Wisconsin Basketball Lands Talented Transfer Point Guard From the Portal

Greg Gard and the University of Wisconsin basketball program have taken their first step toward reshaping the Badgers roster for the upcoming season.

Coming off a three-day official visit to Madison, the Badgers picked up a commitment from Central Arkansas transfer guard Camren Hunter. Saint Louis, Iowa, Butler, West Virginia, and Florida State were also involved.

 

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“I chose Wisconsin because how can you not want to play for a historical winning program?” Hunter told Badgernotes. “It’s a beautiful place, and the staff has strong ties to the program. Coach Gard has been coaching in the program for two decades. Coach Chambliss played there and is now coaching, and the same goes for Coach Krabbenhoft.” 

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound point guard averaged 16.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists during his sophomore campaign en route to third-team All-Atlantic Sun honors. However, Hunter missed all of last season due to a foot injury, which has since fully healed.

“They believe I can help get us back to that winning level, and I know there’s a lot of work to be done,” Hunter said. “It’s going to get done and then some. Excited about this opportunity and ready to work.”

Hunter, who started all 60 games at point guard during his time at Central Arkansas, is considered a four-star transfer prospect, according to the 247Sports portal rankings. He will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Wisconsin men’s basketball program. 

What Camren Hunter Brings to the Wisconsin Basketball Team 

Following the departure of Chucky Hepburn, a multi-year starter for the Wisconsin basketball program, finding an experienced point guard became a significant area of need for Greg Gard and the Badgers. It’s safe to say the staff has found their replacement. 

“Coach Chambliss and Coach Gard called right away and made it known I was a priority and had a plan for how they could develop me,” Hunter said. “With them losing Chucky, they wanted me to step into that role and simply be me.”

Hunter finished the 2022-23 season with a 102.6 offensive rating on a 26.8 usage percentage and 2.6 PRPG, per Barttorvik, which would have been the sixth-best for Wisconsin basketball this past season.

When it comes to shot selection, Hunter seems like a nice fit for the Badgers, given the direction in which the offense is trending. According to HoopMath, Hunter takes 40% of his shots at the rim, 22.6% are two-point jumpers, and 37.4% come from 3-point territory.

Further, Synergy data shows that the Arkansas native ranked in the 69th percentile on offense as a pick-and-roll ball handler and 63rd percentile as a spot-up shooter. Hunter also averaged 1.041 points per possession in transition, placing him in the 51st percentile and 49th percentile overall as a scorer from all levels despite an incredibly high usage rating. 

In short, Wisconsin basketball is adding another physical guard who can shoulder some of the offensive load, get to the free-throw line, and is also a solid defender. As it stands, the Badgers are expected to feature a backcourt that consists of Camren Hunter, Max Klesmit, John Blackwell, Kamari McGee, and incoming freshman Daniel Freitag in 2024-25. 

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