The Wisconsin Badgers made multiple pickups in the transfer portal this off-season, but none have been as valuable as one guard.
John Tonje, a former zero-star recruit from Omaha, Nebraska, transferred into the Wisconsin Badgers program after playing eight games for Missouri. The Tigers had a loaded roster and once Tonje went down with an injury, returning to the lineup next season seemed unlikely for the guard. Nearly a year removed from college basketball, many analysts felt there would be serious rust for Tonje and questioned whether or not the guard would succeed right away.
However, Tonje has proved everyone wrong even including those who put together the transfer portal rankings. Admittedly, it was hard to predict such a jump in development for Tonje, but the guard has proved over and over again this season that the time off was not spent on the couch. Rather, Tonje has worked diligently over the past year to develop all aspects of his play on the court, and the Badgers have been the beneficiary.
On the court Tonje has gone from a three-level scorer on offense to a dynamic playmaker who is also capable of scoring at any level. The guard previously was focused on helping a team with his exceptional scoring, but has since found a balance between scoring and moving the basketball. Tonje has the ability to score from nearly anywhere but also has the vision to create plays for the rest of the team when needed.
The work has gone far beyond the court as well, as the demeanor and good nature of Tonje has been crucial towards the development of his bond with the team. Many of the Wisconsin players feel as though Tonje is a “brother” and would consider him to be a vocal leader for the team.
It has been a long road for Tonje as the former unranked recruit spent time with the Colorado State Rams after graduating high school in 2019. Tonje originally played as a point guard up until his time with the Badgers, where the scoring instinct seemingly has developed.
What has John Tonje Brought to the Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Team?
With a perfect 7-0 record and an early showing in the rankings, the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team is truly starting to click.
Basketball is a team sport and while one player can bring a team rather far, it takes an entire team being on the same page to become elite. Tonje and coach Greg Gard are two people who truly understand this and have worked incredibly hard to develop chemistry amongst the team. When Gard spoke about Tonje after the Greenbrier Tip-Off championship game, the coach stated “It feels like he [John Tonje] has been here for years.”
While it may often go unnoticed, the attitude of Tonje and his willingness to get along with everyone has gone a very long way with the team. Where this can be seen is on the court as the team relies on each other to play a part in every win this season.
Often times it is hard to find a player who can be both a vocal and visual leader, but Tonje has proven to be just that player. The guard has been a coach on the court of sorts for the Wisconsin Badgers this season which has led to much of his success offensively. Tonje is processing the game as such a high level and being able to understand where to go and what to do next faster is key to succeeding at any level.
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