Wisconsin Basketball 2024-25 Breakout Candidate: John Blackwell

While last year’s early tournament exit led for some uncertainty going into the offseason, several constants and building blocks remain in the Wisconsin men’s basketball program. One of these obvious building blocks is Badgers rising sophomore John Blackwell.

Blackwell was an integral part of a Wisconsin basketball team that ended fifth in the Big Ten and achieved a five seed in the NCAA tournament. That Badgers team was filled with several high-level guards, but AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn departing leaves holes in the starting lineup.

Wisconsin Basketball Found an Instant Impact Guard

While not starting, Blackwell earned a spot on the 2023-24 Big Ten all-freshman team. The rising sophomore excelled in his role off the bench, averaging 8.0 points, and 3.2 rebounds per game last season. 

However, it was not the number of points that pops off the page, it is his efficiency. Blackwell was an incredible shooter last year, good for 45.5 percent from 3-point range. This offensive ability will be much needed for a Wisconsin basketball team losing three starters.

Badgers Freshman Showed Promising Traits

It isn’t just the scoring that excites Wisconsin Badgers fans. Blackwell showed flashes of being an elite passer with a high basketball IQ. The rising sophomore averaged less than an assist per game, but that was largely due to his role as a scorer, not a facilitator. 

In the upcoming season, Blackwell should be asked to handle the ball more and will use his versatility to be a major factor passing the ball. It certainly helps that Wisconsin basketball returns key players in Max Klesmit and Steven Crowl to stretch the floor.

What a feed❗ 👀

John Blackwell finds Steven Crowl for the @BadgerMBB flush.

📺: Big Ten Network pic.twitter.com/w5kyJoAh8N

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 15, 2024

Another major factor of Blackwell’s game is his mentality and effort.

John Blackwell is so easy to root for. Credits everyone around him for his success.

“All I did was work, stay in the gym, kept my head down, and my hard work is paying off.”#Badgers pic.twitter.com/cFzmqIFq3K

— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) March 15, 2024

Blackwell’s effort and humility have led to the combo guard becoming a fan favorite and will lead to constant improvement. That same effort and versatility allows Blackwell to be a good defender as well, and rounds out his game nicely.

These traits will be crucial to Wisconsin basketball having success next year. The Badgers lose over 50 percent of their scoring from last year, leaving a very clear opening for Blackwell. 

Despite having a high usage, 21.5 percent, the guard only played around 18 minutes per game. This number could very well be increased to north of 25 minutes, giving the sophomore plenty of chance to impact the game and be a potential breakout star in the Big Ten next year.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also follow Joseph Hartzell on Twitter @J_Hart32.

Be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we are one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets, giving a voice to fans!