Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Many high school basketball standouts in Wisconsin go on to big things at the college level and in the pros, and this is our spot to recognize those athletes each week and help you keep up with what is going down on some of your favorite players from the past. If you have alumni news, please send it to Colton Wilson by 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.

With the college basketball regular season set to begin tomorrow, November 9th, many players around the country are ready to get back on the hardwood. With the 2020 March Madness tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 virus and a 2020-21 season altered in many ways, this upcoming season is one that many are looking forward to.

As has been the case, the amount of talent coming out the state of Wisconsin continues to impress. Names such as Tyler Herro of Whitnall and Tyrese Haliburton were NBA lottery picks in back-to-back years while Nicolet's Jalen Johnson and Milwaukee King's Jordan Poole were first round selections.

The talent at the Division 1 college level will again be on full display. 80 former Wisconsin high school standouts span 53 different teams throughout the country. Returning all-conference performers, starters and incoming freshman are poised to make 2021-22 a fun year to follow former Badger State standouts chase their dreams at the next level.

A full list of all 80 athletes can be found at the bottom of this article.

One of the biggest stories in college sports the past few years has been the transfer portal and the sheer amount of players changing schools. With the 2020-21 season not counting towards an athlete's eligibility, there is an uptick in the amount of athletes that are able to play at the Division 1 level. Whether or not that proved to be a talking point, many would-be graduates took advantage of that extra year of eligibility, whether that was through transfer or returning to their schools; which in turn very well could have led to others transferring.

Transfers of Note

Jacob Ognacevic - Valparaiso --> Lipscomb

Ognacevic was ranked fourth in the class of 2020 out of Sheboygan Lutheran High School. He finished his prep career sixth all-time in scoring in Wisconsin with 2,501 points. Ognacevic saw extended playing time at Valpo in his freshman season, averaging 6.3 points per game coming off the bench for the Beacons.

Storm Murphy - Wofford --> Virginia Tech

Murphy was one of the more sought after transfers from a smaller school following the 2020-21 season. The Middleton High School grad averaged 17.8 points per game for the Terriers last season, earning First Team All-Southern Conference honors. In his four years at Wofford, Murphy amassed 1,315 points, 471 assists.

Marlon Ruffin - Omaha --> Portland State

Ruffin experienced a lot of success at Omaha College last season after transferring in from Highland Community College in 2019. In his two seasons at Omaha, Ruffin was named the Summit League Sixth Man of the Year in 2019-20 and honorable mention all-conference in 2020-21. He averaged over 10 points a game while with the Mavericks.

Jordan McCabe - West Virginia --> UNLV

McCabe was a part of the 2018 class that some consider to be the best the state has produced. Ranked third in the state, the Kaukauna grad chose West Virginia to continue his career, but after his freshman season, saw his playing time diminish year by year. McCabe will look to finish his college career leading the Running Rebels.

Isaac Lindsey - UNLV --> Wisconsin

Speaking of UNLV; as McCabe transfers in, Lindsey transfers out. The former Mineral Point grad will head to the home state Badgers that lost seven players due to transfer or graduation. Lindsey was a two-time WBCA All-State selection while in high school and was one of the better shooters in the 2020 class.

Chris Knight - Dartmouth --> Loyola Chicago

With Dartmouth being in the Ivy League, Knight didn't see any in-game action last year as the conference canceled its 2020-21 season. The former Madison Memorial standout had a great three season at Dartmouth, scoring over 1,100 points, hauling in nearly 500 rebounds and blocking nearly 100 shots. He'll look to anchor the Ramblers as they push for a Missouri Valley Conference title.

Te'Jon Lucas - UW-Milwaukee --> BYU

Lucas is one of two former alumni that transferred from UW-Milwaukee; the other being MAOS grad Kaleim Taylor. In his college career, Lucas has already scored over 1,000 points at UW-Milwaukee and Illinois. 

UW-Green Bay's Influx of Alumni

Head coach Will Ryan has made it apparent that one of his top priorities is to lock down the in-state talent and bring in alumni transfers. Eight former Wisconsin High School grads currently are on the roster despite the transfers of La Crosse Central's Terrance Thompson and Sun Prairie's Colin Schaefer; both to JUCO Navarro College.

Only Ryan Claflin of Southern Door, and Lucas Stieber (2021 Horizon League All-Freshman Team) of Green Bay Southwest are returnees for the Phoenix. Coach Ryan welcomes in freshmen Kamari McGee of Racine St. Catherine's, Cade Meyer of Monroe and Brayden Dailey of Mineral Point; all ranked in the top 10 in the class of 2021. He'll also have transfers Mitch Listau of Belmont, Donovan Ivory of Boise State and Nate Jenkins of Iowa State. Listau (Waunakee), Ivory (Kaukauna) and Jenkins (Kettle Moraine) will look to hit the reset button for the in-state school.

Father & Son Baldwin's at UW-Milwaukee

In what may have come as a surprise to many around the state, and especially around the country, Patrick Baldwin Jr. chose to play at UW-Milwaukee for his father Patrick Baldwin Sr. Baldwin Jr. was ranked as a top three recruit nationally by most recruiting services. The Sussex Hamilton grad forewent offers from blue chip programs like Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. Considered by many as one of the top 2022 NBA Draft prospects, it will be interesting to see how the highest rated recruit in UW-Milwaukee history will improve his draft stock despite competing in a lower conference.

Valparaiso Welcomes in Five New Alumni

As noted earlier, Sheboygan Lutheran's Jacob Ognacevic transferred from Valpo to Lipscomb after this past season. That didn't stop head coach Matt Lottich from making a splash in the Badger State via incoming freshmen and transfers.

Waukesha West's Cam Palesse and Lourdes Academy's Preston Ruedinger make up the incoming freshman group from Wisconsin. Palesse was a two time All-State and 2020-21 WSN Wing Award winner. Ruedinger scored 2,349 points in his prep career which landed him twelfth all-time in state history.

Coach Lottich also welcomes in transfers Kevion Taylor from Winona State, Trevor Anderson from Wisconsin and Kobe King also from Wisconsin.

Taylor spent four seasons dominating competition in the Division 2 Northern Sun Conference. A Whitnall High School grad, Taylor amassed over 1,600 points and 600 rebounds at Winona State. He was a two time First Team All-Northern Sun selection.

Trevor Anderson began his college career at UW-Green Bay before transferring to the Badgers after his freshman season. Knee injuries set back the Stevens Point grad, but he became an integral part of the Wisconsin rotation.

King had a roller coaster experience at UW-Madison. The La Crosse Central alum showed sparks of elite playmaking and scoring during his two and a half years, but ultimately left in the middle of his junior season. King will have the comfort of former teammate Anderson as he looks to bounce back in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Stay tuned each week for a write-up spanning all Divisions in college basketball and those in the professional ranks.