Latest news with #ChuckyHepburn
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will former Wisconsin star Chucky Hepburn be selected in the 2025 NBA draft?
All-American wing John Tonje isn't the only now-former Badger hoping to hear his name called during the 2025 NBA draft. Former Wisconsin star point guard Chucky Hepburn, who played his final collegiate season at Louisville, is another. Unlike Tonje, who is a clear-cut second-round selection, Hepburn is among a large group of players currently on the outside looking in of two-round mock draft projections. Remember, there will only be 59 selections this year (instead of 60) after the New York Knicks were forced to forfeit their second-round pick. Advertisement More specifically, CBSSports slots Hepburn just outside of its top 59 -- it has the veteran point guard at No. 77 in its latest NBA draft top 100 player ranking. Hepburn's stock is trending positively after a strong performance at the G League Elite Camp last month. He's looking to validate a breakout senior season with the Cardinals, which included 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game, plus shooting totals of 43% from the field, 33% from 3 and 84.4% from the free-throw line. Hepburn has worked out for the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets, according to RookieWire's Cody Taylor. While the 6-foot-2 point guard is currently slotted outside of the draft's two rounds, he appears to be a prime candidate to sign as an undrafted free agent. He'd then need a standout summer league and preseason to play his way onto an NBA roster. Advertisement The former Badger brings a rare combination of excellence on the defensive end and as a floor general to the table. If he can't make an NBA roster immediately out of college, productive seasons in the G League or overseas could lead to a promotion. The NBA draft will be held on Wednesday (first round) and Thursday (second round) of this week. Hepburn appears to have a long shot chance to hear his name called during Thursday's second round. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball transfer Chucky Hepburn NBA draft player ranking
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Wisconsin star worked out for several NBA teams before upcoming draft
The 2025 NBA draft is now just days away. On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, Adam Silver will take the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and announce the Dallas Mavericks' first overall pick. Wisconsin fans have notable rooting interests entering this year's draft. Star wing John Tonje is a likely second-round selection. His stock continues to rise in final mock draft projections, some of which see him going in the top-40. Advertisement Another notable former Badger hoping to hear his name called during the two-day event is point guard Chucky Hepburn. The former Badger and Louisville Cardinal is lower-ranked than Tonje. He's down at No. 77 in CBSSports' latest top 100 player ranking, compared to Tonje's No. 44 position. While a selection during the draft's 59 picks may be a long shot for Hepburn, he's gotten plenty of chances to showcase his ability in front of interested NBA teams. Hepburn first participated in the G League Elite Camp. Then, according to RookieWire's Cody Taylor, he worked out with both the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors. Workouts don't necessarily guarantee a draft selection or a post-draft contract. For example, Wisconsin center Steven Crowl has worked out for seven teams, according to Taylor, though he is not projected to contend for a roster spot. Hepburn may be in a different situation than Crowl, however. He just delivered a career year leading the Cardinals, averaging 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field, 33% from 3 and 84.4% from the free-throw line. Those tallies resulted in First Team All-ACC honors, as well as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. While the point guard is undersized at 6-foot-2, NBA teams value his rare combination of ball-handling, distribution and lock-down on-ball defense. Hepburn was a mainstay in Wisconsin's lineup during his three years with the program. He appeared in 103 games during that time, averaging 32.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Much of his time with the Badgers was spent as the No. 2 offensive option, behind shooting guards Johnny Davis (2021-22) and A.J. Storr (2023-24), respectively. Advertisement The Omaha, Nebraska, native flourished in an increased role with Louisville in 2024-25. We'll see if that performance is enough to land him on an NBA roster. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Former Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn's several pre-NBA draft workouts
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin basketball star invited to NBA G League Elite Camp
Former Wisconsin basketball star invited to NBA G League Elite Camp Former Wisconsin basketball star guard Chucky Hepburn was invited to the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp on Saturday. Hepburn is one of 44 former college, G League and international standouts invited to the showcase. The event will take place from May 9-11 in Chicago, Illinois. Several of the camp's top performers will then be invited to the NBA combine later in the week. Other notable former Big Ten players on the invite list are Brooks Barnhizer (Northwestern), Nate Bittle (Oregon), Dawson Garcia (Minnesota), Kobe Johnson (UCLA), Mackenzie Mcbako (Indiana) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State). Hepburn is looking to make the jump to the professional level after a terrific four-year college career. In three years at Wisconsin (2021-24), the point guard averaged 32.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 39.5% from the field and 36.5% from 3. He then excelled even further in one season at Louisville (2024-25), playing 34.8 minutes per contest and averaging 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals. Those totals were accompanied by shooting rates of 43.2% from the field, 32.8 from 3 and 84.4% from the free-throw line. Hepburn is not currently projected to be selected during the upcoming NBA draft. He would do well to earn a combine invite with a strong G League Elite Camp performance. At that stage, a late-second-round selection may become a possibility. The former Badger star is looking to join a list of notable G League Elite Camp participants to eventually excel at the NBA level: Jose Alvarado (New Orleans Pelicans), Max Strus (Cleveland Cavaliers), Terance Mann (Los Angeles Clippers), Caleb Martin (Miami Heat), Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers), Amir Coffey (Clippers), A.J. Green (Milwaukee Bucks) and Tyrese Martin (Atlanta Hawks). As of May 5, John Tonje is the only former Badger set to participate in the draft combine. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How former Wisconsin basketball transfers fared with new programs in 2024-25
How former Wisconsin basketball transfers fared with new programs in 2024-25 By no surprise, Wisconsin basketball's offseason transfer additions largely defined the team's 2024-25 season. Greg Gard and his staff added wing John Tonje, guard Camren Hunter and forward Xavier Amos following the 2023-24 campaign. Those additions followed the high-profile departures of Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr to Louisville and Kansas, respectively. The Badgers got an All-American season from Tonje (31.1 minutes, 19.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 46.5% shooting, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line), one that entered the record books as one of the best in program history. His performance, along with Gard revolutionizing the team's approach, steady play from several veterans and breakout years from John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, helped the Badgers to a resurgent campaign. While Wisconsin's season came to an end with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss, Tonje's breakout year as a top-end scoring option could have a positive impact for years to come. Most notably, it should help Wisconsin's recruiting pitch to talented wing scorers looking for a chance to showcase NBA-level ability career. As Tonje's play defined Wisconsin's strong season and positive outlook moving forward, the program's former transfers all experienced varying levels of success with new programs. That includes an All-ACC season from Hepburn, a solid year from Connor Essegian at Nebraska and struggles from Storr at Kansas. For more, here is how every recent Wisconsin basketball transfer performed in 2024-25: Connor Essegian (Nebraska) 2024-25 Averages: 22.6 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 38.9% shooting, 37.6% from 3. Essegian found solid footing at Nebraska after playing a minor role on the 2023-24 Badgers. His shooting fit well into Fred Hoiberg's offensive scheme. Essegian could be in line for a breakout senior year in 2025-26. Chucky Hepburn (Louisville) 2024-25 Averages: 34.8 minutes, 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 43.2% shooting, 32.8% from 3. Hepburn was sensational in his one season at Louisville, breaking several program records en route to a career year. His First-Team All-ACC honors and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award were well-deserved. That terrific success didn't come as much of a surprise after his excellent three years with the Badgers. A.J. Storr (Kansas) 2024-25 Averages: 15.7 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 38.4% shooting, 29% from 3. Storr's struggles in his first season at Kansas have been well-documented. The highly touted transfer struggled to hold a regular role in Bill Self's lineup. The season likely hurt his NBA draft stock, one that was on the rise after his one season with the Badgers. Gus Yalden (Seton Hall) 2024-25 Averages: 8.4 minutes, 1.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks, 36.7% shooting. Yalden didn't see the court as a true freshman at Wisconsin in 2023-24. He found a role as a redshirt freshman at Seton Hall, appearing in 26 games and playing more than eight minutes per game. He has since reentered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. Matthew Mors (South Dakota State) 2024-25 Averages: 25.8 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks, 49.7% shooting, 35.5% from 3. Mors left the Badgers after redshirting in 2021-22. He started all 32 games for South Dakota State this season, helping to lead a team that finished 20-12 overall, though lost in the first round of the Summit League Tournament. The forward has one year of eligibility remaining. Jordan Davis (Illinois State) 2024-25 Averages: 23.1 minutes, 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, 38.2% shooting, 31.7% from 3 Davis played three years at Wisconsin (2020-23). He transferred to Illinois State before 2023-24, where he appeared in 54 games (23 starts) over two seasons. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball already has several reported transfer portal interests
Wisconsin basketball already has several reported transfer portal interests While Wisconsin basketball's season ended less than 48 hours ago with an NCAA Tournament loss to BYU, the page is already turning to the upcoming transfer portal season. That timeline and dynamic represent the current age of college basketball. While the Badgers are a program built on development, they, and most others in the sport, enter every offseason with a somewhat clean slate, needing significant additions at several key positions. Wisconsin's semi-clean slate last offseason was due to the transfer departures of Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr. This offseason, it's due to a terrific senior class moving on: guard Max Klesmit, wing John Tonje, center Steven Crowl, forward Carter Gilmore, guard Kamari McGee and forward Markus Ilver. That group includes five major contributors and three starters. More notably, it accounted for 62% of Wisconsin's minutes, 67% of its points, 50% of its rebounds, 67.5% of its assists and 67.4% of its three-point makes this season. Wisconsin enters this transfer cycle needing to recreate much of that production. At the least, it needs to rebuild key depth behind rising stars John Blackwell and Nolan Winter. For reference, here is our early look at the team's 2025-26 starting lineup and rotation, which includes several impact transfers. The portal cycle officially opened on Monday, March 24. It will remain open through the end of the NCAA Tournament, up until April 22. Extremely early in the cycle, Wisconsin already has a few reported interests: Milwaukee forward Jamichael Stillwell Measurables: 6'8", 225 pounds 2024-25 Stats: Junior season. 28 minutes, 13.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals per game. 46.8% shooting, 28.6% from three. Other reported interests: Butler, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Dayton, DePaul, Florida State, George Washington, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, LMU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, New Mexico, Penn State, Pitt, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCF, VCU, and Wichita State. UMass Lowell forward Quinton Mincey Measurables: 6'6", 205 pounds 2024-25 Stats: Senior season. 35.9 minutes, 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game. 48.6% shooting, 39.4% from three. Other reported interests: Charlotte, George Mason and George Washington Drexel guard Kobe Magee Measurables: 6'6", 180 pounds 2024-25 Stats: Junior season. 33.7 minutes, 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game. 47.2% shooting, 43.9% from three. Other reported interests: Maryland, Syracuse, Kansas, Texas, Xavier, Wake Forest, Seton Hall and Clemson Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
