The Wisconsin basketball program extended an offer to class of 2025 shooting guard Nolan Groves on Monday.
Groves initially committed to Yale in March of 2024, though decommitted this weekend, on April 12. Since then, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard has received offers from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas Tech.
While Groves has yet to receive a star ranking from 247Sports or Rivals, his performance on the hardwood suggests that one should soon follow. The Orono Senior High School product averaged 34.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior during the 2024-25 slate, enough to earn the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year award. That standout season also included nine games of 40 or more points, including a season-best 57 tallies in a triumph over St. Louis Park.
Groves joins a list of Minnesota Player of the Year honorees that includes current Wisconsin center Nolan Winter, who won the award during the 2022-23 slate at Lakeville North High School. Other past winners include Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Tre Jones, Gary Trent Jr., Tyus Jones and Kris Humphries. Wisconsin has developed terrific recruiting success in the neighboring state, recently landing standouts Winter, Tyler Wahl, Brad Davison, Nate Reuvers and Ethan Happ, and others.
Just days removed from Groves decommitting from Yale, his offer sheet has the chance to balloon in the coming weeks. His overall recruitment should see quick developments with the April 16 to May 21 signing period fast approaching.
Wisconsin’s current class of 2025 includes three playmakers thus far — three-star shooting guard Zach Kinziger, three-star center Will Garlock and international shooting guard Hayden Jones. Its transfer list features former San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, former Portland forward Austin Rapp and former Virginia guard Andrew Rhode. All three transfer additions figure to play sizable minutes for UW during the 2025-26 slate.
Wisconsin joining Groves’ sweepstakes in the first days may pay dividends in the long run, as could the program’s strong recruiting ties to Minnesota. The shooting guard will likely morph into one of the more coveted playmakers in the region, with most others already signed. Groves’ scoring ability at 6-foot-5 could make him an appealing bench piece for Wisconsin’s 2025-26 squad.
Groves’ decision is one to keep a close eye on for any Badger fan invested in Wisconsin’s recruiting outcomes. If he chooses UW, the program’s current No. 47 national recruiting rank will rise significantly.
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