Wisconsin basketball offers 2025 guard Nolan Groves after Yale decommitment

Wisconsin basketball offers 2025 guard Nolan Groves after decommitting from Yale. The Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year is a top target for the Badgers.

There’s a reason you monitor the portal. There’s a reason you keep tabs on late-cycle high school recruits. Because every so often, a door cracks open—and if you’re Wisconsin basketball, you walk through it.

That’s exactly what happened with Nolan Groves in the class of 2025.

The 6-foot-5 guard from Orono, Minnesota, had been off the radar for most college basketball programs after committing to Yale in June 2024. But after announcing his decommitment over the weekend, everything changed.

The calls started pouring in. The offer sheet started to grow. And the Wisconsin Badgers threw their hat in the ring.

“I am proud to announce that I have received an offer from the University of Wisconsin,” Groves posted. “Thank you to Greg Gard and staff for believing in me!”

That post drew the attention of plenty in Big Ten country—including Wisconsin Badgers legend Sam Dekker, who added in the comments: “You should probably take it, just my humble opinion.”

Groves was named Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 34.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game on 56% shooting from the floor as a senior. Groves had ten games scoring over 40 points, including a 57-point explosion against St. Louis Park.

You don’t do that by accident.

Groves added his name to a long line of impressive Minnesota Player of the Year winners—guys like Nolan Winter, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, and Tyus Jones.

And if history’s any indication, Wisconsin knows how to recruit that state. From Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl to Nate Reuvers and Brad Davison, the Badgers have been mining that pipeline for decades. Those are just recent examples—the list of high-level contributors from Minnesota runs deep since Bo Ryan and Greg Gard arrived in Madison.

But make no mistake—while the relationship is still fresh, Wisconsin had been on Groves’ radar for a long time.

“Joe Krabbenhoft specifically was the one who extended the offer,” Groves told BadgerNotes. “It was a really cool feeling to hear the words come out of his mouth. Growing up in the Midwest, the Badgers are obviously a school that has been on my radar. It was cool to see them offer me.”

This isn’t a finished recruitment, though. Not even close. Groves admitted that with his decommitment from Yale now behind him, things are starting to move quickly.

“With being committed to Yale for so long, I wasn’t really hearing from any schools,” Groves said. “When I decommitted over the weekend, it’s been a frenzy of calls and starting of relationships."

Now, schools like Texas Tech, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are at the forefront of his re-opened recruitment—and with visits already lined up with both the Red Raiders and the Gophers, the Badgers are working quickly to build a relationship and position themselves to make a late push.

“My relationship with the Wisconsin staff is relatively new,” Groves explained. “But I’m looking forward to gaining more knowledge about all of the programs that have reached out so far.”

As for what Groves brings to the table?

“I’d describe myself as a physical guard who is always willing to make the right play,” said Groves. “I want to win at all costs. I’m a huge competitor.”

Wisconsin’s 2025 class currently includes guards Zach Kinziger and Hayden Jones, center Will Garlock, and a trio of transfer portal additions: Andrew Rohde, Nick Boyd, and stretch big man Austin Rapp.

The foundation is solid.

But a scorer like Groves—one with size and legit shooting touch—could add some real juice to Wisconsin’s backcourt. The Badgers have leaned fully into their new identity under Gard and offensive coordinator Kirk Penney, finishing inside KenPom’s top 20 in adjusted offensive efficiency in back-to-back seasons. The system generates plenty of quality looks from beyond the arc—something that should appeal to a guard like Groves, who knows how to space the floor and score.

With the spring signing period open through May 21, this recruitment has the potential to move rather quickly.

And while there’s plenty still to sort out, the early read is simple: Wisconsin saw an opportunity—and acted fast. The staff has been exploring international options to round out the roster. Still, when a talented Minnesota recruit becomes available, you’ve got to do your homework and see if he fits. Now, we’ll see if that effort pays off.

---

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.