By no surprise, Wisconsin basketball’s offseason transfer additions largely defined the team’s 2024-25 season.
Greg Gard and his staff added wing John Tonje, guard Camren Hunter and forward Xavier Amos following the 2023-24 campaign. Those additions followed the high-profile departures of Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr to Louisville and Kansas, respectively.
The Badgers got an All-American season from Tonje (31.1 minutes, 19.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 46.5% shooting, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line), one that entered the record books as one of the best in program history. His performance, along with Gard revolutionizing the team’s approach, steady play from several veterans and breakout years from John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, helped the Badgers to a resurgent campaign.
While Wisconsin’s season came to an end with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss, Tonje’s breakout year as a top-end scoring option could have a positive impact for years to come. Most notably, it should help Wisconsin’s recruiting pitch to talented wing scorers looking for a chance to showcase NBA-level ability career.
As Tonje’s play defined Wisconsin’s strong season and positive outlook moving forward, the program’s former transfers all experienced varying levels of success with new programs. That includes an All-ACC season from Hepburn, a solid year from Connor Essegian at Nebraska and struggles from Storr at Kansas. For more, here is how every recent Wisconsin basketball transfer performed in 2024-25:
Connor Essegian (Nebraska)
2024-25 Averages: 22.6 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 38.9% shooting, 37.6% from 3.
Essegian found solid footing at Nebraska after playing a minor role on the 2023-24 Badgers. His shooting fit well into Fred Hoiberg’s offensive scheme. Essegian could be in line for a breakout senior year in 2025-26.
Chucky Hepburn (Louisville)
2024-25 Averages: 34.8 minutes, 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 43.2% shooting, 32.8% from 3.
Hepburn was sensational in his one season at Louisville, breaking several program records en route to a career year. His First-Team All-ACC honors and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award were well-deserved. That terrific success didn’t come as much of a surprise after his excellent three years with the Badgers.
A.J. Storr (Kansas)
2024-25 Averages: 15.7 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 38.4% shooting, 29% from 3.
Storr’s struggles in his first season at Kansas have been well-documented. The highly touted transfer struggled to hold a regular role in Bill Self’s lineup. The season likely hurt his NBA draft stock, one that was on the rise after his one season with the Badgers.
Gus Yalden (Seton Hall)
2024-25 Averages: 8.4 minutes, 1.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks, 36.7% shooting.
Yalden didn’t see the court as a true freshman at Wisconsin in 2023-24. He found a role as a redshirt freshman at Seton Hall, appearing in 26 games and playing more than eight minutes per game. He has since reentered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Matthew Mors (South Dakota State)
2024-25 Averages: 25.8 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks, 49.7% shooting, 35.5% from 3.
Mors left the Badgers after redshirting in 2021-22. He started all 32 games for South Dakota State this season, helping to lead a team that finished 20-12 overall, though lost in the first round of the Summit League Tournament. The forward has one year of eligibility remaining.
Jordan Davis (Illinois State)
2024-25 Averages: 23.1 minutes, 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, 38.2% shooting, 31.7% from 3
Davis played three years at Wisconsin (2020-23). He transferred to Illinois State before 2023-24, where he appeared in 54 games (23 starts) over two seasons.
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