Category: Wisconsin badger

  • Former Wisconsin basketball forward signs professional contract

    Former Wisconsin basketball forward signs professional contract

     

     

    Former Wisconsin Badger Markus Ilver signed a professional contract with the University of Tartu men’s basketball team in Estonia.

    Ilver, a 6-foot-9 forward, played 72 games for Wisconsin, averaging 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds.

    He joins Carter Gilmore as the second Badger to sign an overseas contract this offseason.

    The Estonian-Latvian Basketball League and Korvpalli Meistriliiga will be Ilver’s new proving grounds.

    Former Wisconsin basketball forward Markus Ilver signed a deal with the University of Tartu men’s basketball team on Monday.

     

    Located in Tartu, Estonia, the pro squad competes under the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club umbrella and suits up against opponents in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League and the Korvpalli Meistriliiga. The organization is responsible for over 25 Estonian League Championships and nearly 20 Estonian cup titles.

     

    Following a four-year stint with the Badgers in Madison, Ilver will now travel to compete in his home country. A native of Tallinn, Estonia, Ilver arrived at UW after a pair of high school seasons, one at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, and one at Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia.

     

    Ilver played 72 total games from 2019-25, logging a career-best 27 appearances as a junior during the 2023-24 slate. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.2 minutes off the bench in a depth role.

     

    On Dec. 22, 2024, Ilver dropped a career-best eight points in a win over Detroit Mercy. Weeks later, he played a career-high 10 minutes against Minnesota and knocked down a pair of 3-point looks in a 21-point triumph. Ilver becomes the second former Badger to sign a professional contract to play overseas this offseason, joining forward Carter Gilmore.

     

    Several high-profile Badgers, including Nigel Hayes, have found success overseas. In Hayes’ case, his EuroLeague Final Four MVP recently netted him a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Frank Kaminsky, another Badger legend, suited up in Serbia before making a return to the NBA.

     

    While Ilver may never attain an NBA contract, his upcoming experience overseas is another step in his basketball journey.

  • Facing a pivotal Year 3, Luke Fickell hopes ‘Grimey’ offensive makeover can finally jumpstart Badgers tenure

    Facing a pivotal Year 3, Luke Fickell hopes ‘Grimey’ offensive makeover can finally jumpstart Badgers tenure

     

    On an official visit that included touring Wisconsin’s facilities and meeting with coaches, Billy Edwards’ schedule allowed for three hours of free time before a nice dinner where the Badgers’ brain trust could deliver the big pitch.

     

    Rather than explore State Street or relax back in his room to catch his breath during an already whirlwind recruiting process, the Maryland transfer quarterback opted to watch film with newly hired offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. The two became so engrossed in the tape that the hours flew by, and both showed up late to dinner.

     

    Ahead of a critical Year 3, head coach Luke Fickell is banking on that shared kinship between his new quarterback and offensive coordinator to help Wisconsin get back on track after a disappointing 2024 season that ended with the Badgers missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001. The offense ranked No. 101 nationally in points per game, No. 99 in yards per game and No. 114 in third-down conversions.

     

    No one expected those struggles when Wisconsin hired Fickell away from Cincinnati in 2022. He built a Group of Five powerhouse at Cincinnati, winning 11 or more games in three seasons and leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff in 2021. He was considered one of the hottest coaching candidates in the country, but waited for the right job before accepting the Wisconsin offer.

     

    The hire was widely praised. CBS Sports gave it its only “A+” grade of the cycle, which also included Arizona State hiring Kenny Dillingham and Nebraska hiring Matt Rhule. As CBS Sports wrote at the time, it was “a home-run hire for a Badgers program that needed a spark.”

     

    And yet after two seasons, Fickell is 13-13 and already rebooting the program. He fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo, whose Air Raid-style offense never clicked in Madison, in favor of a more ground-heavy approach. Asked about the pressure ahead of this season, Fickell knows what’s at stake.

     

    “I felt it in Year 1, I felt it in Year 2, believe me, I don’t sleep well when we don’t play well,” Fickell told CBS Sports. “I don’t sleep well when I don’t feel like we’re growing and getting better. And, unfortunately, there are times when it’s a rollercoaster, and that’s not good enough in this league. We’re 5-2 with some really big games in front of us and an opportunity to maybe do something big, and we went the opposite direction.

     

    “So there’s no more pressure than that on myself, whether it’s what fans expect, what the program expects. I live it every single day.”

     

    Grimey offensive makeover

    Marcus Sedberry deserves the initial credit for connecting Fickell and Grimes.

     

    After Fickell fired Longo and sought a philosophical shift on offense, he reviewed options with Sedberry, Wisconsin’s deputy athletic director and general manager. As Fickell listed traits he wanted in his next coordinator, Sedberry had a suggestion: Have you thought about Jeff Grimes?

     

    The two had worked together at Baylor, and Sedberry believed Fickell and Grimes would mesh well. Fickell didn’t know much about Grimes but trusted his GM and scheduled a call. Grimes says he initially wasn’t interested.

     

    “When I was first contacted, I was like ‘Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t think so,’” Grimes told CBS Sports. “I was happy and wasn’t looking for another job.”

     

    Grimes had just completed a single season at Kansas that fell short of expectations but offered hope. The Jayhawks lost five games by one score and returned starting quarterback Jalon Daniels for 2025.

     

    But the more Fickell and Grimes talked, the more they understood what Sedberry saw. A turning point came when Fickell brought the entire offensive staff to Grimes’ home. The conversation focused less on Xs and Os and more on leadership and philosophy.

     

    Fickell most important question for Grimes was simple.

     

    “Do you believe this game is continuing to evolve, and if we don’t evolve with it, then we’ll become obsolete?” Fickell asked.

     

    Grimes agreed wholeheartedly, and a deal quickly came together. He liked the idea of coaching in the Big Ten and reviving a more physical offense — something Wisconsin had long been known for under coaches like Bret Bielema and Barry Alvarez.

     

    “I think this is a place that has won a lot of games for a long period by playing a physical brand of football and leaning on their big people,” Grimes said. “And so the more we talked, the more I think we just both realized that it was just the right fit.”

     

    jeff-grimes-1.jpg

    New Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes gathers his group on the sideline while coaching at Baylor. Getty Images

    Ups and downs

    It’s the latest stop in a winding journey for the former UTEP offensive tackle. His résumé includes high points, such as winning a national championship at Auburn and being a two-time Broyles Award finalist. It has also been marred by setbacks, including being fired at Baylor two years after a 12-2 season and Sugar Bowl win.

     

    That experience has given Grimes perspective heading into this pivotal 2025 season.

     

    “I’ve been fired, I’ve been hired, I’ve been hot, I’ve been cold,” the Wisconsin OC said. “So I don’t pay any attention to that whatsoever. It’s a big year for us, but every year is a big year. The pressure on college football now is high, but nobody puts more pressure on coaches than we put on ourselves.”

     

    Grimes says the rollercoaster nature of coaching humbled him and reminded him what truly matters — namely, his family and faith. In previous stops, he let positive press go to his head. The sport requires such full immersion that it’s easy to become consumed by the outside noise.

     

    But after going from one of the country’s top assistants to unemployed in two years, he knew he needed more.

     

    “If your identity is entirely made up of what you do on the field, then you’re going to crumble,” he said. “You’re going to ride the ups and downs of the waves that come in this wild game.”

     

    billy-edwards-1.jpg

    Wisconsin QB Billy Edwards lines up under center in the Badgers’ spring game. Getty Images

    The right guy under center

    Edwards had several options after entering the transfer portal.

     

    Michigan saw him as a potential bridge to No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood. Returning to his home state to play for Virginia was appealing, too.

     

    It was a difficult decision, but conversations with Fickell and Grimes ultimately sealed it. At Wisconsin, he knew he would enter as the starter and not have to look over his shoulder. The Badgers loved his toughness and willingness to embrace difficult moments. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound quarterback rushed for seven touchdowns in 2023 as Taulia Tagovailoa’s bruising backup.

     

    Maryland didn’t have a winning season with Edwards as the starter, but he remained committed and intense. He helped lead the Terrapins to the No. 17 passing offense nationally and threw for a season-high 373 yards in a win over USC.

     

    “He’s just a real pro,” Grimes said. “He prepares for each practice like he’s preparing for a game. The time that he puts into it, the willingness and eagerness on his part to be ahead of the game with all the plays that are going to be on the script and called that day. He’s got a great presence about him. I think he’s a guy that other people see confidence in and will follow when they step in the huddle.”

     

    A new school with a new coordinator comes with challenges, but Edwards wanted to get out of his comfort zone and grow. He’s embraced the structure and intentionality of Fickell’s practices and emerged from spring optimistic.

     

    “We’re capable of anything,” Edwards said. “We’ve seen how the scheme works, we’ve seen how our players match the scheme and what we can do offensively now.”

     

    When you go to a state where football matters, you can feel the passion everywhere. From The Great Dane in Madison to the world’s largest Culver’s in Edgerton — where this writer had some frozen custard — people want to talk about the Badgers and the Packers. It’s what makes Camp Randall one of the best environments in the country.

     

    But when those teams aren’t performing, passionate fan bases can turn. Ohio State’s Ryan Day hired private security after receiving death threats following a loss to Michigan. Illinois coach Bret Bielema said he can often tell how fans feel about him based on gas station interactions.

     

    Fickell hasn’t experienced that in Madison. Despite a losing season, fans have been supportive — so much so that it almost bugs him.

     

    “When someone is nice I wonder why they are because I’m more pissed at myself,” he admitted. “And maybe even some of them are, but I understand what the expectations are like and we live it every single day.”

     

    Still, he’s grateful for how the community has embraced his family. He’s committed to turning things around and helping Wisconsin contend in a new-look Big Ten that now includes USC and Oregon.

     

    Fickell believes his 2024 team wasn’t big or tough enough. He called the Big Ten a “grown-ass man’s league” and made size and strength a top offseason priority, particularly on the defensive line. Wisconsin added four defensive linemen and three edge rushers. Kentucky edge transfer Tyreese Fearby and USC lineman Parker Petersen were both ranked among the top 15 at their positions and top 100 overall in the 247Sports transfer rankings.

     

    With a physical quarterback like Edwards and renewed emphasis in the trenches, Fickell feels good about where things stand.

     

    It won’t be easy. The schedule includes Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois.

     

    But this is what Fickell signed up for. And now it’s time to deliver on the hope his hiring inspired back in November 2022.

  • Breaking down Wisconsin’s entire 2025 roster after final transfer additions

    Breaking down Wisconsin’s entire 2025 roster after final transfer additions

     

    The Badgers roster is fully set for the 2025 season.

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers have a set roster for the 2025-26 season after the commitment of transfer forward Elijah Gray this week, as summer workouts have begun to take place.

     

    Wisconsin had been looking for a transfer forward to add depth to their roster, looking both overseas and in the transfer portal before landing Gray, who comes to the Badgers from Temple.

     

    It was a major overhaul for the Badgers this offseason, as they had to replace six seniors, leading to them landing five transfers and four freshmen for the upcoming season.

     

    Now, let’s break down the entire roster, looking at what the Badgers will look like in 2025 and beyond.

     

    Seniors

    G Nick Boyd

     

    G Andrew Rohde

     

    G Braeden Carrington

     

    F Elijah Gray

     

    A year ago, Wisconsin had six seniors, with each of them playing some type of role in 2024-25. John Tonje, Max Klesmit, and Steven Crowl were starters. Carter Gilmore and Kamari McGee were key reserves. And Markus Illver played spot power forward minutes and was consistently praised as a team player by head coach Greg Gard.

     

    This year, Wisconsin will have four seniors: all transfers. Boyd and Rohde are expected to start, while Carrington and Gray will provide depth off the bench. This should be the expectation for Wisconsin: replacing starters with experienced starters and getting depth for the bench.

     

    But, the turnover shouldn’t be as much as it was a year ago.

     

    Juniors

    G John Blackwell

     

    F Nolan Winter

     

    Wisconsin only has two juniors: John Blackwell and Nolan Winter. Both were key recruits in their 2023 class, and the Badgers didn’t add any other juniors, instead opting for four seniors in the transfer portal.

     

    Both players will be key pieces for the Badgers in 2025. Blackwell is already an All-Big Ten First Team candidate, while Winter has been highlighted as a top-60 player in ESPN’s latest Big Board for the 2026 NBA Draft.

     

    They’re a testament to strong evaluations from the Badgers coaching staff in the high school ranks, and both have stuck with Wisconsin despite significant interest elsewhere.

     

    Sophomores

    G Jack Janicki (redshirt)

     

    F Austin Rapp

     

    F Jack Robison

     

    C Riccardo Greppi

     

    Wisconsin re-upped Jack Janicki with an NIL deal after the season, looking to keep him as a key part of the rotation in 2025. He’ll compete for the sixth man role and is a great depth piece for the Badgers as an emerging, younger player who chose to stay.

     

    Austin Rapp was a big transfer portal land, giving the Badgers a strong complement to Nolan Winter in the frontcourt that can also shoot and has some underrated playmaking ability. He should be a multi-year player for Wisconsin, and a key building block for the present and future.

     

    Robison and Greppi are both likely at least a year away still. Robison has potential as a rotational three-and-D player at the Big Ten level, but he’ll need to have the right play strength to account for his average athleticism.

     

    Greppi is still developing a feel for the game. He could get spot minutes in foul trouble, but is likely looking at another developmental year, based on what he showed last year.

     

    Freshmen

    G Zach Kinziger

     

    G Hayden Jones

     

    F Aleksas Bieliauskas

     

    C Will Garlock

     

    Kinziger and Jones are players to watch as freshmen. A top in-state recruit, Kinziger has a knack for scoring at all three levels, which could help him earn some early playing time as he continues to build up his play strength for the Big Ten.

     

    Jones, on the other hand, shined this week at the FIBA U19 Championships, and has the ability to score and defend. He seems physically ready to play, and will look to compete when he arrives in Madison.

     

    Bieliauskas is a true unknown, given his lack of available tape from the European ranks. He stands 6’11, which could come in handy, but it would be more likely that he spends 2025 as a development year before taking on a bigger role.

     

    Garlock, on the other hand, is also somewhat of an unknown, but for different reasons. He’s athletic and seems physically ready for the Big Ten at 6’10, 240 pounds, but the center position is one of the toughest to transition to from high school to college.

     

    Garlock will need to prove that his play speed is ready, but his athleticism could earn him some early playing time as a backup center for the Badgers.

  • Ranking the 5 most important Badgers for the 2025 season: Offense

    Ranking the 5 most important Badgers for the 2025 season: Offense

     

    Wisconsin will need big seasons from several key players in 2025.

     

    Happy 4th of July weekend Wisconsin Badgers fans! We are under two months away from the Badgers’ football season opener against the Miami (OH) Redhawks.

     

    With the influx of new transfers, the Badgers will feature some new faces to pick up what was a disappointing offense last season. It was clear down the stretch last season that the Phil Longo’s offense was like trying to fit a square peg through a circle hole. Under new offensive coordinator, Jeff Grimes, Wisconsin’s offense will feature a much heavier emphasis on running the football.

     

    Here are the five most important Badgers on offense for the 2025 season.

     

    Riley Mahlman

     

    You can make the argument that the fifth-year right tackle is Wisconsin’s top overall player on the team. Last Tuesday, Mahlman was named to Athlon Sports’ 2025 Big Ten First Team Offense.

     

    Despite receiving interest from the NFL Draft, Mahlman experienced some inconsistencies in 2024, particularly in pass protection. With Jeff Grimes operating a pro-style offense instead of an Air-Raid attack, this should play into Mahlman’s strengths as a run blocker.

     

    While Mahlman has manned the right tackle position the last two years, it’s also possible he could switch to left tackle this year. Projected starter Kevin Heywood is out for the season with a torn ACL, so we could see Mahlman move to the other side of the line.

     

    Billy Edwards, Jr.

    Quarterback play was a massive issue that plagued the Badgers throughout 2024. Miami (FL) transfer Tyler Van Dyke failed to impress in his first two games before his season ended with a torn ACL against Alabama. Braedyn Locke threw for thirteen touchdown passes but had eight straight games with at least one interception. Following the firing of Phil Longo, Locke transferred to Arizona.

     

    Enter Billy Edwards, Jr.

     

    The Maryland transfer is, at the very least, an upgrade at the quarterback position. His statistics, 2881 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions, are not eye-popping by any stretch, but it eclipsed what Locke and Van Dyke produced last year. I’m sure Badger fans will take those numbers after the quarterback play we saw last season.

     

    Vinny Anthony II

    Last year’s leader in receiving yards was Wisconsin’s only other offensive skill position representative on Athlon Sports’ All-Conference preseason nominees, landing on the fourth-team offense. We started to see Anthony II emerge as the WR1 late last year, despite the Badgers’ five-game losing streak to end the year, including his first 100+ receiving yard game at Nebraska.

     

    This offseason, the Badgers lost three wide receivers to the transfer portal: Will Pauling (Notre Dame), Quincy Burroughs (Western Kentucky), and Mark Hamper (California). Therefore, Anthony II is expected to be the go-to receiver for the Badgers in 2025.

     

    Cade Yacamelli

    Yacamelli looked to be a major part of the Badgers’ offense but was inexplicably underutilized last season. Despite a team-high 8.3 yards per carry, Yacamelli failed to register a carry in the Badgers’ last five games of the season. It was speculated that Yacamelli would enter the transfer portal after the season, but the junior running back decided to stay in Madison.

     

    With a heavier emphasis on the run game and Darrion Dupree currently sidelined with injury, Yacamelli is getting most of the attention at RB1.

     

    Tucker Ashcraft

    The tight end was not a major part of Wisconsin’s offense the last two years, but under Grimes, expect the tight end to be a major part of 2025. Tanner Koziol was supposed to be a contributor this year, but the All-American from Ball State left the program and is now at Houston.

     

    Ashcraft, despite not being physically ready to start in his freshman year, managed 168 yards in two seasons at Madison. With a new offensive system and no Koziol, Ashcraft should make the tight end position much more valuable in 2025.

  • Three Wisconsin football starters to represent Badgers at Big Ten Media Day in Las Vegas

    Three Wisconsin football starters to represent Badgers at Big Ten Media Day in Las Vegas

     

     

    Wisconsin football announced Jake Renfro, Ricardo Hallman, and Billy Edwards Jr. will represent the Badgers at 2025 Big Ten Media Days.

    Renfro and Hallman are returning Badgers, while Edwards Jr. transferred from Maryland.

    Edwards Jr.’s perspective on the upcoming season under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will be a key focus.

    Wisconsin football announced on Tuesday that starting offensive lineman Jake Renfro, cornerback Ricardo Hallman and quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. will represent the program later this month at the 2025 Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas.

     

    The trio of Badgers will take the stage on July 23 during the three-day event. UW, along with Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State and Washington, will see its players speak with media throughout that day. In 2024, starting left tackle Jack Nelson, safety Hunter Wohler and inside linebacker Jake Chaney represented the Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

     

    Renfro, who suited up in all 12 of the Badgers’ contests during the 2024 slate, is entering his third year in Madison after spending two seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats from 2020-21. Prior to missing the entire 2022 season due to injury, Renfro flashed his brilliance by anchoring an offensive line that enabled the Bearcats to accumulate a single-season record for touchdowns. As a graduate student, Renfro is one of the Badgers’ veterans with a multi-year relationship with head coach Luke Fickell.

     

    Hallman, meanwhile, enters his fifth season with UW. The star cornerback was one of two players in the country to tally seven interceptions during the 2023 slate, enough to earn him a spot as an AP Third Team All-American. In 2024, he was targeted just 33 times – the fewest times for any corner in the nation with 300+ coverage snaps.

     

    Edwards Jr. arrives in Madison following three seasons with the Maryland Terrapins. The transfer quarterback completed 65% of his passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions during the 2024 season, his first full season as a starter in the Big Ten. He will fill the void left by Braedyn Locke, who transferred out of UW following the conclusion of last season.

     

    While fans are familiar with both Hallman and Renfro, Edwards’ outlook on the 2025 season will be the most noteworthy aspect of the media day period. With new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes at the helm, Edwards’ trajectory under center is one of the more intriguing pieces to UW’s 2025 puzzle.

  • Where does Wisconsin rank in way-too-early top 25 after final additions?

    Where does Wisconsin rank in way-too-early top 25 after final additions?

     

    The Badgers should enter the season as a Top 25 team. But, where will they be ranked?

     

    By Rohan Chakravarthi Jul 2,

    The Wisconsin Badgers are full steam ahead for the 2025-26 season after the commitment of Temple transfer forward Elijah Gray on Tuesday.

     

    Gray was the final addition to the roster, getting Wisconsin to 15 total players, with 14 on scholarship and Isaac Gard as the lone walk-on for 2025.

     

    Now, the Badgers have a good sense of what their rotation and team should look like entering the season, with roles becoming more defined when training camp begins in the fall.

     

    With Wisconsin’s roster fully finalized, where should they rank in a way-too-early Top 25 power rankings?

     

    ESPN revealed its latest update in its power rankings to account for late additions and subtractions, and the Badgers ended up at No. 20, the same spot as before.

     

    Wisconsin ranked as the No. 5 team in the Big Ten in the rankings, with Purdue (No. 1), Michigan (No. 8), UCLA (No. 15), and Illinois (No. 16) all ahead of the Badgers.

     

    Each of the five teams was active in the transfer portal, landing a notable starter to help them this season.

     

    Purdue went after South Dakota State center Oscar Cluff, who averaged 17.7 points per game last season. Michigan got projected first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg to pair with Elliott Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr. in the portal. UCLA landed New Mexico star point guard Donovan Dent.

     

    Illinois, on the other hand, went the overseas route, landing point guard Mihailo Petrovic to run the show. But, they also made notable additions with Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic and Arkansas transfer Zvonimir .

     

    Wisconsin finished the cycle with five transfers. Guard Nick Boyd, wing Andrew Rohde, and forward Austin Rapp all project as starters. Guard Braeden Carrington and forward Elijah Gray should play meaningful roles off the bench.

     

    They complement a strong group of returnees headlined by John Blackwell, as well as four freshmen looking to make their mark early on the roster.

     

    Wisconsin looks much different than it did in 2024-25. But, they’ve reloaded and are ready to be a top-25 team once again.

  • Former University of Wisconsin star Nigel Hayes-Davis headed back to NBA

    Former University of Wisconsin star Nigel Hayes-Davis headed back to NBA

     

     

    MADISON – Nigel Hayes-Davis has worked his way back to the NBA.

     

    The former University of Wisconsin star, who hasn’t played in the league since 2018, has signed a fully guaranteed one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported June 30.

     

    The deal should give the 30-year-old his most extensive look in the league. The 6-foot-8 forward was a part of four organizations during his only season, 2017-18. He started the year with New York but was waived before the season. He then had 10-day contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings.

     

    Between those three teams he played nine games.

     

    His career, however, took off in Europe.

     

    He has played for four EuroLeague teams since 2018. He has played the past three years for Fenerbahce, competing for the team in the EuroLeague as well as Turkey’s top pro league.

     

    In May, he led Fenerbahce to its second EuroLeague championship, claiming Final Four MVP honors after finishing with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds in an 81-70 victory over AS Monaco in the final.

     

    That performance proved to be Hayes-Davis’ springboard back into the NBA.

  • BREAKING: Badgers land top target in 2026 class, second blue-chip prospect in cycle

    BREAKING: Badgers land top target in 2026 class, second blue-chip prospect in cycle

     

    The Badgers finally got the running back they’ve been coveting in the 2026 class.

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers have secured a commitment from 2026 four-star running back Amari Latimer, he announced on Instagram Saturday.

     

    Latimer, who stands 6’0, 215 pounds, was Wisconsin’s top recruit in the 2026 class, regardless of position. The Badgers beat out a strong offer list for the Georgia native, who had scholarships from the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Ole Miss, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, and others.

     

    Latimer had taken an official visit to Wisconsin during the last weekend of May, and then returned to Madison for an unofficial visit just one week later. His only other official visit was Georgia Tech, with Georgia and South Carolina rounding out his Final Four.

     

    Wisconsin had gone all-in on Latimer, cancelling official visits with other running backs and electing to take just one in the cycle. That’s after the Badgers didn’t take any running backs in the 2025 class, going with the same approach for four-star Byron Louis, who ended up at Florida.

     

    The Badgers now have a young, exciting running back room with Latimer joining rising sophomores Darrion Dupree, Dilin Jones, and Gideon Ituka in 2026.

     

    Latimer is Wisconsin’s 15th commit in the 2026 class and the second-blue chip prospect, joining four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit, who committed earlier this week.

  • Three former Badgers are reuniting in the NBA on the same team

    Three former Badgers are reuniting in the NBA on the same team

     

    The Utah Jazz have quite the haul of Badgers heading into the summer.

     

    The big news of Thursday night for the Wisconsin Badgers was guard John Tonje getting selected with the No. 53 pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2025 NBA Draft.

     

    Tonje was expected to go somewhere in the second round, and his slide finally came to a close when the Jazz continued to bolster their shooting along the wings. However, he wasn’t the only former Badger to join the Jazz on Thursday.

     

    Steven Crowl also signed a deal with Utah, joining them on an Exhibit-10 contract, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.

     

    Crowl will now participate in training camp and likely the summer league, as the Jazz evaluate whether to hand him a two-way contract. He had worked out with several teams before the draft, and now has a one-year, nonguaranteed minimum salary with the Exhibit-10 contract.

     

    Crowl’s shooting and passing ability at the center position will be his top cards, as the center was a career 36.3 percent shooter from three, including 41 percent as a senior.

     

    If Tonje and Crowl both remain on the team in some form come the start of the season, they could be joined by another former Badger, Micah Potter, who was on a two-way deal with the Jazz this past season.

  • BREAKING: Badgers land first blue-chip recruit in 2026 class

    BREAKING: Badgers land first blue-chip recruit in 2026 class

     

    Wisconsin finally got the top wide receiver recruit they’ve been coveting for some time.

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers have secured a commitment from four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit, he announced on Thursday.

     

    Petit, a native of Florida, was between Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Missouri, and UNC, with the former two seeming like the top competition at the end.

     

    The four-star had officially visited Wisconsin back during the weekend of May 30th, but returned to Wisconsin for an unofficial visit between trips to Missouri and North Carolina with his team.

     

    Wisconsin had been in search of a top blue-chip talent in its 2026 class, and Petit is exactly that, coming in as the top recruit in the cycle now for the Badgers.

     

    He becomes the third receiver to commit to Wisconsin, joining four-star Zion Legree and three-star Tayshon Bardo. The Badgers had quite a few receiver targets on their board heading into official visits, but several plans changed.

     

    Three-star wideout Zachary Washington had been a longtime target and was on campus during the first weekend of official visits, but he ended up going on official visits to Michigan State and West Virginia.

     

    Wisconsin was a sneaky contender for Legree, as wide receivers coach Jordan Reid had maintained a strong connection over the years after being the wideout’s first offer back at Western Michigan.

     

    The Badgers offered Legree in late May and quickly emerged as a contender after he de-committed from Ole Miss, getting an official visit for the weekend of June 13th. Legree ultimately committed to the program coming out of the weekend, filling Wisconsin up at the position.

     

    Wisconsin was expected to take two to three receivers in the 2026 cycle, with the exception being the blue-chipper Petit. If they were able to land him, they’d add a third. If not, they were content with Bardo and Legree, providing speed to the room.

     

    Now, Petit is officially on board, and the Badgers have their biggest recruit of the class. It’s been a heck of a first recruiting class for wide receivers coach Jordan Reid, with two four-star talents in the fold now.