With the portal now open, and the Badgers in need of some fresh talent after losing six seniors, Sam Kayser has reported that Wisconsin is one of the teams in pursuit of a fast rising wing.
Tarleton State transfer Bubu Benjamin, a 6-foot-7 guard, has heard from these schools since going portaling, his agent Daniel Poneman of @WEAVE told @LeagueRDY:
— Sam Kayser - 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) March 28, 2025
Wisconsin
Michigan
Illinois
Mississippi State
Creighton
DePaul
Butler
Vanderbilt
Colorado State
VCU
USF
Oregon State… pic.twitter.com/Vcgh5Kduqh
Badgers looking at another scorer in Bubu Benjamin in the transfer portal
Tarleton State guard BuBu Benjamin has heard from the Badgers along with several other programs since entering the transfer portal. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game last season on 44% shooting and 38% from three, which is eerily similar to John Tonje's averages the year before his injury. Tonje averaged 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game on 47% shooting and 39% from the field in 2022.
Gard has gotten huge seasons out of AJ Storr and now Tonje after recruiting them to Madison. Could Benjamin be the next in line? He certainly seems to fit the bill, at least on paper.
Wisconsin will face some steep competition for the wing out of Tarleton, but there's no question Benjamin has the mold that Gard and staff are looking for when it comes to roster building, so he should be a high priority. Outside of John Blackwell, Wisconsin lacks a go-to bucket getter, and Benjamin could fill that void. Last season he had six games scoring over 20 points.
The Badgers will almost certainly grab a wing and a center in the portal and maybe more. Benjamin would be a nice add who could plug into the starting lineup right away.