Wisconsin has had a good run of late with their big men. They now have another in 2018 center Joe Hedstrom.
A Hopkins, Minnesota native, Joe Hedstrom has decided to cross state lines and play for the Badgers. Hedstrom took three official visits, with the Utah Utes and Boise State Broncos also looking to grab the three-star recruit.
This wasn’t your regular old scholarship offer. The Wisconsin head coach offered up a four for five scholarship. It’s a tactic coaches use to use an extra scholarship for a higher ranked player. It’s a risky proposition for the player because essentially the first year they not only walk on but redshirt as well. That means if the player ever wants to transfer early, they’ll have to lose a year of eligibility.
But, clearly, the young center has faith in the coaching staff, with players like former Badger Frank Kaminsky and current big man Ethan Happ playing well in Wisconsin’s offense. He’s currently ranked No. 328 by 247 Sports, but Kaminsky himself was No. 235 when he came out. The No. 24 best center in his class turned into one of the best overall players in college basketball — then later a lottery pick for the Charlotte Hornets.
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With Happ currently a junior, he’ll be graduating by the time Hedstrom will be eligible to play, so UW will have a true center in place for 2019. He joins four-star forward Tyler Herron for the class of 2018, and the Badgers still have a scholarship left to play with after this. This looks like a win-win for everyone involved.