In this installment of the BadgersWire “where are they now” series, we take a look at where one of the best Badger bigs of the past decade has ended up as a professional.
Ethan Happ learned from some of the best Badgers of all time, and then turned that experience into a historic career of his own. After watching and learning from the 2014-15 Wisconsin team that many regard as the greatest Badger team of all time, Happ played from 2015-16 through 2018-19 and graduated as Wisconsin’s all-time leader in blocked shots. In both Happ’s junior and senior seasons in Madison, he averaged over 17 points per game and more than eight boards, including averaging a double-double as a senior in points and rebounds.
In the 2019 NBA draft, Happ went undrafted before ultimately landing with the Chicago Bulls summer league squad. Following the summer league stint with the Bulls, Happ signed with a powerful European squad in Greek blue blood Olympiacos. His Head Coach at Olympiacos was actually former Cleveland Cavaliers head man David Blatt, a name that NBA fans will possibly remember.
The system with large clubs in Europe allows them to loan young players out to smaller clubs while still maintaining their rights. That is exactly what happened with Happ as he was loaned to Vanoli Cremona, a smaller Italian squad where he had the chance for immediate playing time in order to develop. In the small town of Cremona, Italy, a place better known for violin making than hoops, the former Badger excelled averaging over 18 points and nine rebounds in his 12 games before COVID-19 ended his season early.
Being in Italy, an epicenter of the crisis in the early days, Happ quickly made his way out of the country and safely back to the United States where he is now reunited with his family. Hopefully the former Badger will have a chance to shine for Olympiacos, one of the best clubs in Europe, down the road.