Freshman Will Garlock already turning heads: “He Makes It Look Like a Nerf Hoop”

Feb 4, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin associate head coach Joe Krabbenhoft is shown during the first half at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images
Feb 4, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin associate head coach Joe Krabbenhoft is shown during the first half at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images | Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers have started in on offseason practices and workouts this summer, and one of the newcomers is already turning heads. True freshman Will Garlock looks the part; he stands 7 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds. While he's already utilizing the workout facility at Wisconsin, he doesn't look lanky and a bit underweight, like most true freshmen centers do.

In a recent interview on "The Swing" with Zach Heilprin, Badgers assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft is excited about Garlock. Saying he fits the mold of something "we haven't seen around here in a long time." Comparing him to Zach Edey and Kofi Cockburn quickly emphasizes that Garlock is not there yet, but he sees the potential.

Though the quote that gets the banner from Krabbenhoft is, "He makes it look like a nerf hoop."

Will Garlock’s size and potential are clearly standing out in Wisconsin’s summer workouts

It's not just the coaching staff that's taking notice of the young player. Fans picked up on it as they watched a video put out on social media by Wisconsin basketball. It's a simple marketing video of the players practicing, with Head Coach Greg Gard's speech about "teamwork doesn't start in September" playing over the top of the clips.

The video is great, but fans quickly noticed Garlock. And there's even a clip of him dunking around the 40-second mark. You can see first-hand how he makes the hoop look like a nerf hoop.

He may be hard to keep off the floor even in his freshman season. There aren't many players his size with his ability. While it seems that the coaches want to work on developing him this year, there may be a role off the bench that utilizes his talents. He may even be that rim protector and extra weapon down low that many fans were hoping Gard would add in the portal.

While Gard did add Austin Rapp and Elijah Gray as big bodies, one more would have really sealed the deal, especially one ready to go. Maybe that's Garlock?