In a pleasantly suprising development, BadgerNation.com is reporting that one of the top prep shooters in the state of Minnesota has agreed to walk on to the Wisconsin men's basketball program.
Continuing the pipeline from our western neighbors, Jordan Smith, a 6'2", 180-lb. shooting guard out of Orono High School, will join Bo Ryan's squad this fall as part of the 2011 class. Orono, in Long Lake, Minn., is better known as Jon Leuer's alma mater. Smith's travel team 43 Hoops also produced Mike Bruesewitz. No doubt the success of those two players in Madison played a role in Smith pursuing his opportunity with Wisconsin over possibilities elsewhere.
This season Smith led Orono to its first-ever state (AAA) championship, averaging nearly 22 points per game and shooting over 40% on 3-pointers as a senior. He also wound up as the school's all-time leading scorer and scored 49 points in a game his junior year.
The Badgers have been tracking Smith for several years now and know they are getting a great value for a non-scholarship player. Wisconsin fans can expect to see a very smart, team-oriented kid who can stretch the defense. Comparisons to Brett Valentyn are inevitable, though Smith is much more highly-regarded player out of high school than Valentyn ever was.
In addition to UW, Smith visited Butler and was very attracted to the Ivy League based on his interest in earning a business degree.
Here's a interview with Smith shortly after winning the state title this spring: