Wisconsin Basketball: Top Portal Target Sets Commitment Date

Wisconsin basketball has a big hole to fill. With the departure of AJ Storr for either the NBA Draft or transfer portal, the Wisconsin Badgers need a scoring punch. Recent portal departures do not just include the Illinois native, though. Multiple walk-ons, a former starter, and a highly-touted freshman are all departing Madison. “With that being said,” UW head coach Greg Gard has the chance to land his first 2024 transfer portal commitment next week.

Wisconsin Basketball Transfer Portal News: Frankie Fidler Sets Commitment Date

A radio host with a longtime connection to Frankie Fidler says Fidler will announce a commitment on Monday, April 15th. Wednesday morning, Gary Sharp of 1620 AM The Zone – Omaha said Fidler will reveal his choice among his four finalists at 8:00 AM on Mornings with Sharp & Handley.

🚨 #Badgers transfer portal commitment alert! 🚨

According to @GarySharp1620, top Wisconsin portal target Frankie Fidler will announce his commitment on Monday at 8:00 AM on 1620AM The Zone – Omaha

Sharp is the longtime PxP voice of the Omaha Mavericks, Fidler's current team pic.twitter.com/HPNzQiwxV8

— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) April 10, 2024

When Fidler makes his decision, plenty of fans from two of his final four schools will likely be listening in on the local radio station. The University of Nebraska is roughly an hour’s drive from Omaha, and Creighton is located just outside of downtown Omaha. Fidler was raised in Bellevue, just outside of the Omaha city limits. His current school is the Omaha Mavericks of the Summit League. Sharp is the longtime play-by-play radio voice for the Mavericks men’s basketball team.

What does all this say about where Fidler will choose to play college basketball next year? Possibly nothing, but possibly everything.

Will Frankie Fidler Commit to the Wisconsin Badgers?

Omaha’s forward Frankie Fidler (23) passes the ball against Texas Tech in a non-conference basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at United Supermarkets Arena.

According to Sharp, “[Fidler] will not tell his future coach or anywhere else where he is going to go to school” prior to the public announcement. The All-Summit League first-team honoree will make his decision after taking an official visit to Michigan State this weekend. He has already visited the other three finalists.

Sharp did say that Fidler has already revealed his decision to the Omaha radio host. Sharp emphasized that Fidler “does not want to drift very far from home,” referring to interest from schools outside the greater Omaha area. “Family is very important to him – his family being able to watch him play basketball.” The Mavericks play-by-play voice added, “[Fidler] is very fortunate that there are two local power six programs where their coaches are very honest with how they see you and how you would fit.”

Frankie Fidler’s Fit with Wisconsin Basketball

Fidler would be a high-priority get for Gard. The high-scoring wing can score at all three levels. Not only did he shoot 35.6% shooting from three-point range last season, but he was also among the nation’s best at getting to the free-throw line. He tallied 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in his junior season and has one year of eligibility remaining.

Looks like Chucky Hepburn is showing #Badgers transfer portal target (and Hepburn's high school teammate) Frankie Fidler a good time on his official visit in Madison. pic.twitter.com/fuRkBaoXuG

— Kedrick Stumbris (@KedrickStumbris) March 30, 2024

Fidler has a close connection with one other Wisconsin basketball player. Wisconsin Badgers point guard Chucky Hepburn was a high school teammate of Fidler’s at Bellevue West. Gard has tapped into that connection and made Hepburn a key player in Fidler’s recruitment.

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