Dooney Johnson is one of the top basketball players in the country for the 2027 recruiting class, and he is also a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Badgers are hoping the local connection will be strong enough to keep him home. Reports this week are that Johnson is hearing from schools all over the country, and one of those contacts is Greg Gard and Wisconsin.
2027 Top-30 wing Dooney Johnson has heard from the following schools since yesterday, he told @LeagueRDY:
— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) June 16, 2025
Indiana
Kentucky
Wisconsin
Marquette
Washington
Gonzaga
Oklahoma State
Nebraska
Minnesota
LSU
BYU
Cincinnati
Western Michigan
St. Louis
Southern Utah
Bradley
Native of… pic.twitter.com/T5Su8N9TWp
Can Greg Gard convince 2027 Dooney Johnson to stay in-state and play for the Badgers?
Dooney Johnson is a 6'5" wing who continues to soar up the rankings for the 2027 class. He's now listed as a top-30 player for ESPN and 24/7 Sports. He's the number three shooting guard in the class and the top player in the state of Wisconsin. He's already reeling in offers from the top programs in the country.
According to the report from Sam Kayser, some of the richest and deepest-pocket programs are chasing him, including Kentucky, Indiana, Washington, and BYU. The suitors for Johnson are from far and wide, as they often are for a 5-star player. It will be tough sledding for Gard to convince him to stay in state and play for the Badgers. The money alone may be enticing enough to find an opportunity for programs that seemingly have no bottom to the well of funds.
This doesn't mean that the Badgers won't try, as Wisconsin was one of the first programs to reach out to Johnson when the contact period opened up for 2027 recruits. That list is just a matter of a day or so, and he's already hearing from basically everyone.
It will be interesting to see how Johnson narrows down his list over the next year or so and if he takes any official or unofficial visits to any of these schools.