Wisconsin Basketball Star’s Rise in NBA Draft Rankings Continues

When the Wisconsin basketball season comes to an end, there will be a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Badgers wing AJ Storr.

Storr really developed in his first season with the Badgers following his freshman campaign at St. John’s. As a sophomore, the Illinois native led the team with an average of 16.2 points per game during the regular season. Additionally, he contributed 3.7 rebounds and an assist per game, en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors.

“He [Storr] has a unique talent that he does some things you can’t teach,” Gard told reporters. “There’s a line there that you have to let him roll a little bit, and you provide some guidance.

“It appears he’s extremely appreciative for the growth he’s had this year, because we’ve coached him pretty hard, and he’s been very receptive to it. I’ve said all along he might be our most improved player.”

Shot selection has, at times, been questionable. But Wisconsin basketball needed a bucket-getter in the lineup, and Storr has been that all season long. He’s reached double figures in scoring in each of the last 30 games while shouldering a massive 29.5% usage rate.

Wisconsin Basketball Forward AJ Storr Rising up NBA Draft Boards

With AJ Storr finishing the season so strong, the Wisconsin basketball program may need to brace themselves for whatever comes next.

According to NBADraft.net, the 6-foot-7 wing from Rockford is listed at No. 60 on its top 100 list, up 30 spots on their basketball big board since I last checked back in February — and 10 since its last update. This ranking is far from a guarantee that Storr will be drafted in 2024, but still notable.

There’s been a narrative for a while now that athletic wings can’t thrive in Greg Gard’s offensive system because there’s a perception it could limit a recruit’s chances of getting NBA looks. While the system and pace may not be the right fit for everyone, the idea that tendency-breaking players like Storr can’t thrive playing for the Badgers is nonsense.

During his time with the Wisconsin basketball program, Storr has shown the ability to score in transition, get into the lane at will, and score from all three levels with elite-level athleticism. Because of the potential, at season’s end, he’ll likely be in a spot to explore obtaining feedback from the league to see how front offices and scouts view his stock.

AJ Storr on kissing the Kohl Center floor after last night’s win over Rutgers.

“Ah yeah, T-Wahl, it was his senior day, so special shoutout to T-Wahl. It was his last game here.”

(🎥 via @UWBadgers) #Badgers pic.twitter.com/5Iz0ZQrqtA

— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) March 8, 2024

Because of the NIL-driven world we live in, Storr is in a unique position. Should he test the waters and not get the glowing review from the NBA he’s hoping for, returning to college is obviously on the table.

If that happens, the NCAA now allows a player to transfer twice without penalty, and while I’m not suggesting that he’ll leave the Wisconsin basketball team, there’s no denying that Storr’s price tag has gone up. In my opinion, you always need to be recruiting your own players.

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