What Greg Gard's top-3 recruiting class means for the future of Wisconsin Basketball

The vibes surrounding Wisconsin Badgers basketball have never been higher, as Greg Gard and co. just landed their second top-100 recruit in the class of 2027 and their third commit overall, bringing in Baboucarr Ann. The four-star forward has long been connected to the Badgers, dating back to his first visit.

Now, over a year later, Wisconsin has landed Ann and currently has the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports. For reference on just how insane that is for the Badgers, the last time they had a top-50 recruiting class was all the way back in 2021 — now they sit at the top of the country.

Obviously, Wisconsin doesn't get to the place it's in without acquiring true firepower, which is exactly what it did. Ann is an athletic, drive-first wing with high-end two-way upside. He's still raw as of now, but given the steps he has taken in recent years, along with the raw gifts he possesses, this could end up being an extremely high-upside addition for the Badgers.

Jalen Brown is the other top-50 recruit Wisconsin was able to snag, and he too is wildly talented. Brown stands close to 6-foot-5, possessing advanced guard skills, a rapidly developing outside shot and elite energy at the point of attack on defense. If he can continue to round out his offensive repertoire and acclimate to the Wisconsin system, Brown could end up being one of the best Badger basketball players of the 21st century.

Jack Thelen is the lesser known of the trio, but a classic Wisconsin get. Standing over 7 feet tall and possessing solid physicality and feel, Thelen is the perfect example of the style of big that Gard likes to recruit and develop. Thelen does have much less nuance as a creator in comparison to Ann and Brown, but nonetheless is a low-risk, high-reward swing given the modern landscape of bigs in college hoops.

Next Steps

In the modern landscape of college basketball that seemingly rewards coaches who are aggressive in the transfer portal, it has become undervalued just how important it is to recruit at the grassroots level, especially for teams like the Badgers who don't have the money or resources to attack the five-star, easy NBA talents or high-end portal guys. They are now forced to be selective and smart as to who they recruit and how they go about it to remain afloat as a competitive college basketball team.

In Wisconsin's case, this strategy has become extremely prevalent in the transfer portal market, as year after year the Badgers have sought out and brought in underrated recruits that turn into star players seemingly the moment they step on campus. However, as the portal becomes more lucrative and as guys continue to bounce from school to school in search of a larger bag, it's more important than ever for Wisconsin to prioritize the high school recruiting scene — and they have done just that.

Despite already having multiple commits in the class of '27, there is a chance the Badgers aren't done, as there are still multiple high-end recruits uncommitted who Wisconsin has given offers to. Guys like Deuce McDuffie and Kager Knueppel remain uncommitted and have reported interest in the Badgers, meaning the fun could continue.

The odds that Wisconsin is able to land either of the two are low, especially considering the talent they already brought in and what they will likely acquire next summer in the portal. However, even if this is it for the Badgers in the class of '27, the foundation has been laid and the reputation has been built to continue pursuing high-end recruits in the years to come.

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