Wisconsin Badgers Familiar With Former In-State Guard Entering Transfer Portal

St. Thomas redshirt freshman Nick Janowski, a top recruit from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is looking to transfer after a standout freshman season.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:52pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold blues, greens, and oranges depicts the dynamic movements of a basketball player, conveying the energy and transition of the Wisconsin Badgers' backcourt.A fractured, cubist illustration captures the dynamic movements of a basketball player, reflecting the Badgers' search for new backcourt talent in the transfer portal.Madison Today

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team will be looking to replace their three starting guards for the 2026-27 season, and they may have a familiar face in the transfer portal to consider. St. Thomas (MN) redshirt freshman Nick Janowski, a top-125 recruit from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has entered the transfer portal after a standout freshman season where he was named first-team All-Summit League and the conference's freshman of the year.

Why it matters

The Badgers had previously recruited Janowski out of high school, offering him a scholarship, before he ultimately chose to play at Nebraska. With several key guards graduating or entering the NBA Draft, the Badgers will be scouring the transfer portal for experienced backcourt talent, and Janowski's familiarity with the program could make him an appealing option.

The details

Janowski averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his first college season at St. Thomas. He was a four-star recruit out of Pewaukee High School, where he set school records with 2,297 points, 606 rebounds, and 357 assists, leading his team to three state titles. The Badgers had offered Janowski a scholarship in 2022, but their interest waned after they landed point guard Daniel Freitag, who struggled and later transferred to Buffalo.

  • Janowski entered the transfer portal on April 7, 2026.
  • He was named first-team All-Summit League and the conference's freshman of the year for the 2025-26 season.

The players

Nick Janowski

A redshirt freshman guard who played at St. Thomas (MN) and was named first-team All-Summit League and the conference's freshman of the year after averaging 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Daniel Freitag

A point guard who committed to Wisconsin but struggled and later transferred to Buffalo.

Hayden Jones

A sophomore-to-be guard who logged meaningful minutes for Wisconsin last season.

Zach Kinziger

A sophomore-to-be guard who logged meaningful minutes for Wisconsin last season.

Owen Foxwell

A 22-year-old Australian point guard who will join the Wisconsin roster.

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What they’re saying

“St. Thomas-Minnesota redshirt freshman Nick Janowski has entered the transfer portal, source told ESPN. Big name from the mid-major ranks. Averaged 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, named first-team All-Summit.”

— Jeff Borzello, ESPN Reporter

What’s next

The Badgers will evaluate Janowski and other experienced guards in the transfer portal as they look to rebuild their backcourt for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

With several key guards departing, the Badgers will be active in the transfer portal, and a familiar face like Nick Janowski could be an appealing option given his previous recruitment and standout freshman season at the mid-major level.