Over the weekend, Greg Gard and the University of Wisconsin basketball program welcomed EJ Walker, a top-150 recruiting target for the Badgers in the 2025 class, to campus for an official visit.
“The trip was great,” Walker told Badgernotes. “We ate a lot and saw the new weight room, which will be done in a couple of weeks. I saw a little bit of the 5k, walked through the block party, and hung out with the staff.”
Gard and the Wisconsin basketball coaches intend to bring in a sizeable recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, and Walker, a consensus four-star, fits the mold of what the Badgers want in their new-look offense as a hybrid forward.
Standing at 6-foot-8 inches and 230 pounds, Walker presents mismatches on offense and defense. His unique combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills makes Walker a versatile chess piece. He can push the ball in transition, win down on the low block with footwork, face up on occasion, knock down shots, or put the ball on the deck.
“They plan to use me for my versatility on both ends of the floor,” Walker said. The coaches also pitched the development piece of their program and their style of play.
According to the composite rankings, Walker is considered the No. 142 overall prospect in his class and the No. 28 power forward. Wisconsin basketball Assistant coach Sharif Chambliss is Walker’s lead recruiter and has done an excellent job building a relationship thus far.
“My relationship with the staff is great,” Walker said. The staff and my family also have a great relationship. I haven’t figured out where God is calling me, but they [Wisconsin] will be there at decision time.”
In March, Walker narrowed his list of potential schools to 12. Illinois, Cal, Xavier, South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisville, Ohio State, Iowa, Dayton, Purdue, Minnesota, and Wisconsin basketball made the cut.
Despite already taking an official visit to South Carolina, Walker intends to embark on a few more trips before putting a bow on his recruitment. His itinerary still includes official visits to Ohio State and Purdue. He plans to make a final call on his college home before school starts.
In its current state, Coach Gard holds one commitment in the 2025 recruiting class from three-star shooting guard Zach Kinziger, but you can expect to see that number grow.
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