The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team will have a representative at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.
Former Badgers star guard John Tonje was among 75 invitees who will participate in the marquee pre-draft event, the NBA announced in a release on Friday. It’s a monumental step in Tonje’s professional future, spending five years in college basketball before a final season at Wisconsin that changed its, and his, course entirely.
The NBA Draft combine is set to take place rom May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago. A select number of standout players from the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place May 9-11 at Wintrust Arena, will also be invited to participate in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine — leaving the door open for another Badgers guard, John Blackwell, to possibly earn an invite.
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Tonje was nothing short of a revelation in his lone season in Madison. He scored 20.0 points per game (the most at any point in his career, spanning four seasons at Colorado State and one at Missouri), climbing to second on the Badgers’ single season-scoring list with 724 total points.
The last shot of his Badgers career was a miss right before the buzzer in their NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to BYU, but his 37 points willed Wisconsin into that position in the first place. It was the cap of one of the best single seasons in Badgers history, etching his name in Wisconsin’s record books by entering the program with experience yet fully committing to improving in his time with the Badgers.
The result was 15 20-point games, six 30-point outings and a 41-point performance against Arizona. After entering Wisconsin not on NBA radars, he made the Badgers one of the surprises of the Big Ten and emerged as one of the country’s best players, earning an Associated Press Second Team All-American nod.
He is one of six departing seniors on last season’s Wisconsin roster, a few of which may also pursue professional basketball careers.
Photos: Badgers men’s basketball in review
Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Michigan center Vlad Goldin (50) dunks on Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) is swarmed by UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defenders on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots a three-pointer over UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros guard Hasan Abdul Hakim (14) on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dunks the ball on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) goes for a layup under the basket on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard claps during player introductions on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) and Washington Huskies guard Tyler Harris (8) battle for the ball on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) and Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrate after a three-pointer on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) hugs Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during Senior Day ceremonies on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) checks in for the last regular season home game of his career as a Badger on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Sweat drips from the face of Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) buries his face in a towel after checking out during the final seconds of the Badger’s loss to Penn State on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin defenders attempt to block Holy Cross Crusaders forward Gabe Warren (21) on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard yells at the official on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) comforts Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) after Klesmit missed a late three-pointer to tie the game on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) run in to each other during a possession on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Former Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan watches as his banner is raised on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrates after a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) and Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) battle for the ball on the floor on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) jumps to dunk on Nebraska guard Connor Essegian (0) on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard laughs with an official on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) falls as Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) goes for a block on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) tries to put home a layup against Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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