Wisconsin men’s basketball signs Australian forward Isaac Riddle
Wisconsin basketball signs Australian forward Isaac Riddle, adding an athletic, developmental piece to its roster for next season.
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another player from Australia to its roster for next season.
Forward Isaac Riddle officially signed with the Badgers, giving Greg Gard and his staff another international piece as they continue to reshape the roster with a mix of experience, development, and long-term upside.
“Isaac comes in as one of the best young prospects in Australia with terrific potential as he goes down the path of development,” Gard said. “For our program, it’s a very good time to bring in a budding star from their national team and help Isaac with the next steps in his career.
“His length and athleticism are obvious, but his desire to grow and expand his game is impressive. We’re looking forward to getting to work with him in June.”
Riddle, a 6-foot-8 forward from Golden Grove, Australia, is coming to Madison with a résumé built on international competition and efficiency around the rim. At the 2025 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Cup, he averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 67.4% from the field, a mark that ranked among the best in the tournament. Riddle also helped lead Australia to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Asia Championship, further building a track record of winning on the international stage.
That profile fits with how Wisconsin has rounded out its roster this offseason, pairing a group of experienced players expected to carry the scoring load with a younger layer of pieces who make sense from a long-term and roster-balance standpoint and have room to develop.
Riddle is currently playing for the Center of Excellence in Australia’s NBL1 East league, a developmental league that has produced a few notable prospects but isn’t the highest level of competition. The early returns point to a player who brings good length, thrives off finishing plays at the rim, running the floor, and impacting the game with his athleticism and motor — even as there’s still plenty of room to refine his overall skill set.
He’s not being brought in to contribute right away.
What Riddle is, at least right now, is a developing forward with tools. Someone who can score efficiently inside the arc, rebound his position, and bring energy on both ends. As Riddle transitions to the college level, the focus will be on adding strength, expanding his offensive skill set, and continuing to round out his game, particularly on the perimeter.
When you look at the roster he’s joining, that timeline makes sense.
Wisconsin’s frontcourt is expected to feature experienced options like Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, and Will Garlock, along with portal addition Victory Onuetu. That kind of depth gives the staff flexibility to bring Riddle along at the right pace, allowing him to develop without the pressure of immediate production. His energy on the scout team and reps against Big Ten-caliber frontcourt players should help everyone improve.
He becomes part of a larger group of newcomers that includes Trey Autry, Eian Elmer, Owen Foxwell, LaTrevion Fenderson, Josh Manchester, and Jackson Ball, as the Badgers continue to build out a roster designed with hopes to compete now while also sustaining success in the future.
Riddle fits into the latter part of that equation.
He’s a long-term play. A player with the physical tools and international background that give him a foundation to build on, even if the finished product is still a ways away. It’s a low-risk addition, and the truth is, anyone who says they know exactly what he’ll become at this stage is guessing. But if the development hits, there’s a world where he grows into someone who can give you meaningful minutes over time. Time will tell.
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