WATCH: Former Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis thanks Greg Gard after NBA Draft
When Johnny Davis entered the Wisconsin basketball program, he was a four-star prospect and outside the top 100 for the recruiting class. He left as one of the top players in the 2022 NBA Draft and was eventually selected 10th overall by the Washington Wizards.
Head coach Greg Gard was a huge reason Davis was drafted where he was, something the now Wizard understands. Davis talked about how he got to play the style of basketball he wanted to with Wisconsin, even if it’s not everything Gard believes in from an offensive standpoint.
“The offense isn’t known for being run and gun, up and down offense,” Davis said. “Like you said, mainly for ball control and not letting teams get easy opportunities in transition. If he didn’t let me have the freedom and the ability to do what I do and how I play the game, I would have never been able to make the jump that I did. So I give a lot of credit to him.”
Davis expanded more on his game, which you can see below.
Davis and Gard spent two seasons together in Madison, battling through the brutal Big Ten schedule together. As things turned out, the hard work paid off as Davis makes his way into the NBA and becomes to latest Badger to do so.
Johnny Davis selected by Washington Wizards
Wisconsin Badgers guard Johnny Davis is off the board in the 2022 NBA Draft. With the No. 10 pick of the first round, Davis was selected by the Washington Wizards.
Spending two seasons with the Badgers, Davis was a consensus first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year during the 2021-2022 season. He led the Badgers to a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out in the Round of 32 against Iowa State.
Scoring is where Davis will be the most effective in the NBA, averaging 19.7 points per game his sophomore season. He was also solid on the glass, grabbing just over eight rebounds a night. Davis played through a tough Big Ten on a nightly basis, showcasing he is ready for the next level.