Wisconsin men's basketball hosts 2027 in-state guard Jalen Brown on unofficial visit
Wisconsin basketball strengthened its ties with 2027 in-state guard Jalen Brown after a standout visit to Madison before the recruiting dead period.
Sometimes in recruiting, you can tell pretty quickly when a school is striking the right chord with a prospect. And right now, it’s hard to find a better example of that than what’s developing between the Wisconsin men's basketball program and 2027 four-star guard Jalen Brown.
The 6-foot-5 combo guard from Wauwatosa West, ranked No. 98 nationally and No. 9 among combo guards in his class, according to the composite, has spent the AAU season putting together one of the most impressive summers of any young player in the Midwest.
His recruitment is exploding. High-major programs like Indiana, Washington, Georgetown, Nebraska, and West Virginia are in the mix, but the in-state Badgers have made it clear that he’s one of their top priorities.
Wisconsin offered Brown in June after a strong performance at their advanced camp, where his leadership, skill level, and competitiveness stood out immediately. That moment was a turning point. Since then, the relationship has only grown, leading to a return trip to Madison last week for an unofficial visit just before the high school recruiting dead period.
For Brown, that Wisconsin offer carried extra weight. He grew up watching the Badgers, and his family has long been fans of the program. The fact that he’s one of the few Milwaukee-area prospects to draw serious attention from Wisconsin in the Greg Gard era isn’t lost on him, either.
A source shared that before leaving campus, he had an extended sit-down with Gard, who sees Brown as a lead guard at the next level.
“Hometown Hero??,” Brown wrote.
This was more than just a handshake-and-tour kind of visit. Brown and his stepfather got a full walkthrough of the campus and a detailed look at how the program operates both on and off the floor. The coaching staff broke down what they love about Brown’s game, his poise, his ability to dictate tempo, and his knack for creating offense as both a scorer and facilitator, while also pointing out areas they want him to keep developing, like adding strength and continuing to sharpen his overall basketball IQ.
It’s not lost on Brown that Wisconsin has built a program centered around winning and sustained success in the Big Ten. His conversations with Greg Gard and Sharif Chambliss drove home the idea that wearing the motion W is about far more than basketball. The Badgers framed it as a lifelong identity, something that can open doors and carry value long after a playing career ends. That perspective, paired with their track record of winning and developing players, has made quite the impression on Brown.
And while the visit had plenty of off‑court substance, the on‑court portion hit just as hard. Brown watched the Badgers work out and came away seeing shades of himself in the way John Blackwell played: strong, smart, and tough in the backcourt. It reinforced the belief that he could fit seamlessly at Wisconsin, where guards are trusted to control the game.
Brown’s game is tailor‑made for that role. He’s an explosive downhill driver who finishes through contact, a gifted passer with vision in both transition and the halfcourt, and a creative scorer with tight handles and impressive footwork. He averaged 22.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game as a sophomore while helping lead Wauwatosa West to a state title. His ability to compete on both ends and elevate the players around him makes Brown one of the more polished players in the class.
Coming out of the visit, Wisconsin sits near the top of Brown’s list. He’s already talking with the coaching staff about returning to campus and continuing to build the relationship. Other visits to national programs will follow, and his recruitment will only intensify, but the Badgers have positioned themselves as a legitimate front‑runner early in the process.
Brown is part of a loaded 2027 in‑state class that includes Dooney Johnson, Donovan Davis, Jack Kohnen, and Kager Knueppel, all of whom are ranked inside the national top 100 in the 247Sports composite. And the Badgers staff is more than doing their homework, with several members of this group expected to be priority targets to keep home and supplement future transfer‑portal additions if everything breaks right.
If you’re looking for a 2027 in-state player who embodies everything Wisconsin men's basketball likes to build around: high IQ, competitive toughness, and has an ability to lead, Brown checks every box. The relationship is in a good place. The fit is obvious. Now it’s about seeing whether the Badgers can keep this momentum rolling to a commitment.
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