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Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers Make Talented Recruit’s Top 5

By Sam Land

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates their 61-54 overtime win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates their 61-54 overtime win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Basketball has made 2019 recruit EJ Liddell’s Top 5 list

Top 50 recruit EJ Liddell has decided to trim down his recruitment, and he released a list of the 5 schools he will still be considering yesterday afternoon on Twitter. The Badgers have made the cut for the talented forward out of Belleville, Illinois.

The other programs that made the list were Ohio State, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas State. Liddell’s other offers include UConn, Florida, Georgetown, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Marquette, Northwestern, and Texas A&M, so it was no small feat for Wisconsin to secure a spot.

It was a bit of an interesting lead-up to Liddell’s announcement yesterday.

Last week, he announced that he would be releasing a Top 5 soon.

A few days later, Liddell announced a change of plans: instead of a Top 5, there would now be a Top 6. It’s possible he was considering including Duke on the list: The Blue Devils have been evaluating him recently, but have not yet offered.

A few hours before he tweeted his list on Monday, he then announced that he would be going with a Top 5 as originally planned.

https://twitter.com/EasyE2432/status/1029063496087023616

Though Duke was ultimately not included on Liddell’s list, it’s hard to believe that they wouldn’t jump into the mix should they extend an offer. Coach K is recruiting as well as ever, and if he decides he wants him, the other schools in contention will have their hands full in securing Liddell’s services.

As a junior last season, Liddell led Belleville West to the state championship while averaging 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He was also named Mr. Basketball, an honor which tends to go to seniors. The only other junior who has won the award in Illinois is Jabari Parker.

Wisconsin was pretty late to the game in offering Liddell, and it will be very difficult for them to win out in his recruitment. That being said, he has not visited Madison yet, and those visits can be game changers, both in football and basketball. If the Badgers can get him on campus and have their shot to impress him, their chances should become much more favorable.

Next. Wisconsin's College Football Playoff Scenarios. dark

At the moment, Wisconsin’s only commitment in the class of 2019 is Minnesota forward Tyler Wahl.