John Tonje just had one of the best seasons ever in Wisconsin basketball history. He was a second-team All-American, fueled by his efficient play and lights out shooting, and will be forever remembered as a Badger legend despite playing just one year for the university. His next step is the NBA, where he is currently projected as a second round pick, but not everyone was as impressed with his final collegiate season as we were.
Sam Vecenie of the Athletic put out his giant (and free) 2025 NBA Draft Guide this week and had a lot of interesting takes on the former Badger. While he generally lauded Tonje as a player, citing his ideal size and prolific shooting, Vecenie also had this to say in his closing remarks.
"I genuinely disliked watching Tonje play this year at Wisconsin. It felt like everything was geared toward using the threat of his shot to parade his way to the foul line by playing a rugged brand of basketball that was simply far more physical than college players could deal with."
Can Tonje's game translate to the NBA level?
Venecie's observation is not terribly far from the truth. Tonje, a 23-year old, sixth-year player, was able to bully opponents to the tune of a nation leading 254 free throw attempts. It's not the most beautiful form of basketball, but Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander used it all the way to an NBA MVP, so it does have merit in the game. Threaten with elite shooting, and if it's not there, drive it down their throats. Two points.
While Tonje's lack of elite athleticism may prevent him from such domination at the pro level, his shooting can still make him a valuable scorer of the bench. He was nearly a 50-40-90 shooter in his lone year at Wisconsin, and shooting is typically a skill that translates well to the NBA. Tonje's average defense and age will still hold him back from jumping up into the first round, but Venecie does have Tonje ranked as his 35th overall prospect.