- Wisconsin basketball freshman point guard Daniel Freitag, a former top recruit, has announced his departure from the program.
- Freitag's limited playing time and the likelihood of veteran backcourt additions via the transfer portal contributed to his decision.
- Head coach Greg Gard is expected to utilize the transfer portal to bolster the Badgers' backcourt for the 2025-26 season.
- Wisconsin remains committed to player development but is also adapting to the evolving landscape of college basketball by embracing the transfer portal.
The first significant headline of Wisconsin basketball's 2025 transfer cycle emerged on Monday: Freshman point guard Daniel Freitag announced his departure.
Freitag was the program's top recruit in the class of 2024, a four-star prospect who was the No. 119 player in the class, the No. 12 point guard and the No. 3 recruit from Minnesota. After Chucky Hepburn's transfer exit last offseason, many turned to Freitag as the program's future at the position.
However, the point guard seldom saw the court as a true freshman in 2024-25. He played just 29minutes and recording two points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. He was left out of a crowded guard rotation of starters Max Klesmit and John Blackwell and reserves Kamari McGee and Jack Janicki.
Freitag and reserve guardCamren Hunter are Wisconsin's two departures at this early stage in the transfer cycle.
As the Badgers work to reload their roster entering 2025-26, Freitag's departure is notable enough to warrant some major takeaways:
This is college basketball's current reality
Perhaps this is a lesson to college basketball fans, even those of a program in Wisconsin that is still built on player development: top recruiting billing does not always equal instant success. Furthermore, the guarantee of four years of development is no more. Where in the past, a recruit could sit on the bench for a few years before stepping into a big role as a junior, today's landscape often sees those players search for playing opportunities elsewhere.
That dynamic has benefits and drawbacks. Either way, it's the reality of the sport's current age.
Freitag likely wasn't in line for a big role next season
Freitag played 29 minutes this season, mostly as an end-of-the-bench reserve in the final minutes of blowout wins. He didn't necessarily excel in those limited minutes. Neither did Hunter.
Both players would've competed for increased minutes next season. But a larger role was no guarantee with the Badgers poised to bring in several veteran contributors at the position.
Greg Gard deserves the benefit of the doubt with roster management
Gard and his staff deserve the benefit of the doubt if they elect to go the transfer route at guard instead of banking on big improvements from Freitag and Hunter. Many thought the roster was in shambles when Hepburn and A.J. Storr transferred out last offseason. Instead, Gard led the Badgers on one of their best seasons in a decade, in part due to terrific roster management, headlined by the addition of transfer wing John Tonje.
The Wisconsin coach is showing an ability to succeed in the sport's current age. The team's 2024-25 season should have answered any outstanding questions.
Wisconsin still has impressive young backcourt talent
Walk-on freshman Janicki's emergence was a big reason for Freitag and Hunter missing the regular rotation. Janicki will step into a larger role in 2025-26, complementing Blackwell and a likely veteran transfer addition or two.
Beyond that experienced duo, Wisconsin has a group of promising incoming backcourt recruits. In-state standout Zach Kinziger leads that list, joining as 247Sports' No. 88 player in the class of 2025, No. 13 shooting guard and No. 3 player from the state of Wisconsin. International recruit Hayden Jones is the other notable addition.
It's hard to expect either Kinziger or Jones to play a big role as true freshmen. However, it wouldn't be a surprise if both enter the regular rotation. Big-picture, Wisconsin has an impressive talent pipeline at the position.
This move signals Wisconsin's offseason plans
Freitag and Hunter transferring out opens the door for several transfer additions in the backcourt. It can be inferred from their moves, each likely due to a lack of future playing time, that those backcourt additions are close to a guarantee.
Wisconsin remains a developmental program, an approach that Blackwell and Nolan Winter should highlight in the coming years. But it is also adapting to the sport's transfer age. Gard seems inclined to rely on the portal each season to reload important positions on the roster.
For more, here is an early look at Wisconsin's projected 2025-26 rotation, including projected transfers.
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