Wisconsin star earns national recognition entering NCAA Tournament
Wisconsin basketball’s No. 1 option added yet another accolade to his impressive 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday.
With just two days remaining until the Badgers suit up for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, wing John Tonje pocketed an AP Second-Team All-America nod. The North Omaha, Nebraska, native accompanied Kam Jones (Marquette), J.T. Toppin (Texas Tech), P.J. Haggerty (Memphis) and R.J. Luis Jr. (St. John's) on the second-team
Johni Broome (Auburn), Cooper Flagg (Duke), Mark Sears (Alabama), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) and Braden Smith (Purdue) earned AP First-Team All-America honors.
Tonje's accolades now include AP Second Team All-America, First-Team All-Big Ten, Naismith Men's College Player of the Year semifinalist and three Big Ten Player of the Week awards. He also accompanied fellow Badger John Blackwell on the 2025 Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
With just 60 points separating the first-year Badger from Frank Kaminsky's program single-season scoring record (732 points), Tonje has undoubtedly been one of the most impactful players in the sport. In 36 games this regular season, he averages 31 minutes, 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists off 46.9% shooting from the floor, 39.1% from deep and 90.8% from the foul line.
🚨 AP All-America Second-Team
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2025
🏀 Kam Jones
🏀 John Tonje
🏀 JT Toppin
🏀 PJ Haggerty
🏀 RJ Luis Jr. pic.twitter.com/0Jyba7nKAl
Tonje's 85 points in four Big Ten Tournament games further cemented his legacy as one of the more prolific Badgers in recent memory. The veteran notched a program conference tournament record 32 points against Michigan State in the semifinal, a day after he dropped 26 points off 9-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from outside.
Tonje even had an outside case for a First-Team nod. While Flagg, Broome and Clayton all lead No. 1 seeds in March Madness, Smith's Boilermakers hold a No. 4 seed and Sears' Crimson Tide earned a No. 2 seed. Backed by Tonje's stellar season, the Badgers sit at No. 3 in the East Region.
The five members of the First Team deserved the distinction, and Tonje was not snubbed. If UW had closed the regular season with wins over Oregon and Penn State, that conversation may look different.
Nonetheless, Tonje's spot on the second team is impressive. He will now look to lead Wisconsin to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2017. It begins its tournament quest on Thursday against the No. 14 Montana Grizzlies in Denver, Colorado.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball John Tonje AP All-America team award
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