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Wisconsin Basketball: Power forward transfer targets for Badgers

By Christian Borman

Mar 2, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jaemyn Brakefield (5) and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Moses Wright (5) look at the basket after a shot in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jaemyn Brakefield (5) and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Moses Wright (5) look at the basket after a shot in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Wisconsin basketball team could be in the market for a transfer forward after losing Aleem Ford, Nate Reuvers, and Micah Potter. Some may think the Badger won’t do anything in the transfer portal after Greg Gard’s comments about the portal, but I still think the Badgers could look to add a transfer player or two.

They currently have Tyler Wahl, Ben Carlson, and Carter Gilmore on the roster with Matthew Mors, Chris Hodges, and Markus Ilver coming in as freshmen. There are plenty of bodies and depth, but outside of Wahl, who has been in Madison for two seasons, there isn’t a ton of experience.

Gard may want to stick with his youth and let them get their feet wet next year, but if they want to bring in a player or two from the transfer portal, there will be plenty of options. Here are a few that could make sense for the Badgers.

Jaemyn Brakefield – Duke

Jaemyn Brakefield is transferring out of Duke after playing in 22 games for the Blue Devils and averaging just 12.5 minutes per game. He averaged 3.7 points per game and 2.7 rebounds.

The Wisconsin basketball team could be an option for Brakefield because he would surely get playing time right away, but he also grew up in Wisconsin. Brakefield lived in Menasha, Wisconsin until he was in 6th grade when he moved away. He also played for the popular Wisconsin AAU team, Phenom U with former Duke player, Jalen Johnson.

As Drew Hamm from Bucky’s 5th Quarter notes, Greg Gard and Phenom U don’t have the best relationship, so this may not be a slam dunk, but you’d think Gard would at least put a call in to see if there is interest there. Brakefield would help replenish the forward position for the Badgers and could carve out a nice role with the Wisconsin basketball team.

John Harrar – Penn St.

John Harrar is a part of the Penn St. exodus that is happening in Happy Valley right now. With the Nittany Lions in the middle of a coaching change, there have been multiple Penn St. players that have entered the transfer portal.

Harrar just feels like he would be a good Badger. Wisconsin played against him three times this year. It felt like Harrar was physically giving Potter and Reuvers all they could handle post. He is a tough player who battles for rebounds and plays tough defense.

In 25 games with the Nittany Lions this year, Harrar averaged almost 25 minutes a game. He scored 8.8 points and grabbed 8.8 rebounds per game. Rebounding was a bit of an issue for the Badgers this year, so bringing Harrar in would help the Badgers in that regard.

Race Thompson – Indiana

It isn’t too common for a player to transfer within conference, but we’ve seen it with Micah Potter and it worked out pretty well for the Wisconsin basketball team. Like Harrar, Race Thompson is entering the portal while Indiana is in the middle of a coaching change.

Thompson is from Minnesota but never actually got an offer from Wisconsin.

Last year in Bloomington, Thompson played in 27 games and averaged 9.1 points per game. He also grabbed 6.2 rebounds per game, both career highs. In their game against the Badgers this year, Thompson scored just four points but also got into foul trouble so played sparingly throughout the game.

He has two years of eligibility left after the NCAA granted waivers for this year.