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Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Sign Walk-On Michael Ballard to Class of 2016

By Jim Oxley

Mar 24, 2016; Philadelphia , PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach Howard Moore (left) looks on as players warm up during practice the day before the semifinals of the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Philadelphia , PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach Howard Moore (left) looks on as players warm up during practice the day before the semifinals of the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Wisconsin Basketball team added the final piece to the class of 2016 in walk-on Illinois forward Michael Ballard

One more recruit has joined the Wisconsin basketball recruiting class of 2016 as the Badgers added Michael Ballard as a walk-on for the upcoming year.

Related Story: Badgers Add Two Recruits to Class of 2016

Ballard, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound forward out of Oak Park, Illinois, committed to the Badgers in April, and was announced as a walk-on for 2016-17 Wednesday.

In his senior season at Fenwick High School, Ballard scored 10.3 points per game, adding 4.2 rebounds.

Those numbers were hampered by an ankle injury.

During his junior season he scored at a clip of 15.9 points per game, adding 6.4 rebounds and shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc.

Head coach Greg Gard said he was excited to add Ballard to the Badgers squad.

"“We are really excited to welcome Michael to the team. He is everything we are looking for in a walk-on: hard worker, team player, great student and can hold his own on the court as well. He comes from a winning program at Fenwick and should be a great addition.”"

Wisconsin now has three members to its recruiting class of 2016, led by scholarship players Aleem Ford and D’Mitrik Trice.

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Both are three-star players according to 247Sports, and each is currently enrolled at IMG Academy.

The Badgers graduated just one player following the 2015-16 season – guard Jordan Smith – and return the entire rotation from last year’s Sweet 16 team.

With Nigel Hayes deciding to return for his senior season, the Badgers are already getting preseason hype.

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Wisconsin’s class of 2016 will likely redshirt unless they blow away the coaching staff early on, giving them a chance to grow and prepare for the 2017 season, when Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Vitto Brown and Zak Showalter all graduate.