5 Wisconsin MBB Players Competing for Rotation Spots in 2023-24
Here’s a look at five Badgers players vying for spots in the rotation.
The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team will officially begin their season on Wednesday, November 1, in an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point at the Kohl Center.
With five returning starters in Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, Connor Essegian, Tyler Wahl, and Steven Crowl, head coach Greg Gard has a strong nucleus of talent to build around heading into the season.
While those five players undoubtedly need to expand their games and take the next step in their development, most of the intrigue surrounding the Badgers and their impending revenge tour centers around some of the incoming freshmen, a transfer portal addition, and a handful of returning players that could push for a spot in the rotation.
Let’s examine five Wisconsin basketball players who could push for a meaningful role during the 2023-24 season.
Sophomore Forward — AJ Storr
Of all the players on this list, St. Johns transfer AJ Storr has the best odds to push for a starting role for the Wisconsin basketball team.
Storr, a Rockford, Illinois native, joins the Badgers after averaging 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on 40.4% shooting from beyond the arc as a true freshman.
The 6-foot-6 wing should address several key roster deficiencies that became apparent when Johnny Davis entered the NBA Draft. Storr gives Wisconsin basketball a versatile wing defender with prototypical size — who can get out and score in transition.
The sophomore forward is a tremendous athlete who can get to the rim, shoot from beyond the arc, and create his own shot. All the tools are there for Storr to become an instant impact player for the Badgers — no matter what his specific role, he’ll be a core member of the rotation.
Junior Point Guard Kamari McGee
There might not be a player that needs a strong showing in practice than Wisconsin basketball junior point guard Kamari McGee.
A former UW-Green Bay transfer, McGee appeared in 31 games for the Badgers last season and averaged 1.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in just over seven minutes per game.
McGee gave Greg Gard a spark plug off the bench last season. However, his struggles on offense were noteworthy. The 6-foot point guard shot just 28% from the field and connected on 18% of his three-point attempts.
The step up in competition appeared to be too much early on — but McGee eventually settled in and had a 25-minute, nine-point performance against Rutgers last February that highlighted what he was capable of.
Chucky Hepburn is the unquestioned starter — but Wisconsin basketball needs a reliable backup who can take care of the ball and play good defense. In theory, McGee can be that player — but this season, he’ll have some added competition for those minutes.