Wisconsin made an abnormally late addition to its 2024-25 basketball roster when Italian massive man Ricardo Greppi signed earlier this month. He most likely will not have a lot of a right away impression for the Badgers, however he brings an extremely intriguing long-term skillset.
This timing of Greppi’s recruitment was very distinctive. A scholarship opened up for the Badgers that they weren’t anticipating to have. He was anticipating to affix Temple’s program, however he couldn’t move up a chance to affix a program like Wisconsin.
“As quickly as I heard the identify Wisconsin, it is a massive factor, massive college, massive group,” Greppi stated. “As quickly as I heard it, I considered its historical past, how well-known of a College it’s, so I made a decision to modify it up and turn into part of this college.”
Listed at 6-foot-10, Greppi has been enjoying professionally in Italy. He has been part of the Cantu (Italy Serie A2) developmental program for seven years and he lately performed for Verona (NextGen League) final season. He has performed nearly solely in Europe, however he’s excited for the transition into the American recreation.
“Your recreation is extra quick, ours is extra of a considering recreation… it is rather a lot completely different,” Greppi stated. “It would most likely take a while for me to regulate with that sort of recreation, so we’ll see how the primary months will go, however I’m down for it, I’m very excited.”
He’ll present the Badgers with a really distinctive skillset. His measurement implies that he might be a frontcourt participant, however Greppi doesn’t wish to pigeonhole himself into any conventional place as he begins his faculty profession.
“My imaginative and prescient might assist rather a lot together with your sort of recreation, I’m not like a ordinary massive yow will discover in your sort of recreation that simply posts up and will get dunks and blocks,” Greppi stated. “I’m extra of an unselfish participant, I prefer to move the ball, I adore it, creating for the others and likewise for myself once I can, once I wish to.”
Versatile frontcourt gamers like Frank Kaminsky, Tyler Wahl and Nate Reuvers have turn into a staple of the Wisconsin program. Greppi is just 18 years previous, so he’s nonetheless very early in his improvement with regards to contributing in a Massive Ten recreation, however his distinctive measurement and expertise might be fascinating to observe.
