Wisconsin basketball has now finally completed their 2025-26 roster by adding a transfer out of Temple. Forward Elijah Gray, a 6-foot-8 senior, will be the 15th and final player to join the Badgers the team announced.
After losing ten players to graduations and transfers this offseason, Wisconsin has been steadily rebuilding all spring. They'll now finish up that task with the addition of Gray, a talented stretch four who averaged nine points and 3.8 rebounds last year for the Owls. With the losses of big men Steven Crowl, Xavier Amos and Carter Gilmore, Gray now provides some much needed depth in the Wisconsin frontcourt.
Transfer Elijah Gray will fill a huge need on the Wisconsin bench
Outside of Nolan Winter, who was the only upperclassman in the Badger frontcourt, the Badgers were heading into 2025 without a lot of experience at power forward and center. Now Greg Gard and company have a proven player in Gray, who can slide in right away at the backup four position as the younger players learn. He has a strong post game, and a developing three-point shot that has improved each year, while also boasting an impressive 75% free throw shooting percentage as a big man.
After Xavier Amos surprisingly entered the transfer portal this spring, Wisconsin was left without an obvious choice to back up starters Winter and Austin Rapp. Thankfully, Gray looks to be the perfect candidate to fill those shoes after a strong season in the AAC.
With the roster now complete, Wisconsin will focus on getting everyone on the same page ahead the season. With several new starters, and some talented young freshman, the Badgers have a lot to figure out before October, but the addition of Gray clears up a lot of questions about the backup power forward spot.