Were Wisconsin stars John Tonje and John Blackwell invited to 2025 NBA draft combine?

Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje was officially invited to the 2025 NBA draft combine on Friday.Notably, Tonje is the only Badger on the list.

Rising junior John Blackwell, who declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility, is not among the 75-player group.

The standout guard is also outside of The Athletic's latest two-round mock draft, a standing that could prompt his return to the Badgers in 2025-26.Tonje is slotted at No.

41 (No.

11 in the second round) in The Athletic's projection.

The 6-foot-5 wing is off to the NBA after an All-American season leading the Badgers.

He finished with per-game averages of 31.1 minutes, 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while shooting 46.5% from the field, 38.8% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line.

His 724 total points over 37 games ranks second on Wisconsin's all-time single-season scoring list, trialing only program legend Frank Kaminsky, who tallied 732 during the team's Final Four run in 2014-15.While the veteran wing is not a home-run NBA prospect, teams are likely to take a second-round flier on his top-end college production translating to the professional level.

His combine performance will be key in displaying the requisite athleticism to succeed in the NBA.NEWS: The NBA has announced these 75 players have been invited to the Draft Combine, which will be held May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.

pic.twitter.com/5xWb9oQ3FN John Fanta (@John_Fanta) May 2, 2025Blackwell not making the NBA combine list is important news for Badger fans.

While not official, signs point toward his return to the program next season.

If that comes to fruition, he'd lead a starting lineup that projects as one of the best in the Big Ten, along with transfer guard Nick Boyd, transfer wing Andrew Rohde, transfer forward Austin Rapp and junior forward Nolan Winter.If he returns to school, Blackwell will likely be a preseason All-Conference selection, plus a popular prospect for the 2026 draft cycle.Wisconsin fans should monitor this news closely over the next six weeks.

Blackwell has until June 15 to withdraw from the draft and return to the Badgers.Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinionThis article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers John Tonje, John Blackwell NBA draft combine list.

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