Report: Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje could crack NBA draft first round

Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje's stock is on the rise as the NBA draft nears.Tonje was seen as a late second-round pick through much of the 2024-25 college season.

After his late-season push leading the Badgers and a strong NBA combine showing, he's moving closer and closer to a projected top 30 pick.Specifically, his NBA combine showing included a red-shot shooting performance during individual drills, followed by 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, plus seven rebounds and two assists, during the latest 5-on-5 scrimmage.

That scoring total in a scrimmage full of NBA hopefuls is backing up his 19.6 points-per-game average with the Badgers last season, especially his shooting clips of 46.5% from the floor, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line.

It's further proving that his production can translate to the NBA level.The former Wisconsin star was a mid-second-round pick in ESPN's post-lottery mock draft.

Other post-lottery slots include No.

41 (The Athletic), No.

40 (Yahoo Sports), No.

47 (Bleacher Report) and No.

48 (Sporting News).

Those mock drafts have yet to factor in the combine's full results, however.Longtime basketball writer Gery Woelfel gave a hint at where Tonje is trending, sharing the following quote from an Eastern Conference scout:Just a few months ago, John Tonje was projected as a late, second-round pick in next months NBA draftNow, the ex-Wisconsin star guard could be a late, first-round selection.He had a really good season there (at Wisconsin), said an Eastern Conference scout at the NBA Combine...

Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) May 16, 2025Of course, No.

25 to No.

30 would be a late-first-round pick.

That would mark a remarkable rise for a player who was far from draft boards at this time last year.Tonje's stock is worth watching as the combine concludes and the June 25 draft nears.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 basketball John Tonje NBA draft stock update first round.

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