These 2 Wisconsin players have caught the attention of NBA draft experts

Although many people around the sport may not have picked up on it quite yet, the Wisconsin Badgers have quietly transformed themselves into a sustainable NBA pipeline. For years, Badger fans complained about the school's ability to produce NBA talent, or rather the lack thereof, a complaint that no longer seems viable.

Over the past handful of years, Wisconsin has pumped out guys like Johnny Davis, John Tonje, Chucky Hepburn, Steven Crowl and Nick Boyd, who, despite not being the best players at the next level, have found a way to hang around. The 2026-27 season may have some uncertainty, but the sentiment is no different, as multiple players on next year's team have caught the eyes of draft scouts.

Nolan Winter

The player on next year's team with the most obvious NBA talent is big man Nolan Winter. The new 5-in-5 eligibility rules may throw a wrench into exactly when Winter decides to make the NBA leap, but when he does, there is no doubt he will garner some intrigue.

The 7-foot incoming senior has had quite the tenure thus far at Wisconsin, taking steady steps forward in each of his first three seasons and looking to do the same in his next. Winter possesses a rare set of skills for a player his size, combining physicality on the inside that allows him to dominate the paint with a smooth outside touch that forces defenders to step out and defend him.

Winter has also shown the ability to run the floor extremely well, making him a threat not only in transition as a rim runner, but also in the half court as a roll man. Adding weight and continuing to iron out his offensive consistency will go a long way for his development, but nonetheless, Winter projects as an easy bet to make the NBA leap very soon.

Eian Elmer

The far less obvious but still sensible choice for a Badger player to make the NBA leap is newcomer Eian Elmer. The 6-foot-6 Miami (Ohio) transfer is fresh off a solid junior year in which he averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 stocks per game for a 32-2 RedHawks team. The most impressive part of Elmer's game, however, is the outside shooting, as he shot 42.9% from three last season and has yet to dip below the 40% mark in his college tenure.

The rest of his offensive game is less well rounded, however, making his NBA outlook a bit more of a wildcard. Head coach Greg Gard has built a track record of being able to develop wings like Elmer in a short period of time, but it's no guarantee that the same can be done. Even the Boyd's, Tonje's and Davis's of the world had more natural and nuanced scoring ability in their younger years that Gard was able to extrapolate.

Elmer, on the other hand, hasn't shown much wiggle off the bounce and has been pretty limited to a 3-and-D role to this point. Nonetheless, the NBA covets size, shooting and defense — three things Elmer provides — making his outlook encouraging even if it isn't an All-American senior campaign.

Some other Badgers that could warrant some intrigue are guys like Trey Autry, Owen Foxwell and Austin Rapp, who have some intriguing skills but still have some developing to do. It's no guarantee that any player on this Wisconsin team makes the NBA leap next year, but there is valid reason for optimism

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