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For the basketball Wisconsin Badgers, the one major issue this season has been trying to land themselves a point guard prospect for the class of 2016. Obviously, there was a retirement, un-retirement and then the official final retirement of Bo Ryan that limited the Badgers' chances in the fall, and while they aren't on plan A, D'Mitrik Trice isn't exactly plan Z.
Trice, the brother of former Michigan State guard Travis Trice, is a three-star point guard from IMG Academy who came via Dayton, Ohio. He announced on Saturday he will take an official visit to Madison from Thursday through Saturday.
This makes one of the two offers he received after his Wisconsin offer on Apruk 7 interesting, as Ohio State made its offer for Trice on April 12. With that said, the Buckeyes have a point guard with redshirt freshman JaQuan Lyle, and with their recent commitment from C.J. Jackson, they have two ball handlers with multiple seasons of eligibility. Add in mutual interest with New Mexico graduate transfer Cullen Neal, the Buckeyes might not be looking at Trice with the same interest as his two currently scheduled visits.
Excited for a long week next week official visits Thurs-Sat @ Wisconsin and Sunday-Tues @ Vandy
— D'Mitrik Trice (@DMitrikTrice22) April 16, 2016
We all know this would provide for Wisconsin. Bronson Koenig will be a senior for the Badgers, and while Jordan Hill was a valuable piece as a third guard, he doesn't have Trice's shooting ability nor his ability to distribute. If Trice commits, he's got a short path to play quickly, but don't discount Vanderbilt.
The Commodores will lose their point guard, Wade Baldwin IV, to the NBA after he declared to go pro, and while Riley LaChance does have the ability to distribute, he also had a classic sophomore jinx. Playing time can be had if Trice decides to go to the school that offered him on April 15.
We're at the point where any decision that comes for a commitment for 2016 will be decided upon quickly. The Badgers do lead on the 247Sports crystal balls, but Vanderbilt is definitely a dark horse that warrants attention.