Recruiting outlet thinks Wisconsin has the best transfer class in college basketball
Recruiting outlet thinks Wisconsin has the best transfer class in college basketball
Wisconsin basketball's impressive offseason is continuing to earn national recognition.
As of April 12, On3 lists the Badgers' three-person transfer group as the No. 1 transfer class in college basketball. The group narrowly edges Kentucky (four commits), Oklahoma State (four commits), Butler (three commits) and Michigan (four commits) in the recruiting service's top five.
Wisconsin's class currently includes wing Andrew Rohde, forward Austin Rapp and guard Nick Boyd. On3 lists each as a four-star transfer prospect, ranked as the portal's No. 110, No. 139 and No. 36 overall players, respectively.
For reference, Louisville boasted On3's top transfer class last offseason, headlined by Wisconsin star Chucky Hepburn. That class led the Cardinals to a resurgent season in year one under Pat Kelsey -- a final 27-8 record and NCAA Tournament appearance. Other top-ranked transfer classes didn't boast the same success, as Kansas (No. 2), West Virginia (No. 3), Indiana (No. 4) and Nebraska (No. 5) mostly fell short of preseason expectations.
That is to display that transfer rankings don't mean everything. For example, John Tonje was the No. 296 transfer during the 2024 cycle before delivering an All-American season leading the Badgers.
Still, On3's transfer ranking reflects Wisconsin's successful transfer cycle to date. Boyd, Rapp and Rohde were all top targets from the start, plus Wisconsin edged top programs North Carolina, Michigan and Iowa State, respectively, for their commitments.
Meanwhile, the Badgers have lost two three-star and one four-star transfer in Camren Hunter, Daniel Freitag and Xavier Amos, respectively. Amos is by far the biggest loss of the three. His departure creates a glaring need at depth forward, one the Badgers must address before the transfer cycle concludes.
Wisconsin's new-look starting five with Rohde, Rapp, Boyd, John Blackwell and Nolan Winter should line up favorably against most in the Big Ten. It includes an ascending star in Blackwell, a promising big man in Winter, the 2024 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in Rapp, an experienced sharpshooter in Rohde and an established guard with Final Four experience in Boyd.
The team's success in 2025-26 may still come down to how Greg Gard fills the rotation, whether with underclassmen or remaining transfer additions. While the team can hold top rankings for its star-powered transfer-heavy starting lineup, it will likely only go as far as its depth takes it.
Bookmark our transfer tracker for the latest on the team's upcoming moves.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
CBS Sports' latest NBA mock draft has Walter Clayton Jr. going to this team out west
CBS Sports' latest NBA mock draft has Walter Clayton Jr. going to this team out west Former Florida basketball guard Walter Clayton Jr. is officially getting first-round buzz ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, with CBS Sports projecting him at No. 29 overall to the Phoenix Suns. Clayton, who averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 38.6 percent from three last season, was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four. His draft stock soared following a scorching NCAA Tournament run, where he averaged over 22 points and shot 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. CBS Sports' Gary Parrish called him "a skilled and unique shotmaker" and noted that while scouts have concerns about his decision-making and defense, his ability to score at all three levels make him a valuable late-first-round target. If selected, Clayton would become Florida's first NBA first-round pick since Tre Mann in 2021 when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 18th overall pick. Clayton's rise caps off a remarkable career transformation under head coach Todd Golden and solidifies the Gators' place back among college basketball's elite programs. What CBS Sports said about Clayton "Clayton was the star of Florida's national title run while averaging 22.3 points on 43.5% shooting from beyond the arc in those six NCAA Tournament games. There are concerns about his decision-making and approach to defense, but the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four is such a skilled and unique shotmaker that he's worthy of a serious look this deep in the first round by a Phoenix franchise that probably needs to hit the reset button." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Nebraska makes strong impression on key tight end target
Nebraska makes strong impression on key tight end target Nebraska football made a strong impression on class of 2026 three-star tight end Luke Sorensen over the weekend. He expressed his excitement (subscription required) with the program to On3's Chad Simmons on Sunday. Sorensen is the 35th overall tight end in the 2026 class and the 60th overall player in his class from the state of California, according to the On3 recruiting rankings. He has a busy visit schedule ahead, as he is scheduled to visit the Penn State Nittany Lions on June 13 and is expected to announce his commitment on June 20. In the meantime, he was very impressed with how things went down in Lincoln, as he was part of one of the biggest visit weekends of the summer. "I had an awesome time, and it will be hard to top,' Sorensen said. The tight end caught 15 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns last season for Servite High School in California, per statistics from Sorensen is one of Nebraska's top tight end targets in this class. Being able to land him would immediately strengthen the tight end position and give the program additional depth. Things appear to be trending in the right direction as he received a Crystal Ball prediction to the Huskers from Steve Wiltfong. It may prove to be a bit of a challenge with the Nittany Lions getting the final visit. However, there is no doubt Nebraska put their best foot forward here. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
NCAA says online abuse related to sports betting declined during this year's March Madness
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Online abuse related to sports betting decreased during the NCAA's March Madness basketball tournaments compared with the prior year, but people involved in the competition still received more than 3,000 threatening messages, the NCAA said Tuesday. The NCAA hired Signify Group to monitor messages directed at athletes, coaches, game officials, selection committee members and others with official roles in the tournament. Signify used both artificial intelligence and human analysts to confirm the threats and, when necessary, report them to law enforcement. Overall, abuse related to sports betting was down 23%, the NCAA said in a news release. The men's March Madness bracket was notable this year for the scarcity of upsets, with all four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four and Florida, a popular pick to win it all, claiming the national title. On the women's side, three top seeds made the national semifinals and No. 2 seed UConn, among the pre-tournament favorites, won the championship. The NCAA's analysis found that overall, abusive statements directed at people involved in the men's tournament increased by 140% — much of it directed at the selection committee and coaches — while abuse related to sports betting was down 36%.
