fit in with ease wherever he decides to go, and with his 6-8, athletic frame and deep range, the NBA could be calling his name a few years down the line.

 

What makes Wisconsin basketball successful? Here is Head Coach Greg Gard’s answer

Greg Gard weighs in on what has made the Badger culture into a successful one

In a recent online coaches clinic with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard was asked how the Badgers not only have success as a program, but also sustain that success. His answer began with a single word: culture.

So how has the program built a culture that allows the Badgers to sustain success on a national level? It starts with the players and the kind of person that UW brings into their program. “Great leadership from our upperclassmen,” said Gard when asked about what makes Wisconsin’s culture a success. “When you have good upperclassmen leadership like we have had that makes it much more sustainable. We’ve typically relied on getting old and staying old and that is how we have been able to sustain our success.”

This past season, the Badgers went through more on and off the floor than maybe another team in program history. There were a ton of tests for this group of leaders to pass, and according to their Head Coach and to the results at the end of the year, they passed them with flying colors. “Every season has its journey and stories to be told…specifically this past year, in the time I have been a head coach, was one of the better player-led groups in terms of how they handled their maturity and took ownership,” said Gard when asked about this championship season.

In terms of the more specific x’s and o’s side of the game, the Badger culture is to not try and overcomplicate things. Throughout the Gard and previously Bo Ryan eras, the goal has been to make the complicated seem simple. “Sometimes the game gets overcomplicated,” said Gard when asked about his coaching philosophy. “We as coaches have to fight that, it is a simple game…the fundamentals never change.”

One of the fundamental simplifications that Gard spoke about in his virtual clinic was the idea of “more and better vs. fewer and poorer.” That distinction is how Wisconsin basketball breaks down shot attempts. They want more and better shot attempts, and they want to give up fewer and poorer shot attempts. Everything that this team practices on a day-to-day basis can be boiled down to that simple phrase.

According to the answers that Gard gave on Wisconsin’s culture and sustained success, the Badger way is about “getting old and staying old,” and being led by experienced upperclassmen who have been taught to keep the game simple. The Wisconsin way may differ from a large portion of the college basketball landscape, but it certainly has provided results in Madison.

Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard breaks down the elements he looks for in a recruit

The Badger head coach breaks down elements of what he looks for when recruiting

This afternoon, Wisconsin basketball Head Coach Greg Gard participated in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Championship Basketball Series where via Zoom, he broke down elements of the swing offense, what it takes to be a leader, and an in-depth look at how he runs his program in essentially a virtual coaches clinic.

Among the many topics that came up was recruiting, one of the most essential elements for any college program. A few notes stood out as to the type of player that Wisconsin was looking to bring in.

The first word that Gard emphasizes was “coachability.” “Well I think first of all you’re looking for coachability. You know that players at our level, when they come here, there not gonna be the best player on the floor more than likely…You look for the complete player, somebody that wants to learn and get better,” said Gard during the video conference. The adjustment from high school to college was a big factor in that Gard wanted a player that would not be intimated by the level of the Big Ten, but instead lend himself to his coaches in order to get better both individually and as a team.

A quote from Gard that helps to sum up what he looks for in a future Badger had to do with a player asking questions instead of acting like they know all the answers. “You [want] somebody that’s ‘coachable’ and willing to listen and learn…I like players that have more questions than answers.”

Wisconsin basketball’s success is rooted in buying into the team over the individual, and Coach Gard confirmed that today during his video conference.

 

Scouting Report: 2020 preferred walk-on Carter Gilmore

Wisconsin basketball landed a solid preferred walk-on. Here’s what he brings to Madison

As we continue our BadgersWire scouting report series, we turn to a preferred walk-on who feels like anything but an ordinary walk-on. Class of 2020 forward Carter Gilmore is a player who turned down multiple division one offers, including those from the likes of Depaul and Brown, to play for his home school in Madison.

Calling him a forward really does not tell the whole story. Gilmore looks and feels like a modern point-forward, at least at the high-school level. During his senior campaign, the 6-7 future Badger lead his Arrowhead squad to a 23-1 record. According to wissports.net, Gilmore averaged 26.8 points per game in 25 games while shooting nearly 54% from the field in the process.

Carter Gilmore in one word: “Positionless” — Sure, maybe this is just another way of saying versatile. On tape, the Hartland, WI native looks like he was playing point-center for his Arrowhead squad in high school. He was the anchor of the defense down low and came up with a series of highlight blocks. Gilmore also grabbed rebounds and brought the ball up himself. The best way to utilize Gilmore is an exciting mystery for Wisconsin Head Coach Greg Gard to solve.

Offense: Offensively, Gilmore does a little bit of everything. He’s comfortable taking the basketball up and making plays for others off the dribble. The point-forward stepped into a lot of pull-up threes at the high school level, and according to wissports.net shot 33% from beyond the arc as a senior. As a catch-and-shoot threat, Gilmore still has room to grow at the next level.

The best thing about Gilmore at this stage is his combination of pace and basketball IQ. By pace, I do not mean that he is particularly fast with the rock, but rather that he plays at his own tempo. He’s never hurried on the floor, and always seems to be under control with the basketball in his hands. His handles are sneaky good, especially for a player at his size. You can also expect a few highlight jams from Gilmore; an above-average athlete who has solid leaping ability. His turnovers were high this year at around four per game, but that is to be expected from a player who has the basketball in his hands as much as Gilmore did this season with the Warhawks.

Defense: As a rebounder, Gilmore was tenacious in high school. According to wissports.net, this past season the Arrowhead star pulled down nearly eleven rebounds per contest.

Gilmore’s role defensively at the next level is an interesting one to ponder. He probably lacks the speed to stay in front of most smaller college guards, while also not quite having the size to hang with bigs inside. Answering the question of where he fits best on this end of the floor will lead to Gilmore being a rotation player down the road.

2020-21 projection: On one of the deepest rosters in the country, Gilmore will be a player that can push others in practice to be better versions of themselves. A couple years down the road, do not be surprised if this preferred walk-on, who had multiple division one offers, turns into a hidden gem for the Badgers.

It’s looking like a two-team race for 2021 Badger basketball target Julian Roper as his commitment date nears

The Badger target has his commitment coming up in the next few days, and it looks like he is down to two schools

A prospect that Wisconsin has targeted for months is making an announcement regarding his future in the next few days. 2021 SG Julian Roper is reportedly announcing his decision on May 4 according to Endless Motor Sports.

Roper has a link to the Badgers through his high school teammate Lorne Bowman. Bowman is a PG signee in Wisconsin’s 2020 class.

Despite the graphic that shows a plethora of schools in contention for Roper’s services, the three-star guard is heavily considering two places above the rest according to the 247sports predictive model.

Currently, after months of the 247sports ‘crystal ball’ predicting Roper will land with the Badgers, the prediction has flipped to Northwestern. It seems to be a two-team race between UW and Northwestern. The Michigan native took visits to both schools, touring Madison this past November and Northwestern this past October. Circle May 4 on your calendars as a 2021 class that already includes three four-stars in PG Chucky Hepburn, PF Matthew Mors, and PF Chris Hodges could get even better.

Where Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2021 currently stands

A look at the Badger 2021 basketball class, currently one of the top classes in the nation

Although we are still in the early stages of the 2021 recruiting cycle, the Badgers have made serious noise. Wisconsin basketball currently has the second-best class in the nation behind the USC Trojans according to 247sports. In terms of 247sports Big Ten rankings, Wisconsin is number one in the conference. Despite the fact that most top players in the class have yet to commit, the Badgers are off to a tremendous start.

Wisconsin basketball currently has three four-star commits in the class of 2021.  Matthew Mors, Chris Hodges, and Chucky Hepburn are all hard Badger commits. Mors is a 6-7 stretch forward who is ranked as the top player in the state of South Dakota by 247sports.

Hepburn recently won the Nebraska State Championship with Bellevue West High School. The point guard has a crafty, gritty game that he is bringing with him to Madison. For more on the Wisconsin commit, check out our BadgersWire scouting report on Hepburn. 

Hodges is a strong, 6-8 power forward from the state of Illinois who will come to Madison with a college-ready physique.

Looking forward, the Badgers have their eyes on a few more 2021 targets, most notably shooting guard Julian Roper. Roper was a high school teammate of UW 2020 signee Lorne Bowman at St. Mary’s in Michigan and has just announced that he will be making a college decision on May 4 via Twitter. Landing Roper would round out a fantastic 2021 class. Stay tuned on May 4 to find out where the Detroit (Mich.) native lands.

A top 2021 Wisconsin basketball target has set his commitment date

A top Wisconsin basketball target will make his college decision in the coming weeks

As first reported by Endless Motor Sports via Twitter, four-star shooting guard Julian Roper has set a commitment date of May 4th.

Roper has been a long-time Wisconsin target to add to an already impressive class of 2021 that features three four-star prospects according to 247sports. The Michigan native is prepping for his senior year at St. Mary’s high school where he shared the backcourt with 2020 Badger commit Lorne Bowman this past year.

Roper has listed 14 schools that are still in the running, including five Big Ten schools. Wisconsin commits in the class of 2021 have made their recruiting efforts public, led by 2021 pg Chucky Hepburn today on Twitter.

Roper would be one of the finishing touches on what could end up as Wisconsin basketball’s highest-ranked recruiting class of the modern recruiting rankings era. Tune in on May 4th to find out where the St. Mary’s star will take his talents next.