Badgers Land Racine 4-Star PG Commitment for 2027 Class

MADISON, Wis. (Day.News) — University of Wisconsin men's basketball coach Greg Gard added a cornerstone to his 2027 recruiting class on Thursday, securing a commitment from four-star point guard LaTrevion Fenderson out of Racine. The Racine native, who attends St. John's Northwestern Military Academy, chose the Badgers over interest from several Midwest programs, initially reported by madison.com. Fenderson, standing at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, brings elite guard skills to a roster needing backcourt depth after recent portal activity. Fenderson's pledge comes as Wisconsin intensifies its pursuit of top Wisconsin talent. Ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state for the 2026-27 cycle by 247Sports — behind only Yusef Gray Jr. — he joins an emerging class that includes recent offers to in-state standouts. The Badgers extended a scholarship to Zavier Zens, the 2026 Mr. Basketball from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, just days after Zens reopened his recruitment following his release from a National Letter of Intent with Northern Iowa. Zens announced an official visit to Madison for April 13. This influx reflects Gard's strategy to lock down Wisconsin's deep 2026-27 talent pool amid coaching changes at rival programs. Northern Iowa's Ben Jacobson departed for Utah State, reopening doors for Zens, while Illinois and Utah State have also offered the 6-foot-5 wing. Fenderson's commitment, initially pegged for the 2026 class per ESPN rankings, aligns with Wisconsin's efforts to build around committed forward LaTrevion Fenderson — wait, no separate listing confirms his 2027 focus — strengthening the team's Midwest recruiting footprint. Current walk-on Samad Qawi exemplifies the program's developmental success.