A starting center is a priority for the Badgers in the transfer portal.
The Wisconsin Badgers have had a strong showing in the transfer portal, securing San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia guard Andrew Rohde, and Portland center Austin Rapp. As a result, the Badgers are ranked 25th in 247Sports’ Transfer Basketball Team Rankings.
Despite these key additions, the Badgers still face challenges in their frontcourt. Starting forward Steven Crowl has exhausted his eligibility, and Xavier Amos, who was expected to play a larger role, is now in the portal. At this point, Rapp and Nolan Winter are projected as the starting forwards. While both fit into the team’s offensive scheme, their defensive abilities remain a major concern for the upcoming season.
Currently, Ricardo Greppi and Will Garlock are the only centers on the roster. With Greppi seeing limited play this season and Garlock still adjusting to Big Ten competition, it’s unlikely either will play a prominent role next year. As such, the Badgers need to add further depth and talent to their frontcourt.
Here are three centers from the transfer portal that Wisconsin should consider:
Gabe Dynes
Wisconsin needs a rim protector for next season, and Dynes is one of the best in the country. Standing at 7-foot-3, the Youngstown State center led the nation with 104 blocks, averaging 3.06 blocks per game, ranking second in college basketball. Though the Badgers haven’t shown interest yet, two other Big Ten programs have: Northwestern recently hosted Dynes on a visit, and USC has also shown interest.
Duke Brennan
While Dynes excels at shot-blocking, Grand Canyon’s Brennan is known for his rebounding. The 6-foot-10 forward from Arizona averaged 9.2 rebounds per game, ranking 22nd in the nation. Brennan has been a two-year starter at Grand Canyon and will likely seek a school where he can start immediately. The Iowa Hawkeyes, who are looking to fill multiple roster spots under new head coach Ben McCollum, will host Brennan for a visit later in April.
Noah Amenhauser
Amenhauser, a 7-foot-2 center, is looking for his third school in three years, but he was a solid contributor for Coastal Carolina this season. After limited action at Grand Canyon in 2023-24, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. Grant Hughes of 247Sports listed Amenhauser as one of the top 10 big men still available as of March 27th. While Amenhauser has limited exposure to Power Five competition, Hughes highlights his soft touch around the rim.
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