Wisconsin continued its impressive start to the 2025 offseason on Friday night, as it landed a commitment from Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp.
Rapp joins the Badgers with three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-10 forward broke out as a true freshman in 2024-25, averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39.7% from the field and a West Coast Conference-best 35.2% from 3. That versatile production, specifically the outside shooting numbers, should immediately help the program replace Steven Crowl's frontcourt production.
The WCC Freshman of the Year joins Virginia guard Andrew Rohde in the Badgers' 2025 transfer class. They each fit a similar mold -- Rapp led the WCC in 3-point attempts (236), makes (83) and percentage (35.2%), while Rohde shot a blistering 41% from beyond the arc. Wisconsin has its top wing-scoring option in John Blackwell entering 2025-26, assuming he doesn't leave for the NBA. The program is making a clear effort to surround him with shooting threats, or players who can contribute without a high-volume workload.
While Wisconsin still has remaining needs in the starting lineup and among its reserve group, here is an updated look at the team's projected lineup and rotation.
Wisconsin Projected 2025-26 Lineup With Transfer Forward Austin Rapp
- Guard: John Blackwell (Junior)*
- Guard: Andrew Rohde (Senior -- Virginia transfer)
- Wing: Transfer (TBD)
- Forward: Austin Rapp (Sophomore -- Portland transfer)
- Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior)
Wisconsin's starting lineup looks a lot more dangerous with commitments from Rohde and Rapp. Assuming steps forward from Blackwell and Winter, there's a chance this lineup is just as tough to defend as the 2024-25 group was, given the top-end shooting threats from 1-5.
Rapp's commitment is especially impactful. Wisconsin ...
