Wisconsin’s in-state recruiting push kept rolling Thursday with the official signing of Jalen Brown, a consensus four-star guard from Milwaukee who is now part of the Badgers’ 2027 class.
The 6-5 Brown, who is currently at Mesa (AZ) Sequoia National Prep after three seasons at Wauwatosa West High School, gives Greg Gard’s program another top-100 talent from the Wisconsin pipeline. Brown made it clear how much the moment meant to him.
"I'm a Badger and dreams do come true," Brown said. "I'm so thankful and do not take this opportunity lightly. Thank you Badger Nation!"
Brown committed to Wisconsin in June 2025, picking the Badgers over power-conference offers from California, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Washington and West Virginia.
His production at Wauwatosa West backed up the recruiting hype. During his junior year, Brown averaged 20.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.9 steals.
As a sophomore, he helped the Trojans win the state title while putting up 22.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Over his Wisconsin varsity career, he scored 1,584 points and earned Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association all-state honors after both his sophomore and junior seasons.
"We're very excited to have Jalen join our program," UW head coach Greg Gard said in a statement. "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."
"We can't wait for Jalen to arrive on campus."
Brown’s signing also fits a larger trend for Wisconsin. After going without an in-state high school scholarship recruit in its 2020 through 2024 classes, the Badgers signed guard Zach Kinziger and Will Garlock in the 2025 class and LaTrevion Fenderson last season.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Finally Has Hope Up Front With Three Games Left
Freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins gave Wisconsin a much-needed jolt in his first career start, and the timing could hardly have been better. The Badgers 31-10 win over Rutgers pushed them to 6-3, made them bowl eligible and offered a glimpse of what the offense can look like when the line holds together long enough to let a young passer settle in.
For much of the season, Wisconsin has been piecing together an offensive front because of injuries, and that instability has made every snap feel like a test. Against Rutgers, the protection looked noticeably cleaner, which matters now with Maryland, Purdue and Minnesota still ahead on the regular-season schedule and the chance to turn one encouraging afternoon into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Faces A Road Test That Could Define Luke Fickells Best Start
Wisconsin heads to Maryland at 6-3 with a chance to keep building momentum in what has already become one of Luke Fickells steadier seasons in Madison. The matchup brings a familiar Big Ten road challenge, and the Badgers path is pretty clear: keep the rushing attack balanced, stay on top of the game plan defensively, and get another dependable showing from freshman running back Ryan Hopkins.
Maryland adds a wrinkle with quarterback Malik Washington, whose presence gives the Terrapins a different kind of stress test for Wisconsins defense. For the Badgers, this is the sort of November game that can sharpen the picture of where the program stands under Fickell, and whether a solid start can turn into something more meaningful down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Have A First Round Pass Rusher Emerging
Sebastian Cheeks has turned this season into a real calling card for Wisconsins pass rush, stacking up 34 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles while drawing attention well beyond the Big Ten. The edge rushers production has started to show up in the early draft conversation, with analysts such as Newt Westen and Ian Cummings placing him near the top of their 2027 edge rankings.
Not everyone is ready to put him in that tier yet, which is part of what makes the buzz around Cheeks interesting. Some evaluators, including Mel Kiper, still have not slotted him onto their big boards, even as CBS Sports Mike Renner has gone so far as to project him as a potential first-rounder for the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 26 overall. For Wisconsin, the bigger question now is whether this is the start of a short-lived surge or the beginning of a much bigger rise. [Read more 🡒]