After the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team lost out on top in-state recruit Donovan Davis, many fans were left disappointed and frustrated with the team's lack of aggression. This was even more prevalent considering the Badgers, once again, lost out on a top in-state recruit to Iowa State, who has consistently been able to out-recruit Wisconsin within its own state. However, hope is not completely lost for Badger basketball recruiting, as multiple top recruits remain available in the 2027 class — with the most highly touted being Jalen Brown.
Brown, a 6-foot-4 guard, has been a top target of Wisconsin for some time now, with Greg Gard being one of the first coaches in the country to reach out and offer him a scholarship. Since then, the Badgers have been heavily rumored to be in the mix for Brown, with a recent article from 247Sports highlighting just how aggressive Wisconsin has been in his recruitment.
“That has been a huge part just checking on me, and showing that he cares about me beyond basketball. It just shows that they would love for me to be there.”
— Nick Osen (@TheRealNickOsen) May 9, 2026
Four-star priority Jalen Brown updates recruitment with @Badger247
Story:https://t.co/oH1L7QvbyG pic.twitter.com/Vx64xwvyjX
This should be very encouraging to hear for Badger fans considering how selective Gard has historically been with high school prospects. Despite rarely going all-in on top guys, Wisconsin has consistently been able to snag impact players from further down the board, with the most memorable example being Johnny Davis, who ended up returning All-American value in Madison despite being just a three-star recruit.
All-American Skillset
Brown likely won’t be able to reach the same heights Davis did in a Badger uniform, but his skillset undeniably screams star player. Brown pairs elite physical gifts with a polished and well-rounded skillset, making him one of the most dynamic guards in the entire country. In his junior year with Wauwatosa West, Brown dominated, posting averages of 20.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.9 steals per game.
It wasn’t just his counting numbers that were impressive either, as despite handling such a high usage rate, Brown was able to remain efficient, shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.6% from three and 75.1% from the free-throw line. His ability to play both inside and out makes him immensely difficult to guard, especially considering his plus positional size. Brown showcased the ability to both handle the ball and table-set for others, along with playing off another great player in Matthew Kloskey, a UW-Green Bay commit.
Landing Brown would mean big things for Wisconsin basketball. Not only would he be one of the biggest recruiting wins in recent school history, but he would also be one of the most talented players to put on a Badger uniform the second he steps on the court. Swaying him to stay home will be a treacherous process for Gard and Joe Krabbenhoft, but it could mean massive things for the future of Wisconsin hoops.
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