What Greg Gard said about Wisconsin landing standout transfer forward Austin Rapp
What Greg Gard said about Wisconsin landing standout transfer forward Austin Rapp
Comments from #Badgers coach Greg Gard and Austin Rapp about the latter joining Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/wYh4N7XEC1 — Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) April 5, 2025
Wisconsin continued its impressive start to the 2025 offseason on Friday with a commitment from Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp.
Rapp is the program's second transfer addition of the last week, following former Virginia guard Andrew Rohde. The transfer moves follow the Badgers losing a large senior class after the 2024-25 season, headlined by starters Max Klesmit, John Tonje and Steven Crowl.
Rapp projects to fill the role of the latter. The 6-foot-10 forward shot a West Coast Conference-best 35.2% from 3 as a freshman last season, also leading the conference in both attempts (236) and makes (83). Crowl helped lead the Badgers with averages of 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 2024-25, plus shooting marks of 54% from the field and 41% from 3. While Rapp may not immediately replicate Crowl's production, or his own freshman-year averages of 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks, his versatility and 3-point-shooting ability should make him an easy fit in the Badgers' lineup.
The 2024-25 WCC Freshman of the Year joins the program with three years of eligibility remaining. He'll have plenty of time to translate his game to the Big Ten level, especially with Winter leading the frontcourt in 2025-26.
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard offered a comment on Rapp's commitment on Saturday, highlighting his lineup and program fit.
"We're excited to add Austin to the Badger family, Gard said in a press release. "He's a big-time shooter at the stretch-four position and will fit really well with how we play and who we are as a program. He's a highly-skilled big man and he showed that in winning Freshman of the Year in a good conference last season. We have a lot of mutual connections with Austin and all of our conversations centered on how well he fits Wisconsin and how well Wisconsin fits him."
Rapp echoed Gard's sentiment, explaining his fit with a culture that he says he'll help win for 'the next few years.'
"I couldn't be more excited to be a Wisconsin Badger," Rapp said in the release. "I've grown up watching basketball and remember the Frank Kaminsky Final Four teams at Wisconsin. I've always dreamed about playing for a successful and winning program and there couldn't be one better than Wisconsin. The culture, the coaches, the fans and even the culture around the city of Madison is incredible. I can't wait to join Wisconsin and help this program win in the next few years."
As mentioned, Rapp's three years of eligibility remaining add to the impact of his commitment. Wisconsin was thin in the frontcourt behind Winter and Xavier Amos, both for 2025-26 and beyond. Rapp begins to fill that void and should grow to lead the room after Winter's departure.
From the forward's perspective, he joins a strong developmental program with a history of terrific big men, plus one of the best offenses in the country with 3-point shooters across the lineup. That setting should help him level up his game after a breakout freshman campaign. From Wisconsin's perspective, it appears to have just landed a multi-year starter with rare shooting ability for his size, filling a massive void in the lineup.
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