Latest news with #JohnBlackwell
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball star worked out with four NBA teams before return to Madison
Wisconsin basketball star worked out with four NBA teams before return to Madison Wisconsin basketball star John Blackwell worked out with several NBA teams prior to officially withdrawing from the 2025 draft and returning to the Badgers for the 2025-26 season. Blackwell, who will officially don the Badger threads for at least one more season as a junior, worked out with the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trailblazers and Philadelphia 76ers before sharing his plans to return to school on Wednesday. While the Michigan native's NBA prospects remained slim throughout the pre-draft process, Blackwell capitalized on the opportunity to showcase his skill set in front of NBA scouts and executives. Outside of exposure, those workouts traditionally enable players to bolster their draft status down the line and hone in on specific facets of their games to improve. The rising junior guard did not receive an invitation to the NBA combine or the G League Elite Camp, but he did participate in Life Sports Agency's pro day at the Los Angeles Lakers' training facility, another NBA venue. For a player who will not lace up in the NBA this fall, Blackwell certainly loaded his offseason itinerary with professional basketball at the front of his mind. Blackwell will return to Madison as the unquestioned No. 1 option for Greg Gard's group. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 31.2 minutes, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game off 45% from the field and 32% from 3-point range as a sophomore during the 2024-25 slate, enough to earn an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. The guard played second fiddle to All-American wing John Tonje, who projects to land in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, throughout his second season in Madison. Still, Blackwell recorded eight games of at least 20 points, including a pair of games with 30 points or more. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native will take the hardwood alongside transfers Nick Boyd, Austin Rapp and Andrew Rohde in the starting lineup, with rising junior forward Nolan Winter also returning to help lead the team. That starting unit projects to be one of the more formidable in the Big Ten. 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
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball schedules nonconference game against recent NCAA Tournament opponent
Wisconsin basketball schedules nonconference game against recent NCAA Tournament opponent The Wisconsin Badgers will square off against the BYU Cougars on Nov. 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. In a rematch of the epic showdown in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament round of 32, the two teams will tip off at the Delta Center, the home of the NBA's Utah Jazz, in mid-November. The Cougars claimed a 91-89 victory in the March 22 tournament showdown between the two teams in Denver, Colorado. The matchup is expected to be the first of a home-and-home, with BYU set to travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2026. The news also arrives on the heels of star guard John Blackwell's decision to return to Wisconsin for the 2025-26 slate. The rising junior dropped 21 points, snared six rebounds and dished out three assists in a game-high 38 minutes in the season-ending two-point loss. Both BYU and Wisconsin's rosters will appear much different when the two squads take the hardwood in November. With the departures of star wing John Tonje, veteran center Steven Crowl, guard Max Klesmit and bench contributors Carter Gilmore and Kamari McGee, Greg Gard turned to the portal. Former San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia wing Andrew Rhode and Portland forward Austin Rapp are projected to suit up alongside Blackwell and center Nolan Winter in UW's 2025-26 starting lineup. Senior guard Braeden Carrington, forward Aleksas Bieliauskas, sophomore Jack Robison and true freshmen true freshman Zach Kinziger, Hayden Jones and Will Garlock are also forecasted to assume some of the bench responsibilities for the Badgers this fall. BYU will return star Richie Saunders, who dropped 25 against the Badgers in the NCAA Tournament, and starting center Keba Keita. Kevin Young's most significant asset will be freshman small forward A.J. Dybantsa, a five-star recruit and projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. Dybantsa's pull has already landed BYU non-conference games against Villanova, UConn, Wisconsin and Clemson. Wisconsin is looking to build off its final 27-10 record during the 2024-25 slate, a season which culminated in a Big Ten tournament title game appearance and No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The test against BYU's talent will serve as an indicator of how well Gard's new pieces can coalesce early in the season. Wisconsin's November schedule also includes a high-profile four-team tournament in San Diego, California -- the Rady Children's Invitational. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisconsin basketball star guard announces final NBA draft decision
Wisconsin basketball star guard John Blackwell is withdrawing from the 2025 NBA draft and returning to college, Jon Rothstein reported on Wednesday. The significant news falls on the deadline day for early-entry NCAA players to withdraw from the draft, just 28 days before the event itself. Advertisement Blackwell will return to the Badgers after a moderately quiet pre-draft process. The rising junior guard was not invited to the NBA combine or the G League Elite Camp, signaling a projection several steps below the draft's two rounds. The draft process, specifically private workouts and pro days, likely gave Blackwell specific areas for improvement entering the upcoming college season, to then bolster his draft status for 2026. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 31.2 minutes, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 45% from the field and 32% from 3-point range, as a sophomore last season, earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. He was the team's clear No. 2 option behind All-American wing John Tonje. With Tonje gone to the NBA, Blackwell is in line to claim that lead role this season. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native headlines a projected Wisconsin starting lineup that also includes transfers Nick Boyd, Austin Rapp and Andrew Rohde, as well as rising junior forward Nolan Winter. If the notable transfer additions click, that starting group has the potential to be among the best in the Big Ten. Advertisement While signs pointed toward Blackwell's return for the last several weeks, the official news is a major boost to Wisconsin basketball's chances next season. 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 guard John Blackwell withdraws from NBA draft
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisconsin basketball updated roster, projected lineup with John Blackwell's return
Wisconsin basketball received major roster news on Wednesday, as rising junior guard John Blackwell withdrew from the NBA draft and returned to the program. Blackwell had previously declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility, also noting that if he were to return to college, it would be to Wisconsin. He did not crack any two-round mock draft projections over the last two months, portraying his place outside of the draft's top 60 prospects. That made the star guard's return a likely outcome throughout the pre-draft process. Advertisement With that decision now official, Wisconsin can finalize a 2025-26 team that projects as one of the Big Ten's best. Blackwell will be that team's lead option with All-American wing John Tonje off to the NBA. The 2025 Big Ten honorable mention guard averaged 31.2 minutes, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a sophomore in 2024-25, while shooting 45% from the field and 32% from 3-point range. That production gave a glimpse of an NBA-level ceiling with further development. While he was not invited to the NBA combine or G League Elite Camp, his pre-draft process likely highlighted areas for improvement during the upcoming college season. A further breakthrough as the Badgers' top option will cement his status as a 2026 draft prospect. Blackwell's return is pivotal to Wisconsin basketball's chances in 2025-26. Here is the team's updated starting lineup and rotation projection with his return now finalized. Wisconsin Basketball Updated 2025-26 Starting Lineup Projection Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) shoots the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Guard: John Blackwell (Junior) Guard: Nick Boyd (Senior -- San Diego State transfer) Wing: Andrew Rohde (Senior -- Virginia transfer) Forward: Austin Rapp (Sophomore -- Portland transfer) Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior) Advertisement Wisconsin's projected starting lineup is now finalized after Blackwell's decision. The unit projects as one of the best in the Big Ten, with two potential all-conference players in Blackwell and Winter, and three high-impact transfers. Among those transfers, Nick Boyd is a key player to watch entering the year, as he jumps to the Big Ten level after a strong multi-year run at Florida Atlantic (2020-24) and San Diego State (2024-25). Wisconsin beat several high-major programs for his transfer commitment. He joins the program with significant NCAA Tournament experience, having helped lead FAU to the Final Four in 2023. Wisconsin's Projected 2025-26 Bench/Reserves Mar 16, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers bench players cheer during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images Guard Jack Janicki (Sophomore) Guard Braeden Carrington (Senior) Forward Aleksas Bieliauskas (Freshman) Guard Zach Kinziger (Freshman) Center Riccardo Greppi (Sophomore) Guard Jack Robison (Sophomore) Guard Hayden Jones (Freshman) Center Will Garlock (Freshman) Advertisement Wisconsin is still somewhat thin in the frontcourt. Bieliauskas will be tasked with a major role immediately, with an inexperienced sophomore in Riccardo Greppi and a true freshman in Will Garlock as the only other depth options at the position. Meanwhile, the team is loaded in the backcourt, with Janicki and veteran transfer Carrington as the rotation's sixth and seventh players, respectively. Incoming freshmen Kinziger and Jones are also promising prospects to watch. Look out, the 2025-26 Badgers could be one of the better teams of the Greg Gard era. 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 projected rotation with John Blackwell's return
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Social media reacts to Wisconsin basketball star John Blackwell's NBA draft decision
Wisconsin basketball star guard John Blackwell withdrew his name from the NBA draft on Wednesday, opting to return to the Badgers for the 2025-26 campaign. The news is nothing short of gigantic for Wisconsin's chances this season. Blackwell was a primary option for the 2024-25 team, averaging 31.2 minutes, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45% from the field and 32% from 3-point range. With All-American wing John Tonje off to the NBA, Blackwell figures to take over Wisconsin's No. 1 role, leading a team with legitimate Big Ten title expectations. Advertisement For more on how the Badgers project to line up, both in the starting five and off the bench, here is our updated lineup projection with Blackwell's return finalized. Meanwhile, Wisconsin fans took to social media to share their excitement about the news, while NBA draft analysts are now circling Blackwell's name for the 2026 cycle. Here is a full look at the reaction to the star guard's return: Blackwell returns as a potential First Team All-Big Ten player His return isn't a major surprise With a big junior season, Blackwell will be a clear 2026 draft prospect Nolan Winter chimes in Wisconsin's starting five could be among the Big Ten's best It's a good day for the Badgers More reaction 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 John Blackwell NBA draft decision reaction
