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Wisconsin Basketball Program After Major Transfer Portal Entry

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Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Head Coach Greg Gard -- Recruiting
Mar 8, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard yells to his team during the second half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin basketball coaching staff has been active in the transfer portal this year, with another massive target entering the picture.

According to a report from The Portal Report, Wisconsin has been in contact with Mississippi State transfer Will McNair Jr.

McNair Jr, a red-shirt Senior from Mississippi State, played three seasons for the New Mexico State Aggies before transferring ahead of last season. He emerged as a key contributor during the 2021-2022 when the center played 22.9 minutes per game and started 27 games. This past season, McNair Jr served as one of the first players off the bench for the Bulldogs. Now, the talented big man is looking to play elsewhere next season.

Badgers Recruiting Transfer Big Man Will McNair Jr

Shortly after the Mississippi State Bulldogs lost their play-in game for the NCAA Tournament, McNair Jr entered the transfer portal. The versatile forward/center was one of six players last season to appear in every game for the Bulldogs. The big man had his best game last season during a 64-54 win over the Ole Miss Rebels. The center dropped 13 points and seven rebounds of 71% shooting. McNair Jr has shot 52.8% from the floor across his four years of play. The center also shot 54.9% during the 2021-22 season when he played nearly 23 minutes per game.

Coming in at 6-foot-11-inches, 265-pounds, McNair Jr is a powerful player willing to sacrifice his body to make big-time plays. McNair Jr is often flying across the lane for a block or diving on the floor to snag the loose ball. The versatile athlete plays his best down low on defense, where he cleans the glass and blocks shots with ease. Perhaps the best part of McNair Jr’s game is his basketball IQ. The talented center picks amazing shots from the floor, spaces the ball, and fills the lane in transition.

McNair Jr is able to play his best during the pick and roll or pick and pop situations due to his exceptional finishing ability. After struggling to crack the starting lineup for the Bulldogs, the center has now entered the transfer portal with another year of eligibility left. McNair Jr is searching for a team that can both provide playing time and a winning culture, which the Wisconsin Badgers could certainly provide.

Wisconsin Basketball Has Plenty To Offer For Transfer Center

The transfer big man has already heard from Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Tulsa, Temple, Western Kentucky, and Wisconsin among other programs. The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team is by far the biggest program to contact McNair Jr thus far. However, that does not mean they are in the lead to land the talented recruit. Wisconsin still has a long road ahead of them before the recruit is ready to announce his commitment.

Where Wisconsin Basketball Signees Land In Final 2023 Recruiting Rankings


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Jarrett Guerrera is a graduate of Western New England University with a Bachelor's in English. Jarrett played rugby at the collegiate level, and has been a sports fanatic all his life. Jarrett is also a contributor for Wisconsin Sports Heroics.

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