The Badgers fell to BYU in the NCAA Tournament to end the year after a wild and somewhat surprising ride. Wisconsin lost six seniors at the conclusion of the season, including their star player and one of the top transfers of the cycle, John Tonje. And while he'll go down as one of the best and most loved Badgers after just one season, his basketball journey won't stop there, as he's now climbing up the draft ranks on his way to the NBA.
John Tonje climbing NBA draft boards after incredible season
In On3 Sports' latest mock draft, former Badger star John Tonje heads to the Cleveland Cavaliers at pick number 59. Tonje has started to creep into the end of the second round on draft boards after a stellar season, and despite all odds, now has a decent chance of hearing his name called when the draft takes place this summer.
Tonje, who started the season with the Badgers in relative obscurity, now has begun to find himself on NBA draft boards. He missed nearly the entire 2023-2024 season with Missouri before transferring to Wisconsin, where he reignited his career, earning All-American and First Team Big Ten honors. Under Greg Gard, the wing averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on 46% shooting and 39% from three.
Despite being an older prospect at 23 years old, Tonje is a talented scorer who could carve out a role as a three-and-D wing on virtually any NBA team bench. His ability to score at all three levels is certain to catch the eye of NBA scouts looking to find a steal in the second round.
The NBA Draft will span over two days this year on June 25th and June 26th, with the combine occurring in mid-May.