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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Biggest winners and losers from 2019 classes

By Tristan Freeman

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

No. 5 Loser – Wisconsin Badgers

It was eventually going to happen that all-time Badger great Ethan Happ was going to graduate from the program. The last of Wisconsin’s “golden era”, the 6’10 center averaged 17.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 4.5 apg, all which led the team this past season. Some would say he singlehandedly carried the team to the past NCAA Tournament.

His departure will sting, leaving a bunch of role players to collectively try to keep Wisconsin in Big Ten contention. Guards D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison should take another step as juniors, while 6’11 forward Nate Reuvers has potential down low. The issue is that besides Reuvers, there isn’t much size for Wisconsin next season.

While head coach Greg Gard and the coaching staff tried to land some quality frontcourt prospects, they missed out on all of them, including four-star Robbie Beran to Northwestern and Kadin Shedrick to Virginia. They do have a big able to play next year in Ohio State center transfer Micah Potter. But unless the Buckeyes coaching staff completely missed on him, it’s hard to see Potter being anything more than frontcourt depth off the bench.

We’re now at the point where Coach Gard has all of his players and so far, the recruiting results haven’t been great. He couldn’t hold on to Tyler Herro and 2020 five-star prospect and Milwaukee native Jalen Johnson is going to Duke instead of staying home. It’s crucial to find some forwards in the 2020 class, or at least hope Ruevers can become an All-Big Ten caliber big man.

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