4 things we learned from Wisconsin men's basketball camps (2024)

The University of Wisconsin men's basketball staff spent a lot of time communicating with 2027 Kaukauna Freedom forward Donovan Davis at the Badgers' advanced camp Thursday.

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, assistant coach Sharif Chambliss and new director of recruiting and scouting Isaac Wodajo all made a point to have several conversations with Davis throughout the day, which featured several other targets across the two impending recruiting classes in 2025 and 2026.

And it was all for a reason. Following the camp, Gard extended Davis the only offer to come out of the advanced camp. Gard had seen the 6-foot-7 sophom*ore play last week and came away impressed so, after demonstrating some of those same intriguing tools against other Wisconsin recruits, Davis had done enough to be awarded the first offer in the Badgers 2027 class.

That's still a ways away, but Davis' size and skill was evident throughout drills and 5-on-5 games. The wing/forward can put the ball on the floor, play inside and had good form on his jumper. His height has him playing a lot on the interior throughout high school, but he showed far more versatility throughout Thursday in addition to some fluid athleticism.

The Badgers struck early on a rising in-state star, starting the 2027 recruiting process earlier than it did for any of the members of the 2026 class. The Badgers extended their first two offers of 2026 in October 2023, with both Indianapolis Pike point guard DeZhon Hall and Lemont (Illinois) shooting guard Gabriel Sularski already well into their sophom*ore years. Racine The Prairie School guard/forward LaTrevion Fenderson was offered at the Badgers' advanced camp last year, but he was then a member of the 2025 recruiting class.

It's a similar strategy the Badgers used in the recruitment of 2025 wing Davion Hannah, who was offered in June 2022 before his sophom*ore year and remains a key target in the upcoming recruiting class.

Thursday and Friday offered the Badgers a closer look at several more players they have shown interest in. Here are three more things that stood out from the Badgers' advanced and team camps.

Wisconsin recruits Zach Kinziger, Will Garlock on hand

Zach Kinzigeris coming off a huge EYBL circuit, and he carried that momentum into the Badgers' advanced and team camps Thursday and Friday. Kinziger, who has been committed to the Badgers since Aug. 4, 2023, has always demonstrated solid skill as a shooter — and that was clear this week, too — but the De Pere guard feels his creation off the dribble has taken a leap.

"Whether that's finding a teammate, creating in the paint, creating off a step back, 3 off the dribble," Kinziger said. "Stuff like that just to make me (less) one dimensional as teams tried to run me off the line quite a bit."

Kinziger showed all of those attributes at the Badgers' advanced camp, and continued to show that as well as some defensive versatility with De Pere making a run to the team camp championship game. Thursday, in a gym with several other recruits in attendance, Kinziger looked like the most polished (and perhaps the best) player at the Badgers' advanced camp.

He wasn't the only 2025 commit to show up, though. Middleton center and Wisconsin recruit Will Garlock also met with the Badgers' staff at Thursday's camp, taking a walk throughthe facilities and chatting with members of the team. Garlock is still recovering from a broken tibia this spring, so he could not play in the advanced camp where he earned an offer last year nor with his Middleton teammates at team camp.

At one point, he joined a circle that included Badgers assistant Joe Krabbenhoft, Chambliss and Davis to chat. He is not wearing anything on his legs to indicate his prior injury, and he previously told BadgerExtra that he is aiming for a full return in August.

4-star Christian Wiggins shows off skills at Wisconsin advanced camp

The Badgers first offered 2026 Plymouth Wayzata (Minnesota) guard Christian Wiggins onFeb. 4, with Krabbenhoft taking the lead in an area he's landed several recruits for the Badgers in recent years. Wiggins told BadgerExtra followingWayzata's 105-76 win over Hopkins in the 6AAAA sectional final on March 12that the Badgers had made a good impression on him.

Thursday, Wiggins attended the Badgers' advanced camp and demonstrated why Wisconsin has shown interest. Though listed at just 6 foot 3 according to 247Sports, the rising junior plays much longer, first showing his defensive versatility in the 3-on-3 portion of camp before flashing a wider offensive game in 5-on-5 play. Wiggins is ranked as high as four stars and the No. 92 recruit in the country per 247Sports.

In two separate 3-on-3 sets, Wiggins fought over screens for a steal and a chasedown block. He can play above the rim, which helps him on both defense and offense. And when he was able to play with the ball in his hands more throughout the 5-on-5 portion of the Badgers' advanced camp, he showed some solid shot making with 3s off of step backs and more.

Wiggins will surely be a priority target for the Badgers as they continue to search for talent in the Minneapolis area.

Oregon's Vaughn Karvala offered by Wisconsin

Friday, a contingent of the Badgers including Gard, junior guard Isaac Gard, Krabbenhoft, special assistant to the head coach Kirk Penney and Wodajo attended Oregon's game against Rockford East at team camp to watch 2026 forward Vaughn Karvala — yet another in-state prospect rated three stars by247Sports. Karvala put on a show with his athleticism and overall scoring in the loss, hitting deep and tough shots while exemplifying a lot of skill finishing around the basket.

Karvala appeared to turn his ankle near the end of the game, and didn't play the final few minutes, but the Badgers' contingent stayed to chat with Karvala. Karvala announced Friday hewas offered by the Badgers, becoming the fourth player to earn an offer in Wisconsin's 2026 recruiting cycle. It came after he was offered by Marquette coach Shaka Smart, an Oregon alum, and visited June 20.

Though three more from the 2026 class left Thursday and Friday without offers, Kaukauna forward Andrew Jensen, Mount Horeb guardJosh Manchester and St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall (Minnesota) point guardJoJo Mitchell were all in attendance for Thursday's advanced camp and had their share of positive moments.

Jensen, at 6 foot 9, is a fluid athlete who plays with energy above the rim and on the offensive glass. Manchester and Mitchell are both crafty lead guards who shoot the 3 well. Manchester, especially, showed off a quick release on his jumper as well as an ability to get into the paint and create for others.

The Badgers will continue to monitor members of the 2026 class, as it has only extended three offers so far.