Wisconsin Basketball: Top Transfer Portal Target Delays Commitment

The Wisconsin basketball program will need to wait a bit longer to learn its fate in a top portal target’s recruitment. 

Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler was initially set to announce his commitment on 1620 The Zone – Omaha at 8 am, but his decision has been delayed. 

“He will not be making his decision today. I talked to Frankie late last night; this had been the date that he had been targeting,” 1620 The Zone host Gary Sharp said. “He mentioned to coaches and people who are involved in the process that he would like to have it announced today. We are just giving him a forum because of my relationship with him. I have no idea what he’s going to do.”

Fidler announced a top four consisting of Wisconsin, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Creighton last week. He visited UW a few weeks back, reuniting with former Bellevue West High School teammate Chucky Hepburn. He also just completed a visit with Tom Izzo and the Spartans this past weekend, but Sharp said Fidler returned from that visit “still undecided.”

No official word has been made on Fidler’s new commitment date.

Top Wisconsin Basketball Transfer Target Frankie Fidler Pushes Back Commitment Date

Wisconsin basketball is in search of a wing that can supplement some of the scoring and athleticism that the Badgers lost with AJ Storr’s departure from the program. It’s hard to imagine a better fit in the portal for UW considering Fidler’s efficiency in scoring at all three levels, his versatility, and the playmaking that he brings to the table. 

In his junior campaign at Omaha, Fidler logged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while playing 36 minutes per game. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound wing hit 35.6% of his shots from deep last season and also showed a knack for getting to the stripe, averaging 7.7 free throw attempts per game and hitting on 85.4% of his attempts. 

Fidler previously told 1620 The Zone that he “does not want to drift very far from home.” He’s a Bellevue, Nebraska native, and Creighton and Nebraska would be a much closer destination for him. Radio host Gary Sharp also dropped an interesting note in his announcement of Fidler’s commitment delay.

“He went to the Omaha-Creighton baseball game the other night, and he’s still a student at Omaha. There was a picture taken of him — and I guess returning to Omaha is still on the table, but he didn’t want to lead anybody on.”

Fidler begins NBA pre-draft workouts this week, which could also factor into the delay of his decision. Regardless, it’s anyone’s guess what Fidler will do right now. 

Stay tuned to Badgernotes as we continue to monitor this recruitment.