In the modern era of college basketball, the Wisconsin Badgers have leaned heavily on the transfer portal, targeting ready-made players who fit their immediate needs.
As a result, high school recruiting has taken a back seat, with Wisconsin mainly prioritizing select in-state prospects and international connections. For the 2025 class, they landed a key addition in four-star guard Zach Kinziger, a top talent who had a clear desire to play in Madison.
Three-star in-state center Will Garlock also fit that mold, while guard Hayden Jones and forward Aleksas Bieliauskas came via overseas pipelines.
In 2026, the Badgers continued that strategy, securing early commitments from in-state three-star forward LaTrevion Fenderson and international guard Jackson Ball.
But 2027 could mark a shift.
Wisconsin’s in-state talent pool is particularly strong in the 2027 class, with five players already ranked as four-star recruits: forwards Donovan Davis, Dooney Johnson, Jack Kohnen, and Kager Knueppel, along with guard Jalen Brown. All are ranked inside the top 115 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. Four of the five—everyone except Knueppel—have already received offers from the Badgers following this week’s camp in Madison.
Several of them impressed in person during the camp, giving the Wisconsin staff a firsthand look at just how promising this group is.
While fit and NIL opportunities will still play a major role in high school recruiting decisions, the 2027 class presents a rare opportunity for the Badgers to land a truly elite in-state haul.
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