Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Greg Gard has put together an intriguing 2027 recruiting class, headlined by four-star guards Jalen Brown and Baboucarr Ann.
The two prospects entered the early signing period committed to the Badgers, giving Wisconsin a pair of nationally ranked perimeter players with legitimate scoring upside, athleticism, and the versatility to contribute on both ends of the floor.
Brown is ranked No. 99 nationally by the 247Sports Composite, while Ann checks in at No. 116. Both are considered four-star prospects, and the duo gives Gard some higher-end talent to develop in the backcourt.
Of course, this class looks considerably different than it did a few months ago. Wisconsin originally held three commitments before four-star center Jack Thelen reopened his recruitment and ultimately signed with UConn. His departure leaves the Badgers without a frontcourt piece in this class.
Still, there’s plenty to like about the players Wisconsin has coming in. And when evaluating this class, it’s important to consider what Gard and his staff are realistically competing against in today’s recruiting landscape.
Here’s a closer look at each prospect, along with my evaluation and grade for Wisconsin’s 2027 recruiting class.
4-Star Guard: Jalen Brown
Jalen Brown, a 6-foot-5 guard originally from Wauwatosa West, is arguably the headliner of Wisconsin’s 2027 recruiting class.
The Milwaukee native committed to the Badgers on June 5, choosing Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Georgetown, Arizona State, Mississippi State, and several others. Brown officially signed with the Badgers on Nov. 12.
“We’re very excited to have Jalen join our program,” Gard said in a press release. “Growing up down the road in Milwaukee, it was his dream to play here at Wisconsin. Jalen has the ability to score at all three levels and has great vision on the court. He also has a tremendous work ethic on both sides of the ball and makes everyone around him better.”
The 247Sports Composite ranks Brown No. 99 nationally and No. 15 among combo guards, while the Rivals Industry Ranking places him among the nation’s top 100 prospects (No. 96).
That’s a significant recruiting win for Gard, particularly considering Wisconsin hasn’t consistently landed this caliber of in-state perimeter talent. Brown spent his junior season at Wauwatosa West before transferring to Sequoia Charter School in Arizona for his senior year.
As a junior, he averaged 20.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.9 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and better than 37% from beyond the arc.
Those numbers give you a pretty good indication of what makes Brown an interesting high major prospect. He’s not exclusively a scorer, even if that’s the part of his game that gets the most attention. Brown can create offense, facilitate for teammates, and impact the game defensively.
