Best NCAA Transfer Portal Fits for Wisconsin G John Blackwell
#John Blackwell#NCAA transfer portal#Wisconsin Badgers#Illinois Illini#Houston Cougars#college basketball#guard#eligibility
📌 Key Takeaways
John Blackwell, Wisconsin's leading scorer (19.1 PPG), has entered the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility.
His primary motivation is to join a program capable of a deep NCAA Tournament run after three early exits with the Badgers.
Illinois is a top fit due to backcourt vacancies, a Final Four pedigree, and a family connection through his father.
Houston is another strong contender because of its need to replace its entire starting guard corps and Blackwell's fit in Kelvin Sampson's system.
📖 Full Retelling
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell, a standout scorer who averaged 19.1 points per game this past season, has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal on April 15, 2025, seeking a new program for his final year of eligibility to pursue a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament after three seasons in Madison that ended in early-round exits.
Blackwell's decision marks a significant loss for the Wisconsin program, where he developed into one of the nation's most potent offensive threats. Over his three-year collegiate career, the 6-foot-4 guard demonstrated elite shot-creating ability both off the dribble and as a catch-and-shoot weapon, connecting on 38.9% of his three-point attempts this season. Despite his individual scoring prowess, the Badgers failed to advance beyond the tournament's second round during his tenure, with their 2024-25 campaign ending in that same round, prompting Blackwell's search for a more championship-ready situation.
Analysts have identified several compelling destinations, with the in-conference Illinois Illini emerging as a particularly logical fit. Illinois is facing the departure of its top two guards, Keaton Wagler (likely NBA Draft) and Kylan Boswell (graduation), creating immediate backcourt vacancies. The Illini's proven winning culture—having reached the 2025 Final Four—and their elite offensive rebounding would perfectly complement Blackwell's high-volume shooting style, where his career field goal percentage (never above 45.1%) would be mitigated by second-chance opportunities. A personal connection exists as well, with Blackwell's father, Glynn, having played for Illinois from 1984 to 1988.
Another prime contender is the Houston Cougars, led by coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston's entire starting guard trio from this past season—Kingston Flemings (NBA Draft), Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan (both graduating)—is moving on, creating a massive need for backcourt production. Blackwell's offensive profile as a 'tough-shot maker' aligns perfectly with the type of guards who have thrived under Sampson, such as Sharp, Flemings, and former stars Jamal Shead and Marcus Sasser. While his defense may require some refinement, his effort level is seen as a trait Sampson values highly, making Houston an ideal system fit for his final collegiate chapter.
🏷️ Themes
College Basketball, Player Transfers, Team Strategy
Athletics teams of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Illinois Fighting Illini () are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The university offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports.
The university operates a number of athletic facilities, including Memorial Stadium for football, the State...
Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Houston
The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was suggested by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach,...
Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Wisconsin Badgers are the athletic teams representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sub-level), primarily competing in the Big Ten Conference since the 1896–97...
The NCAA transfer portal is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) application, database, and compliance tool that facilitates student athletes' transfers between member institutions. It is intended to bring greater transparency to the transfer process and to enable student athletes to pu...
John Blackwell could be one of the top scorers in the nation next season. After three years at Wisconsin, Blackwell entered the transfer portal. He averaged 19.1 points per game, while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range, this past season. He's elite at creating his shot off the dribble, or scoring off his teammates' penetration. Here are the three best transfer portal fits for Blackwell, who has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Illinois While it would be devastating for Badgers' fans to see their three-year star transfer in-conference, a move to the Illini would make sense for Blackwell. Illinois is losing its top two guards with Keaton Wagler likely going to the NBA Draft and Kylan Boswell graduating. Illinois' elite offensive rebounding ability would compliment Blackwell's game, as he's a high-volume perimeter shooter who hasn't shot above 45.1% in any season of his career, so his misses wouldn't be as detrimental in Illinois. More so, his father, Glynn, played for Illinois from 1984-88. The Badgers were unable to advance out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in any of Blackwell's three seasons – the further Wisconsin got was the second round, in 2024-2025 – so he's looking to change that this year, and the Illini proved they were winners, making the Final Four this year. Houston Kelvin Sampson's NCAA title drought extended to a 13th season as the Cougars fell in the Sweet 16. Houston was led by its guard trio of Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, this past season. Each will move on — Flemings via draft, Sharp and Uzan via graduation. Blackwell is a perfect fit, not only because of the departures of those three guards, but because his offensive arsenal is similar to guards who have flourished under Sampson. Blackwell is a tough-shot taker and maker, just like Sharp and Flemings this season, and Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer and Marcus Sasser before them. Blackwell could still use some fine-tuning on defense, but his effort level gives Sampson
