After the conclusion of last season, Wisconsin guard John Blackwell tested the NBA waters before eventually returning to the Badgers. He was fresh off an impressive sophomore year, and was a key part to the Badgers surprising success that led them to a No. 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
While the possibility of getting a draftable grade was fairly low, he still got some valuable feedback for 2025, and for the most part, has put it into action. The junior is averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists this year. But yet, in ESPN's latest 2026 NBA Draft Big Board, Blackwell's name is far from being listed in the top 60.
John Blackwell still has a mountain to climb for NBA Draft hopes
In ESPN's rankings, Blackwell checks in at No. 77, three spots behind fellow teammate Nolan Winter and far below a second round pick range. It's a bit a of a surprise, considering he was probably close to a top 100 prospect last season. And despite some strong numbers in 2025, he hasn't really improved his case to be drafted.
While Blackwell's numbers this season are eerily similar to John Tonje's 2024 numbers (19.6 points/5.3 rebounds/1.8 assists), his shooting is not nearly as lethal. Blackwell is shooting just 38.5% from the field in 2025, a far-cry from Tonje's 47% mark last year. And although Blackwell has shot well from three (41%), he hasn't shown the same consistency.
Coupled with transfer Nick Boyd, the Badgers have a dynamic backcourt, but the impressive numbers have yet to translate to big wins. Against ranked teams this season, Wisconsin has lost by an average of 29 points. So, it would seem that Blackwell still has a ways to go before he'd be considered in the draft, and winning big games would certainly be a good start towards that.