Former Wisconsin star guard John Blackwell made headlines on Tuesday night, as he announced his transfer commitment to the Duke Blue Devils.
While Wisconsin fans were not surprised by the news, it was still a shock to see the Badgers’ star guard transfer to a rival program like Duke. One factor that accentuated that reaction: Blackwell cited operating with the ball more as a natural point guard as a reason for his decision.
“They showed me how my role would fit in the NBA. For me, I want to be more on the ball,” Blackwell explained. “I’m 6-4, so I’m naturally a point guard. And that’s just the things I didn’t do at Wisconsin. No knock to them, it’s just how I want to elevate my game to go to the next level.”
Blackwell recently shared the Wisconsin backcourt with John Tonje (2024-25) and Nick Boyd (2025-26), players who averaged 12 and 15 shot attempts per game, respectively. Blackwell himself averaged 12.2 and 13.6 shot attempts per game over the last two seasons, operating in tandem with those respective stars. Still, he believed that Duke’s offense and overall program were best-equipped to prepare him for the jump to the NBA.
Blackwell’s performance at Duke next season will be worth watching, especially in relation to those of Wisconsin’s recent transfer commitments.
Next to Nolan Winter, who recently announced he’d be returning for 2026-27, the Badgers are again set to enter the campaign with a transfer-heavy lineup. Replacing Blackwell’s production (19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game) will be easier said than done.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell explains commitment decision
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
