Wisconsin Basketball Linked to Missouri Valley Guard in the Transfer Portal

Wisconsin Badgers head basketball coach Greg Gard has his assistants monitoring the transfer portal while the team prepares for the tournament.

“We’re in contact with people because you have to be,” Gard told reporters. “You have to stay ahead of it regardless of what your needs are or will be because it’s an ever-changing world.

“I got one or two assistants kind of keeping an eye on it and in touch with people.”

According to Joe Tipton’s report, one of the players Wisconsin basketball has reached out to is UIC guard Toby Okani. He’s also heard from Xavier, UCLA, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida State, and many others.

The 6-foot-8 wing has appeared in 113 games throughout his career and averaged 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals for the Flames this past season. Okani will have one year of eligibility remaining. 

Wisconsin Basketball Reaches Out to Toby Okani From UIC

In all likelihood, the Wisconsin basketball coaching staff has no idea how aggressively they’ll need to pursue wing depth, but it’s clear the Badgers want to put out some feelers in case AJ Storr decides to turn pro.

Part of what makes Okani an intriguing transfer to reach out to is that his game is unlike just about anyone else on the roster. He’s a lengthy wing who hangs his hat on defense, considering he was one of just six players this past season who averaged 2+ BLK and 1+ STL per game.

He can get to the basket, but Okani isn’t a viable threat from beyond the arc. The UIC standout shoots just 29% from 3-point territory.

Again, these contacts are just preliminary, but Wisconsin basketball has also expressed interest in Omaha wing Frankie Fidler and UT Martin transfer guard Jacob Crews. Ideally, Storr returns next season, and the point is mute, but the Badgers are trying to cover their bases.

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