Wisconsin Basketball Forward AJ Storr Rising in NBA Draft Projections

In a recent Wisconsin basketball mailbag, I was asked about Badgers sophomore forward AJ Storr and his potential NBA prospects, so it felt worthwhile to do a little digging into where he currently projects.

But before we get into all that, I want to get something off my chest. For years, there’s been a narrative that athletic prototype wings (like Storr) didn’t want to come to Wisconsin and play in Greg Gard’s system because they felt it could limit their chance at getting NBA looks.

While the system might not be for everyone, that narrative that wings in this mold can’t thrive playing for the Badgers is nonsense. Coach Gard has done a great job meshing his offensive system with the skill sets of the last two tendency breakers, Johnny Davis and AJ Storr.

Perhaps, if/when the Rockford native becomes the next Wisconsin basketball player drafted, this inaccurate depiction of the Badgers offense (which is thriving, by the way) can finally be laid to rest.

Anyway, back to the NBA Draft projections for Badgers wing Storr.

Wisconsin Basketball forward AJ Storr is rising up NBA Draft boards but still has a ways to go. 

Dec 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard AJ Storr (2) shoots a free throw against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the second half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

In the revised rankings over at NBADraft.net, Wisconsin Badgers small forward AJ Storr is listed at No. 90 on its top 100 list, up six spots on their basketball big board since the last round of updates. 

Admittedly, that’s lower than I expected. However, it’s still a rapid ascension for a player who averaged 8.8 points per game a season ago as a true freshman at St. Johns.

In 22 games under head coach Greg Gard, Storr is enjoying the best season of his young career, averaging 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 43.9% shooting from the field.

You should check out this AJ Storr bucket over Zach Edey. 😲@storr_aj x @BadgerMBB

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/L5waqgs4Bq

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 4, 2024

The 6-foot-7 wing has shown the ability to score in transition, get into the lane at will, and score from all three levels with elite-level athleticism. At season’s end, I anticipate he’ll be in a spot to explore getting feedback from the league to see how front offices view his stock.

Would Storr benefit from returning for his junior season and refining his game? Sure. Storr has shown that playing in the half-court wasn’t the most natural thing for him, but he has grown immensely since joining UW. Improved shot selection and decision-making are also areas Storr must continue to clean up—but there’s a lot of upside in his game.

It’s important to note that these rankings don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of NBA executives, but it could indicate that Wisconsin basketball forward Storr isn’t a sure thing to land in the first round.

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