Wisconsin spent the offseason rebuilding a roster that had been stripped down after another painfully early exit, and Greg Gard’s staff did enough to bring in a few players who look ready to matter right away. Eian Elmer and Owen Foxwell fit that bill. But the bigger question hanging over the Badgers is still the same one: who becomes the guy?
Nolan Winter and Elmer have both been mentioned as possible breakout names, but forward Austin Rapp deserves a louder place in that conversation. He has already flashed real upside in his time with Wisconsin, and if the Badgers can put the right pieces around him, he has the kind of offensive skill set that can tilt a game.
Rapp’s appeal starts with what he can already do. At 6-foot-10, he can shoot it, and he posted an 81st percentile assist rate.
That combination gives Wisconsin something different, especially after years of building around guards and wings who could handle the ball and create from the perimeter. If the Badgers want to make Rapp more than just a complementary piece, the offense will have to look different.
That means more intentional ways to get him the ball. His scoring last season came mostly off assists, so Wisconsin can’t just expect him to manufacture everything on his own. The staff will need to find ways to feed him in the post or lean into more ball-screen action to put him in positions where his strengths can show up more often.
Of course, Rapp still has work to do on his own game, too. He’s already fairly polished for his size, but there are clear areas that need attention.
Mobility stands out first. Getting lighter on his feet is easier said than done at his age and with his frame, though trimming some weight and adding mobility work would help.
His handle is another piece that can grow. It’s solid for a player his size, but it’s not yet a separator. He doesn’t need to become a pure isolation scorer, but adding a few reliable moves and counters would give him more ways to attack and make him harder to defend over time.
For Wisconsin, the path is pretty straightforward: build the offense to bring out Rapp’s best traits, and keep pushing him to sharpen the parts of his game that still lag behind. If both happen, he has a chance to become much more than just another name in the rotation.
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