Greg Gard and Wisconsin are already making noise in the class of 2028, and the latest target on the board is a big one.
The Badgers have scheduled an unofficial visit with Cole Kelly, a consensus four-star prospect and the No. 34 overall player in the class of 2028. According to Dushawn London, Kelly has also lined up unofficial visits to Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska and Indiana.
Kelly’s recruitment is moving fast. He already holds 16 offers, with 13 coming from high-major programs, and Wisconsin is in the mix with schools like Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri all pressing for his commitment.
For the Badgers, landing him would be a major statement. Kelly would likely rank among the highest-rated recruits in school history, and the appeal is easy to see. He already brings a polished offensive package and looks like one of the more dangerous scorers in his class.
His game starts with the jumper. Kelly’s quick release, size and shooting touch make him a tough perimeter matchup, and that threat opens up everything else. He’s also shown he can attack closeouts, use his footwork to create space and even mix in some post-up work to score inside.
There are questions, naturally. His frame is still developing, and his movement doesn’t jump off the page. But so far, nothing in his game looks like a dead end.
Wisconsin still has plenty of work ahead. Other programs can sell more money, a stronger NBA track record and, in some cases, a more enticing roster around him. That means the Badgers are going to have to fight to close the gap.
Even so, this is exactly the kind of recruiting battle worth watching for Gard and Wisconsin. They’ve already shown they can land talent in the class of 2027, and now they’re trying to prove that momentum can carry straight into 2028.
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Wisconsin Is Quietly Building Something Important Before The 2026 Season
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It is also notable timing for a program entering a new administrative era, since Berry is one of the first football hires under Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst. For Wisconsin, the move points to a broader effort to sharpen how the Badgers evaluate and manage personnel before the 2026 season arrives, with the kind of behind-the-scenes infrastructure that can shape recruiting, retention and roster planning. The hire does not answer every question about where the program is headed, but it does show Wisconsin is taking a deliberate step toward building something more organized beneath the surface. [Read more 🡒]