Wisconsin basketball recruiting: 2021 signing day capsule for Chucky Hepburn

Now that the 2021 men’s basketball class can officially sign on the dotted line, B5Q gives you a snapshot of each player joining the fold for the Wisconsin Badgers next season...

2021 guard Chucky Hepburn

Position: Point guard

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Bellevue, Neb.

High school: Bellevue West

Rankings

• 247 Composite: three-star, 92.58 rating (No. 134 nationally / No. 24 point guard), No. 2 in state
• 247 Sports: three-star, 88 rating (No. 29 point guard), No. 2 in state
• Rivals: three-star, (No. 129 nationally / No. 25 point guard)
• ESPN: four-star, 82 rating (No. 21 point guard), No. 16 in region, No. 2 in state

Links to other B5Q posts on player

• Commitment to UW
• Film analysis following his commitment
• Phil Mitten’s recruiting profile

Committed to Wisconsin on November 16th, 2018

Player breakdown

Another player that was heavily pursued by assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft, Chucky Hepburn is a strong bodied point guard that should fit nicely with what the Badgers do on each end of the court. The 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Nebraska, Hepburn is not super long, but he has a very sturdy lower body that makes him reliable with the ball in his hands.

On film, Hepburn demonstrates solid leadership and poise at the point, but he is far more than a distributor. As a junior he averaged over 17 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals per game while leading his high school team to a Class A Nebraska State Championship.

Hepburn is a good three-point shooter off the pass or dribble, but he is at his best taking the ball to the rim where he can really utilize his strength and toughness. Like all incoming freshmen, Hepburn will need to prove what he can do on the defensive end first for Greg Gard to earn minutes, but with the status of Lorne Bowman still up in the air, Hepburn could very well have the chance for meaningful playing time immediately at Wisconsin.

UW Bio (courtesy UW Athletic Department)

Chucky Hepburn

6-1, 185, Guard

Bellevue, Neb. (West)

An ESPN four-star recruit, Chucky Hepburn comes to Wisconsin as the 20th-ranked point guard in the nation. A native of Bellevue, Nebraska, Hepburn was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020 after leading Bellevue West to a record of 21-3 and the Class A state championship. Hepburn was a three-time All-Metro First-Team honoree (2018, ‘19, ‘20) and earned First-Team All-Class All-State honors in 2019 and 2020. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game as a junior. During his sophomore season, Hepburn took home 2019 First Team Super-State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star averaging 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game. A member of the Team Factory AAU program, Hepburn garnered third-team All-Metro honors from the Omaha World-Herald in 2018 after leading Bellevue West to the state championship game as a freshman. Off the court, Hepburn earned the HomeSchool Papillion TeenService Award and was a Special Olympics Volunteer Award winner.

Gard on Hepburn:

“Chucky is a proven winner. Our staff watched as he led his Bellevue West team to a state championship last winter. A true point guard, Chucky brings everything we look for at that position. He leads by example, always giving maximum effort on both ends of the floor. He has tremendous vision and feel for the game, combined with the ability to score from all three levels. As much as he is able to carry his team on offense, what makes Chucky a great fit here at Wisconsin is that his defense and toughness is where he hangs his hat. A leader and role model in the community and a motivated student, Chucky is the kind of person we are excited to add to our Badger Family. We’re excited to get to work with him and to help him reach his potential as a Badger in the years to come.”