Wisconsin men's basketball lands Virginia transfer guard Andrew Rohde
Andrew Rohde is coming home. The Virginia transfer guard has committed to Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Wisconsin men's basketball program has made an intriguing addition from the transfer portal, and if you’ve been reading the tea leaves, this one’s been in the works for quite some time now.
Andrew Rohde, a 6-foot-6 transfer guard with local ties and a versatile offensive game, announced that he's headed home to finish his college career in Madison after a two-year stint at Virginia.
Wisconsin beat out Iowa State and several others for Rohde, who visited the Cyclones but ultimately shut things down after a trip back to his home state.
"Playing for Wisconsin means a lot to me," Rohde said. "Getting the chance to compete at a high level in front of my family, for a program I've always admired, is something I'm truly thankful for. I'm ecstatic to be a part of Badger nation and can't wait to get on the court in front of one of the best atmospheres in college."
A native of Milwaukee (Wis.) Rohde made a name for himself at Brookfield Central High School, where he averaged 28.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.2 steals per game as a senior. He led Brookfield Central to a 24-6 record and a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament, earning First Team All-Conference and All-State honors.
His standout season helped cement Rohde as a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, where he was rated as the No. 316 nationally and the No. 7 overall player in Wisconsin, according to the industry-generated composite rankings. He committed to St. Thomas over offers from schools like DePaul, UW-Milwaukee, Bowling Green, and several others.
Rohde’s college career got off to a blistering start at St. Thomas, where he wasted no time making his presence known during the 2022-23 season.
He started all 31 games as a true freshman, averaging 17.1 points, 3.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 44.8% from the field, 32% from deep, and 81.5% at the free-throw line—good enough to score 531 total points and become the first freshman in Tommies program history to eclipse the 500-point mark.
That level of production earned Rohde Summit League Freshman of the Year honors, an All-Summit League First Team spot, and recognition as a Kyle Macy Freshman of the Year Award finalist.
Following his breakout freshman year at St. Thomas, Rohde transferred to Virginia and found himself having to navigate a tough adjustment to life in the ACC.
In his sophomore campaign, Rohde appeared in 33 games with 27 starts but struggled to find rhythm in Tony Bennett’s system. Rohde averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting just 29.3% from the floor, 25.2% from beyond the arc, and 43.8% at the line. He reached double figures in just three games all season, as his role and confidence never quite clicked in year one with the Virginia Cavaliers.
To his credit, Rohde didn’t let that tough year define him.
Rohde bounced back in a big way as a junior—starting 26 of 30 games and emerging as one of Virginia’s most reliable playmakers under interim head coach Ron Sanchez. He averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game while dramatically improving his efficiency.
Rohde shot 43.2% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc on 3.5 attempts per game, and hit 77.3% of his free throws.
Statistically, he stacked up well in the ACC. Rohde finished fifth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4) and seventh in assists per game (4.3). In conference play, he was even better—leading the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.4) and ranking fifth in assists (5.2 per game).
Rohde finished with a 2.3 points above replacement mark and a 105.9 offensive rating on a 20.4 usage rate, per Barttorvik.
What this means for Wisconsin
This was a calculated, in-state win for Greg Gard and the staff—one that checks a lot of important boxes.
With Daniel Freitag and Camren Hunter in the portal—and veterans Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, and John Tonje all out of eligibility—Wisconsin had to find someone who could bring experience, versatility, and floor spacing to the backcourt. Someone who could steady the ship, play multiple positions, and knock down perimeter shots. Rohde fits that mold.
"Bringing Andrew back to Wisconsin is a win-win," Gard said. "Great opportunity for him to play close to home and our fans will love cheering for him. He's had a chance to play at different levels, showing off his offensive ability starting at St. Thomas and then earning his defensive degree at Virginia we respect so much. Now he gets to put those together at a Wisconsin program that he's been familiar with since he was a little kid. He's a big guard that has played in a lot of big games and we're excited to have him back home."
He’s not an explosive athlete who’s going to break defenders down off the dribble. That’s not what Wisconsin needed. What they needed was someone selfless, experienced, and wired to make the right play at the right time. A guard who can play on or off the ball, space the floor, and make smart decisions.
Rohde brings all that—plus he’s 6-foot-6, with three years of experience and the kind of efficiency that jumps out on tape. He finished fifth in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio and shot over 41% from three last season for Virginia.
That’s not just growth—that’s a player rounding into form.
And because of Rohde’s size, he gives Wisconsin plenty of lineup versatility. He can initiate the offense as a lead guard when needed or play out on the wing—perfect for the interchangeable, positionless system Gard and Kirk Penney want to run. Rohde’s presence gives Wisconsin the freedom to move John Blackwell (should he return) off the ball more consistently, which becomes even more valuable with Tonje graduating.
It also gives the Badgers more opportunities to push the pace out in transition, knowing they’ve got multiple guards who can pull it out and initiate the offense if the first look isn’t there.
And in an offense built around 3-point shooting, ball movement, and smart decision-making, Rohde’s IQ, instincts, and improved shooting should mesh seamlessly with what the Badgers want to do. To their credit, this staff has done a nice job identifying and bringing in talent that fits their offensive vision and culture, which has helped the Badgers finish inside the top 20 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency in back-to-back seasons.
A potential core of Blackwell, Nolan Winter, and now Andrew Rohde gives Wisconsin a strong foundation as they continue to evaluate options in the transfer portal. With complementary pieces like Jack Janicki and Xavier Amos off the bench and another addition on the way, the rotation is starting to take shape. Now, attention turns to finding a big man to replace Steven Crowl down low.
This is what smart portal recruiting looks like—finding guys who check the boxes for fit, production, experience, and the capacity to contribute right away.
Rohde’s not just an in-state pickup. He’s a proven, system-fit guard with room to grow and a chance to raise Wisconsin’s floor in 2024–25. This staff wanted someone with local ties who genuinely wanted to play for the name on the front of the jersey—and they got their guy.
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Why do you think he is better than Jack Janicki? Subs off the bench normally don't have the shooting statistics of starters. If Jack starts (which may not happen) next season, I believe his shooting statistics will be better than what Max Klemit's statistics were this past season.