Throughout the Wisconsin Badgers' 2026 offseason, many guys have begun to have hype built around their names. Guys like Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp have been given the expectations of taking a leap with another offseason in the Wisconsin system under their belt, while newcomers like Owen Foxwell and Eian Elmer are supposed to take Madison by storm and step into roles similar to the ones they lost with John Blackwell and Nick Boyd.
FIBA U19 SLEEPERS PART 3
— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) June 28, 2025
🇳🇿 Jackson Ball is one of the more gifted scorers in the event, committing early to Wisconsin the class in the class of ‘26. Elite scorer who tore up the NZNBL at 16 years old, putting up 40 points in his first pro game pic.twitter.com/eyJncBXkzH
However, a name that has seemingly been lost in the mix is incoming freshman Jackson Ball, who has quietly put together a really good year of basketball. Ball for the longest time has been touted as more of a raw, developmental player who will need some time to figure things out at the college level, but given his performance this week at EuroCamp, Ball may be stepping into a larger role than what was previously expected.
What Went Well
Easily the most impressive part about Ball's week was something that a lot of people tend to overlook: his measurements. He came in at 6-foot-4 and a half barefoot with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, all of which was rounded together with a sturdy 215-pound frame. These measurements suggest that Ball will have plus positional size right from the get-go, allowing him to step up to the physicality that college basketball provides.
As for his actual in-game performance, things weren't as glamorous, but still impressive. Ball averaged 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.3 steals per game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 26.7% from three. Those numbers were enough to turn some heads, but given the talent pool around him, Ball was by no means a top standout.
Oscar Cluff: 7.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 34.8% FG
— Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo) June 9, 2026
Daniel Biel: 8.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.3 spg, 72.7% FG, 66.7% 3P
Derin Ustun: 8.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 66.7% FG, 75.0% 3P
Jackson Ball: 10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.3 spg, 44.8% FG, 26.7% 3P
Nonetheless, he proved that he belonged in a setting that featured nothing but top overseas talent in his age group. Even though Ball didn't shoot the ball extremely well and wasn't able to flash his playmaking ability, he still showcased that he can make an impact in each and every game, with or without the ball in his hands.
That skill will pay dividends for Ball at the college level, especially early on as he will likely not be given the freedom to lead an offense from day one. However, if he can continue to be an aggressive offensive threat and a solid decision-maker, it's hard to not imagine him carving himself out a role early on.
Add us as a preferred source on Google