Wisconsin Badger fans who were asking for an uptick in recruiting have likely been over the moon with what is going on in Madison recently, as both football and basketball have been on incredibly hot recruiting streaks as of late. Basketball specifically landed its highest-ranked recruit in over a decade with Jalen Brown announcing he's coming to town, directly followed by landing 7-foot-1 big man Jack Thelen, who could end up being an impact player down the line.
However, despite his intriguing upside as a player, arguably what makes Thelen’s commitment most interesting is what could follow. Not only does he provide a unique skill set of his own that the Badgers could utilize, Thelen also provides a gateway to his teammate, Baboucarr Ann, to whom Wisconsin has been heavily connected.
The #Badgers have offered 7-foot-1 prospect Jack Thelen, who is on the same HS and AAU teams as fellow 2027 target Baboucarr Ann. https://t.co/GOzZHTvr2f
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) June 10, 2026
Ann, who currently sits as a composite top-60 recruit in the country, has shown real interest in the Badgers, and with his teammate committing, Ann could be all the more intrigued by what Madison has to offer. As of now, the 6-foot-5 forward has given no official word as to what his top schools are, just noticeable hints.
Skillset worth Pursuing
Ann has already been on a visit to Wisconsin, which is where most of the hype around him began in Badger recruiting spheres. This hype is, of course, warranted, as if he lands with Wisconsin, Ann projects to be an impact player from the jump. In his junior season, Ann posted averages of 19.5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.2 steals a game, showcasing his advanced athleticism and graceful footwork.
Ann followed up his strong junior season with a solid showing at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. His counting numbers of 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game aren't eye-popping, but on a deeper dive you'll find that Ann did a lot of the little things to make his impact felt. He was especially strong at the point of attack defensively, disrupting opposing ball handlers and doing what he had to do to cause disruption.
Offensively, Ann provided steady rim pressure, consistently getting two feet in the lane and either going up strong or spraying the ball out to open teammates. He did struggle to shoot the ball, an issue that has plagued Ann for a while now, attempting just four 3-pointers all week and making one of them. However, he showed that he is at least somewhat willing to attempt open 3-pointers, leaving reason to believe that with the right development he can become respectable from the outside.
2027 6'5 Baboucarr Ann has enticing length and athleticism in his game that allow shim to flourish off the dribble. Attacking consistently while watching him and finding ways to get to the rim. @Top100Camp #PhenomHoops
— Patrick O'Brien (@POBScout) June 10, 2026
Nonetheless, Ann remains a top recruiting target for the Badgers purely off upside alone. He may not bring the same instant impact that Brown will, but landing him is still an upside swing worth taking for Wisconsin. Needless to say, landing him won't be an easy task, but landing Thelen is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
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