The Wisconsin Badgers continued to stay active in the transfer portal, securing a commitment from San Diego State guard Nick Boyd late Sunday night. Boyd marks the third addition in a productive week for the program, joining Portland’s Austin Rapp and Virginia’s Andrew Rohde.
With six scholarship seniors departing, Wisconsin has moved quickly to rebuild its roster, adding three potential starters so far—with more moves likely still to come.
However, the offseason hasn’t been without setbacks. The Badgers have also seen several scholarship players exit via the portal, including guards Camren Hunter and Daniel Freitag, along with forwards Chris Hodges and Xavier Amos.
That leaves Wisconsin with additional scholarship spots to fill. So, where do things currently stand—and what’s next for the Badgers?
Nick Boyd Joins the Fold
Arguably the most significant portal addition for Wisconsin so far, Boyd brings valuable starting experience from two successful programs. He made NCAA Tournament runs with both San Diego State and Florida Atlantic, including a Final Four appearance with the latter.
In terms of fit, Boyd appears to be a perfect match for Wisconsin’s system. He excels in pick-and-roll situations—a staple of the Badgers’ perimeter offense—has a reliable shot, and is a capable playmaker at the point.
His leadership and experience will help replace outgoing seniors like Max Klesmit and Kamari McGee, giving the Badgers a steady hand in the backcourt. Pairing Boyd with John Blackwell gives Wisconsin a versatile duo that can share ball-handling duties. If Boyd takes on more of the primary point guard responsibilities, it could allow Blackwell to play off the ball—where he thrived as a freshman on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
The current guard rotation of Boyd, Blackwell, Jack Janicki, and incoming freshman Zach Kinziger offers a solid foundation, though further additions could still be in the cards.
Amos’ Departure
The transfer of forward Xavier Amos leaves another hole in the frontcourt, signaling that Wisconsin’s work in the portal is far from over. The staff now shifts focus to rounding out the roster, likely targeting size and depth in the paint as the next priority.
Overall, Wisconsin has made impressive early progress in retooling its roster. With a few more strategic additions, the Badgers could be poised for a strong bounce-back season.
On Monday, the Wisconsin Badgers received some unfortunate news as forward Xavier Amos, who transferred from Northern Illinois last season, entered the transfer portal.
While Amos didn’t quite meet the high expectations set for him, he showed progress throughout the year, growing more confident and improving on both ends of the floor. Given this growth, it was anticipated that Amos would take on a bigger role in 2025, though his role was uncertain due to Nolan Winter’s hold on the power forward position.
The addition of Portland forward Austin Rapp in the transfer portal, however, provided the Badgers with a strong stretch-four option, and now Amos has decided to move on.
While it’s a loss for Wisconsin, particularly with the departure of two long-term transfers—Amos and Camren Hunter—the addition of Rapp essentially fills Amos’s spot in the rotation. Rapp, in my opinion, has a higher ceiling and offers a perfect skill set for Wisconsin’s offense, excelling as a three-point shooter, effective in catch-and-shoot situations, and as an underrated playmaker at the power forward position.
Rapp will need to add strength and physicality for the Big Ten, particularly defensively, but he’s a solid addition for both next season and the future. With Rapp now on board, Amos’s role had become more uncertain. If Amos returned, it would have likely been in a hybrid 3/4 role, thanks to his athleticism, but his departure now creates a clearer plan at the position.
What’s Next for Wisconsin?
The Badgers are far from done in the portal. Their biggest need remains a starting center. Wisconsin lacks size and, more importantly, needs a rim protector who can complement Nolan Winter.
The Badgers are reportedly interested in Samford center Riley Allenspach, who averaged 7.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 13.7 minutes last season, shooting 57.5% from the field and 48% from three (though on lower volume). A floor-spacing big would fit well with Wisconsin’s offense, but they still need a physical presence to step into a larger role at center. If they add someone who doesn’t log 30 minutes a game, this could lead to more time for Winter at center, or possibly minutes for Will Garlock or Riccardo Greppi.
A starting center is a clear need, but with Amos’s departure, adding another forward is now a real possibility. Wisconsin’s frontcourt depth is currently light, with Winter and Rapp being the only players with significant minutes. This could lead to the addition of either a versatile 3/4 or another center—though centers typically come at a higher price in the transfer portal.
Wisconsin may also pursue another guard or wing. With a solid core of Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, Andrew Rohde, and Jack Janicki, adding another piece to complement this group could make sense. Janicki could see an uptick in minutes, but the Badgers thrived on depth last year, and adding another wing to rotate with Rohde could improve their overall flexibility.
Freshman Zach Kinziger, a highly regarded recruit, could also be asked to take on a larger role, though Wisconsin coach Greg Gard typically prefers to let freshmen develop, especially when they haven’t yet matched the physical demands of Big Ten basketball.
Ultimately, the next steps for Wisconsin will depend on the financial flexibility and fit of any future additions. However, with a scholarship spot open after Amos’s departure, the Badgers have room to strengthen their depth further.
Possible Rotation:
Starters:
- John Blackwell
- Nick Boyd
- Andrew Rohde
- Nolan Winter
- Transfer center
Bench:
- Austin Rapp
- Jack Janicki
- Transfer forward
- Transfer wing / Zach Kinziger
- Will Garlock / Riccardo Greppi
While Wisconsin has already made strong moves in the transfer portal, there is still work to be done to round out their rotation following this offseason’s departures.
Leave a Reply