Iowa State has created a recruiting pipeline into the state of Wisconsin

Iowa State has created a recruiting pipeline into the state of Wisconsin

Iowa State landed a commitment from Wisconsin top in-state target Xzavion Mitchell Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell is the No. 3-ranked player from the state of Wisconsin in the 2025 cycle and the No. 120 player in the class. The top recruit leaving the state is a big loss for the Badgers and continues a troubling trend of in-state players leaving to play elsewhere.

Every recruitment has different circumstances, so this isn’t to say the Badgers should land every top player. But schools have had success recruiting in the state as of late, Iowa State being a prime example.

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

Mitchell will be the eighth in-state player to choose the Cyclones since 2020. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger arrived to the program in 2021 and has put an emphasis on continuing that pipeline.

Wisconsin’s class of 2024 finished No. 56 in the nation with two players committed. Its class of 2025 currently ranks No. 12 nationally, though it only has a commitment from one player.

Greg Gard has work to do on the recruiting trail as he works to save his job after yet another early NCAA Tournament exit.

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Wisconsin basketball loses top in-state prospect to Iowa State

Wisconsin basketball loses top in-state prospect to Iowa State

Wisconsin top in-state class of 2025 prospect Xzavion Mitchell committed to Iowa State on Saturday afternoon.

The Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native is the No. 120 player in the class of 2025, the No. 29 small forward and the No. 3 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Wisconsin basketball social media debates Greg Gard’s future as Badgers head coach

This news comes on the heels of the Badgers’ demoralizing first-round tournament exit at the hands of No. 12 James Madison. The public sentiment surrounding the program and head coach Greg Gard isn’t great at the moment, and this commitment didn’t help that cause.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks No. 12 in the nation with one player committed — in-state shooting guard Zach Kinziger.

The Badgers have had recent trouble landing the top in-state players. Mitchell’s commitment to head coach T.J. Otzelberger and the Cyclones continues that worrying trend.

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 offers a top in-state 2025 small forward

Wisconsin extends another 2025 offer

All is quiet on the Wisconsin basketball front as we await the conclusion of the Kon Knueppel sweepstakes. In the meantime, Greg Gard and his staff are out on the road getting eyes on players in future classes.

One of those players is in-state small forward Xzavion Mitchell, whom the Badgers extended an offer to this weekend. The class of 2025 forward was recently on campus for an unofficial to the school.

The Oshkosh, Wisconsin native is currently unranked by 247Sports but is a four-star recruit on ESPN, On3 and Rivals. The rising in-state recruit also has an offer from Cal Poly, though has drawn plenty of interest nationwide.

Wisconsin now has in-state class of 2025 offers out to Mitchell, SG Zach Kinziger (committed), four-star SF Davion Hannah, SF LeTravion Fenderson, four-star C Kai Rogers and C Will Garlock.

Early in the 2025 recruiting process, we’ll see how much Wisconsin’s recent momentum and success can carry forward.