Less than a week away from tip-off, the Wisconsin Badgers have announced a surprising bit of roster news surrounding a new transfer.
Elijah Gray, a former two-star Fordham commitment, transferred into the program from the Temple Owls after just one season with the team. Team officials announced that Gray is officially no longer a member of the program and has been removed from the roster ahead of the season opener against Campbell. Gray was dismissed due to “conduct preceding his enrollment” and the program was unable to expand upon the incident.
The Badgers recently played an exhibition against the Oklahoma Sooners in Milwaukee and did so without playing Gray. Time moves on, and the Badgers already have confidence in two replacements who have grown throughout the off-season.
Where Should the Wisconsin Badgers’ Staff Go Next Following the Dismissal of Elijah Gray?
The dismissal of Gray will likely open up minutes for some of the younger forwards on the team such as Aleksas Bieliauskas and Will Garlock. The duo do not necessarily play the exact same type of basketball, but could serve different purposes on the court for the Badgers.
Bieliauskas is a native of Lithuania who has made a name for himself as an athletic multi-level scorer on the court. The 6-foot-10 forward has the range to score from outside when needed while also possessing great vision and instincts around the basket. Garlock is a bit bigger at 7-feet tall but equally as slick with an impressive knack for passing the ball.
Gray was an intriguing player for a number of reasons but perhaps what drew the Badgers’ staff in the most was his efficiency when running pick plays. Gray is a physical finisher inside and a physical presence on the court who is difficult to work around as a defender.
The combination of size and speed that Garlock possesses could allow the forward to blossom when being utilized as a pick player. The forward indicated early in the off-season that pick n’ roll and pick n’ pop plays were still a developing part of his repertoire. However, with more time to play now, Garlock could receive in-game chances to work on that aspect of play.
The dismissal of Gray is both sudden and comes at an awkward time with the start of the season just days away for Wisconsin. However, the Badgers’ staff appeared to be prepared to do so after experimenting with different players against the Oklahoma Sooners in a recent exhibition.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, the loss of Gray is unfortunate but the team may only lose experience in the end. Garlock and Bieliauskas are both capable of filling the void left by Gray. Bieliauskas in particular shares some similarities in his athletic play to Gray, which could turn the international product into the most viable option for increased minutes.
For Gray, the future is currently unknown as the exact incident and circumstances are not clear due to “privacy laws” preventing Wisconsin school officials from disclosing any further information. Gray now joins a growing list of former Temple players who have faced disciplinary actions since the hiring of Coach Adam Fisher.
Hysier Miller notably was accused of point-shaving as part of a larger gambling operation that included multiple smaller scale NCAA programs. Miller transferred to Virginia Tech after the 2024 season and was dismissed from the program due to “events prior to his enrollment” when the NCAA began to investigate the guard. Miller missed all of last season and still has not been publicly cleared by the NCAA as the scope of the operation continues to grow.
Fellow guard Lynn Greer III was suspended before playing a game due to undisclosed actions before his enrollment that occurred during his time with Saint Joseph’s. Greer played in five games before being suspended indefinitely alongside assistant coach Chris Clark for “reasons unrelated to the gambling investigation” that involved impermissible benefits.
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