Wisconsin Basketball Landed Daniel Freitag on Foundation of Loyalty

Greg Gard and the Wisconsin basketball coaching staff focused on recruiting one point guard for the 2024 class, Daniel Freitag. Luckily, their efforts proved fruitful as they secured their top-of-the-board target without extending their search further. 

Freitag, a four-star point guard and talented dual-sport athlete hailing from Bloomington, Minnesota, was arguably the most significant backcourt recruiting victory of the Gard era. He chose UW after weighing offers from a final selection of schools, which included Minnesota, Baylor, Notre Dame, and Virginia.

“He [Freitag] is somebody we honed it on early,” Coach Gard said during his weekly radio show appearance. “Coach Krabbenhoft, did a phenomenal job on the recruiting, and, you know, I got involved relatively early with him and really developed a great relationship.” 

When Chucky Hepburn graduates, the Wisconsin Basketball coaching staff envisions Freitag as the heir apparent at point guard. 

If nothing changes, that would allow the 6-foot-3, 175-pound PG an entire season to develop behind Hepburn as an understudy before (presumably) assuming the starting reigns in year two. 

Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Showed Loyalty Throughout the Recruiting Process 

Identifying recruits who eventually garner significant Power 5 interest early in the process isn’t anything new to Greg Gard. He’s considered one of the better talent evaluators by his colleagues — but closing those recruitments before the bigger programs come knocking has been a valid qualm among the fanbase. 

UW coaches recognized Daniel Freitag’s potential early, extending a scholarship offer after their advanced camp in June 2021 — giving them a substantial head start in his recruitment. 

That made the Minnesota native’s recruitment, in particular, even more important to win. The Wisconsin Basketball program had all of its eggs in his basket — and there was no plan B. While risky, it was that decision that proved to be the difference.  

“Seeing Coach Gard not offer any other point guards in my class or even the surrounding classes showed how much he wanted to land me,” Freitag told BadgerNotes. “I’ve always said that I was going to reward whatever coach/program prioritized me, and that was clearly him. The assistants did a good job, but when it came to Coach Gard, it always felt like he was doing everything he could to demonstrate his commitment to me.”

Their actions in not offering anyone else at the position — and keeping him as their sole focus — spoke louder than the other school’s words and deeply resonated with Freitag. 

“He knew we [Wisconsin Basketball] were there from day one, we didn’t go anywhere, and we were front and center all the time with him,” Gard said. “In today’s world, loyalty in recruiting isn’t always a two-way street. And you know, Daniel really recognized that, and he’s a very loyal individual, a very loyal human.

“So I think he [Freitag] at the end of the day when he was coming down the stretch, I think he always loved this place. But I think the loyalty that we’ve shown each other went both ways to really kick it over the top.”

That mutual loyalty came full circle earlier this month when Freitag signed his national letter of intent to play for the Wisconsin Badgers.

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