Latest news with #Tonje
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Wisconsin basketball star impresses in key NBA draft combine statistic
Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje showcased his shooting prowess during the first day of the 2025 NBA draft combine. Tonje, who delivered a historic 2024-25 season leading the Badgers, displayed the efficiency that Wisconsin fans became accustomed to during his tenure in Madison. The North Omaha, Nebraska, native finished the first day of the event having made 72% of his shots, ranked fifth-best of all participants. Only Alabama's Mark Sears, Tennessee's Chaz Lanier, Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard and Memphis' PJ Haggerty accumulated a more efficient shooting percentage during the first day of action. Notably, Tonje was one of eight players to shoot at least 70% during the first day of drills, per ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony. Advertisement While reflective of only the combine's first day, the mark could prove noteworthy for Tonje's draft stock. The 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist was recently projected to fall to No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks. An impressive performance at the combine could certainly alter his position on draft boards ahead of the June 25 event. Tonje's ceiling makes him an appealing second-round prospect, and his ability to impact the game from both inside and beyond the arc could transfer to the NBA level. Tonje's most likely route to a regular roster spot would be to become a reliable two-way bench asset, a luxury for any team in the draft's second round. The UW star averaged just under 20 points per appearance in 2024-25 while shooting 46.5% from the floor, 38.8% from outside and 90.9% from the foul line. A 37-point outing against BYU in the NCAA Tournament, 32-point performance against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament and 41-tally performance against Arizona in November showcased his offensive capabilities, something scouts may look towards when evaluating his position as a professional. Advertisement Tonje's status in the combine will be something to monitor throughout the coming days. While projected lottery picks may not have much to prove, players in Tonje's bubble can still bolster their standing. 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 star John Tonje NBA Combine Stats
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LOOK: Wisconsin basketball star throws out first pitch at Major League Baseball game
LOOK: Wisconsin basketball star throws out first pitch at Major League Baseball game Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje threw out the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox game on Monday afternoon. Sporting the franchise's 2025 City Connect Uniform, which celebrates both the White Sox and the Chicago Bulls, Tonje launched a strike to kickstart the action at Rate Field. The White Sox would go on to lose 5-1 to the Seattle Mariners. Tonje's first pitch follows his stint at the NBA draft combine at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, from May 11-18. He performed well at the event, including a 17-point output in one of its five-on-five scrimmages. That performance cemented his projection as a second-round pick. The North Omaha, Nebraska, native also displayed efficient shooting during drills to start the combine, something onlookers in Madison grew accustomed to during his short tenure with the Badgers. Despite those impressive performances, Tonje is still considered a mid-second-rounder by several outlets. ESPN's latest mock draft slots him No. 48 to the Memphis Grizzlies, which followed an earlier projection of No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks. While Wisconsin fans may still hope that Tonje can land somewhere late in the first round, it's inarguable that the former Colorado State Ram boosted his draft stock while playing for the Badgers. In 37 games, the veteran averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists off 46.5% shooting from the field and 38.8% from deep in 31.1 minutes per appearance. In his final game representing UW, Tonje dropped 37 points -- the most by any Badger in NCAA Tournament history -- in a 91-89 loss to BYU. The barrage encapsulated his scoring capabilities, signaling a bittersweet ending and a promising basketball future. Badger fans will likely witness Tonje be drafted on June 26, the second night of the 2025 NBA draft. His approximate position on the draft board will be one to monitor. 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
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the five best NBA landing spots for Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje
Ranking the five best NBA landing spots for Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje Former Wisconsin basketball star and All-American wing John Tonje has been making a name for himself at the NBA combine this past week, both in the measurement and skill drills. Tonje played well during the event's second full scrimmage, scoring 17 points and totaling seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Such a performance against a court full of NBA hopefuls can be an immense help as the standout wing works to rise up teams' draft boards. Tonje is looking to become Wisconsin's fourth player drafted since 2015, when Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker each went in the first round, and first since 2022, when Johnny Davis went No. 10 overall. He's currently projected as a mid-second-round selection. With the combine now complete and the 2025 NBA draft still over a month away, here is our ranking of Tonje's five best landing spots: 5. Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are the last team on this list simply because they've been among the best at getting the most out of upperclassmen college prospects. Some of those names include Christian Braun, former conference rival Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, and Hunter Tyson. The Nuggets are in win-now mode as Nikola Jokic continues to play like a world-class player. Adding another offensive depth piece like John Tonje could make a difference. Key rotation players Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook have expiring contracts either this season or next, meaning they could be expensive to retain in addition to Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun. Taking a chance on a player like Tonje, who would fit the Porter Jr. scoring role extremely well, could be a savvy move for the Nuggets as they try and stay below the second apron salary cap. Plus, just think about how many highlight dunks and three-pointers Tonje could have if Jokic was passing to him. There is a trend that you might be able to pick up on in this article. Most of the teams that are the best fits for John Tonje have had success developing older college prospects into quality NBA talent. One of the best franchises in that regard is the Miami Heat. In just the 2020s, the Heat have helped revitalize the careers of many four to five year college stars, including Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus. John Tonje could fit into the Erik Spoelstra offense seamlessly, playing with some of the most underrated young talent in the Eastern Conference in Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel'el Ware. Since trading Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, the Heat are in need of a guard/forward who can create their own shot but also be a threat in the interior. Tonje fits that bill perfectly and would thrive in Miami from the jump. 3. Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are another NBA franchise that has utilized former Big Ten stars in their rotation. Both Iowa center Luka Garza and Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. have found roles in Minnesota, next to superstar Anthony Edwards and other young pieces Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. The Timberwolves, who have made made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances for the first time in franchise history, could benefit from a sniper like John Tonje, since starters Julius Randle and Naz Reid are entering the final seasons of their contracts. Grabbing a veteran like Tonje late in the second round for cheap could make sense for a Timberwolves team that hopes to stay a contender for the years to come with Edwards at the helm. 2. Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors have found success with multiple older former Big Ten players in Pat Spencer and Trayce Jackson-Davis, both of whom are key contributors in head coach Steve Kerr's rotation. John Tonje not only fits the three-point prowess that Kerr and the organization love, but he also brings a level of experience and size to a Warriors team that is extremely guard-oriented. The team could benefit from a bigger bodied, guard/forward in Tonje. Additionally, it's fun to imagine Tonje playing alongside future hall of famers Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. 1. New York Knicks This one feels like a no-brainer. The New York Knicks have established themselves as one of the best teams for player development in the NBA, with many former college stars, including Miles "Deuce" McBride and Tyler Kolek, finding roles on the team. In addition, former Badger Johnny Davis currently plays for the Westchester Knicks, and is off to the best start to a season of his professional career. An older prospect like John Tonje would fit well with the Knicks' offensive style of play and hard-working mindset. 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
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje lands in ESPN post-combine NBA mock draft
Where Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje lands in ESPN post-combine NBA mock draft Great vision and pass execution from RJ Luis Jr here to see the nice backdoor cut from John Tonje — Mike O (@coolguy551_) May 15, 2025 Former Wisconsin basketball star wing John Tonje's stock is on the rise after the NBA combine. The veteran showed out during one of the event's five-on-five scrimmages, totaling 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes of action. That performance followed stellar shooting totals during earlier drills. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, only four players shot a better percentage than the former Badger. Just how much is Tonje's strong combine showing helping his draft stock? According to one longtime basketball writer, he could sneak into the end of the first round. However, that optimistic projection and positive momentum did not affect ESPN's latest post-combine mock draft. Tonje is slotted at No. 48 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. The update comes six days after the former Badger was projected No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks. For a broader view, he goes off the board at No. 41 in The Athletic's projection, No. 40 in Yahoo Sports', No. 47 in Bleacher Report's and No. 48 in Sporting News'. While outlets are skeptical of his rise near the draft's first round, his status as a selection appears rock-solid. Tonje's current NBA trajectory is a major surprise after he joined the Badgers as the No. 296-ranked transfer during the 2024 offseason. Of course, it is not a surprise after his performance during the 2024-25 season, which included per-game averages of 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists, plus shooting totals of 46.5% from the floor, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line. The first round of the 2025 NBA draft will be held on June 25 at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast on ABC and ESPN. The second round, where Tonje is likely to be selected, is scheduled for the following night at the same time. Wisconsin is set to have its first player drafted since Johnny Davis in 2022 and just the second since Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker both went in 2015. 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
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball earns high grade for 2024-25 season
Wisconsin basketball earns high grade for 2024-25 season Wisconsin basketball received an 'A' in ESPN's recent report-card analysis of every team in the Big Ten in 2024-25. The Badgers tied the Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins for the highest mark in the conference. Composed by ESPN college basketball analyst Myron Metcalf, the criteria were somewhat simple. "Part of this process is straightforward: A good team that played like a good team will earn a strong grade, and one that played like a bad team will not," Metcalf wrote. "But it will be complicated for certain teams. Some had championship dreams. Others hoped to win just a few games. Either way, we are judging each squad's season based on preseason expectations while offering grace on a case-by-case basis for any unfortunate midseason events." It's safe to say the Badgers landed in the 'hoped to win just a few games' category based on the program's preseason expectations. Projected to struggle during this past season by several pundits, Wisconsin went on to collect 27 wins and a No. 3 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Courtesy of a high-powered offensive attack, Wisconsin landed in the AP Top 25 throughout most of the 2024-25 slate. It earned wins over some of the most respected teams in the nation, including No. 9 Arizona on Nov. 15, No. 7 Purdue on Feb. 15 and Michigan State on March 15. Here's more of Metcalf's analysis on the Badgers' 2024-25 output. "Greg Gard tends to do his best work amid doubts about his team. That was certainly true in 2024-25, when his Badgers finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten and won 27 games after losing three of their top five scorers from the previous season, including Chucky Hepburn, who went on to earn AP All-American honorable mention honors at Louisville. One media preseason poll picked Wisconsin to finish 12th in the conference standings. But John Tonje emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the college basketball season. Injuries had forced him to miss the bulk of 2023-24 at Missouri before he transferred to Wisconsin, where he earned AP second-team All-America honors (19.6 PPG)." Tonje, a Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist and 2025 First Team All-Big Ten team selection, now looks towards the 2025 NBA draft in June. The Wisconsin Badgers will look much different this coming fall with veteran players, including Tonje, Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit, gone, plus incoming transfers Nick Boyd, Austin Rapp and Andrew Rhode entering the fold. Nonetheless, Wisconsin exceeded virtually every preseason expectation with Tonje and sophomore guard John Blackwell at the helm. Gard will look to replicate that effort with a new-look lineup during the 2025-26 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
