Wisconsin guard John Blackwell had a breakout season for the Badgers, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals over 34 games. The 6-foot-4 junior made 2.8 three-pointers per game on 38.9% shooting from beyond the arc.
Blackwell’s excellent season earned him third-team All-Big Ten honors. However, his efforts could not lead the Badgers on an NCAA Tournament run, as Wisconsin lost to 12th-seeded High Point in the first round.
All-Big Ten Selection John Blackwell Expresses Plans To Enter Transfer Portal While Testing NBA Draft Waters
Blackwell, who played 105 games over three seasons with Wisconsin, dashed the hopes of Badgers fans expecting him to return for his senior year. On Monday, he announced his plans to enter the transfer portal while also declaring for 2026 NBA Draft to test the waters.
Based on his announcement, it sounds like he’s leaning on returning to college next season rather than staying in the NBA Draft pool.
“It’s a tough decision,” Blackwell said. “I’m looking for a place where I can enhance my skills for the NBA and a place where I can compete for a national championship. A place where that’s the standard and what we’re striving for.”
ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello called the Michigan native the “best guard in the portal” based on his stats and standout postseason performance during the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
BREAKING: Wisconsin guard John Blackwell plans to enter the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process, he told ESPN. Blackwell, who averaged 19.1 points and earned All-Big Ten honors this past season, becomes the best guard in the portal. pic.twitter.com/zVaqncygPi
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 6, 2026
Blackwell scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the third round of the Big Ten tournament against Washington on March 12. He then followed that up with with a 31-point performance to support Nick Boyd’s 38 points in a 91-88 overtime victory over Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal on March 13.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the guard recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the 83-82 loss to the Panthers.
Blackwell also indicated that he prefers a program where he can further showcase his on-ball responsibilities while helping the team succeed next season. He hopes to visit and make a decision on which school he will commit to within the next three to four weeks.
The Wisconsin guard previously declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after the 2024-25 college basketball season and received valuable feedback to improve his game before returning to the Badgers for his junior year. Despite that feedback and playing a full season at Madison, ESPN still ranks Blackwell as the No. 65-ranked player in the 2026 NBA Draft class.
In an Instagram post, he expressed his gratitude to the university and the fans for supporting him over the past three seasons and expressing his hope that they will understand his decision.
The NCAA Transfer Portal will officially open on April 7 and close on April 21. The new 15-day window was established following a recommendation by the men’s basketball oversight committee.
