5 Wisconsin Basketball Players Competing for Rotation Spots in 2023-24

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team will officially begin their season on Wednesday, November 1, in an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point at the Kohl Center.

With five returning starters in Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, Connor Essegian, Tyler Wahl, and Steven Crowl, head coach Greg Gard has a strong nucleus of talent to build around heading into the season.

While those five players undoubtedly need to expand their games and take the next step in their development, most of the intrigue surrounding the Badgers and their impending revenge tour centers around some of the incoming freshmen, a transfer portal addition, and a handful of returning players that could push for a spot in the rotation.

Let’s examine five Wisconsin basketball players who could push for a meaningful role during the 2023-24 season.

Wisconsin Basketball Sophomore Forward — AJ Storr 

Of all the players on this list, St. Johns transfer AJ Storr has the best odds to push for a starting role for the Wisconsin basketball team. 

Storr, a Rockford, Illinois native, joins the Badgers after averaging 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on 40.4% shooting from beyond the arc as a true freshman.

The 6-foot-6 wing should address several key roster deficiencies that became apparent when Johnny Davis entered the NBA Draft. Storr gives Wisconsin basketball a versatile wing defender with prototypical size — who can get out and score in transition. 

The sophomore forward is a tremendous athlete who can get to the rim, shoot from beyond the arc, and create his own shot. All the tools are there for Storr to become an instant impact player for the Badgers — no matter what his specific role, he’ll be a core member of the rotation. 

Wisconsin Basketball Junior Point Guard Kamari McGee

There might not be a player that needs a strong showing in practice than Wisconsin basketball junior point guard Kamari McGee. 

A former UW-Green Bay transfer, McGee appeared in 31 games for the Badgers last season and averaged 1.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in just over seven minutes per game. 

McGee gave Greg Gard a spark plug off the bench last season. However, his struggles on offense were noteworthy. The 6-foot point guard shot just 28% from the field and connected on 18% of his three-point attempts. 

The step up in competition appeared to be too much early on — but McGee eventually settled in and had a 25-minute, nine-point performance against Rutgers last February that highlighted what he was capable of. 

Chucky Hepburn is the unquestioned starter — but Wisconsin basketball needs a reliable backup who can take care of the ball and play good defense. In theory, McGee can be that player — but this season, he’ll have some added competition for those minutes. 

Freshman Combo Guard — John Blackwell

Another player vying for some of those backup guard minutes is true freshman John Blackwell. 

The 6-foot-4 guard from Highland Park, Michigan, is known for his defensive tenacity and high motor, which we all know coach Gard loves. Blackwell is also a good spot-up shooter and is slippery enough as a shot-creator that he should be able to make plays around the rim. 

The available film suggests Blackwell’s offensive game is a little raw, so he may need another year of development before he can compete for regular playing time. However, his defensive prowess might be enough to overtake Kamari McGee if he can take care of the ball. 

Don’t be surprised if the Wisconsin Badgers basketball coaches find a way to get Blackwell minutes early in the season. 

Freshman Forward — Gus Yalden

The Wisconsin basketball incoming freshman class has several intriguing talents, none more prominent than four-star big man Gus Yalden. 

From a physical standpoint, the 6-foot-9 forward has come an extremely long way. Now slimmed down, Yalden feels like the most viable option to push Carter Gilmore for reserve minutes in the Badgers frontcourt. 

Wisconsin has made a living off recruiting and developing bigs with a similar skill set to Yalden. He has advanced footwork, a soft touch around the rim, is a skilled passer with a high IQ, and can step out and knock down shots from beyond the arc. 

However, it’s well-known that Greg Gard typically doesn’t give significant playing time to frontcourt players unless they excel on defense and can be relied upon in drop coverage situations. If Yalden can prove himself as a defender, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him become the Badgers top big man off the bench this season behind Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl. 

Freshman Forward — Nolan Winter 

Last but certainly not least is Lakeville North and Minnesota Gatorade State Player of the Year recipient Nolan Winter. 

Like Yalden, Winter provides Wisconsin basketball with another skilled inside-out big man capable of seeing the court in 2023-24. The knock on the 6-foot-11 forward coming out of high school was his weight. However, Winter spent a lot of time adding weight and is now up to 220 pounds. 

Winter is a finesse big man and is an incredibly fluid athlete who can step out and shoot it — and if he draws his defender away from the hoop, he can put the ball on the deck and blow by opposing defenders. 

The Minnesota native arguably has the most upside among the Wisconsin basketball frontcourt players in the long term. That said, it might be a year before he can establish himself in a regular role. 

I doubt that Chris Hodges and Markus Ilver will prevent Winter from getting a chance to showcase himself — and he’ll likely leapfrog them on the Wisconsin Badgers basketball depth chart. I lean towards Gus Yalden being more college-ready, but Winter is immensely talented, so anything is possible. 

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