MADISON, Wis. — Tears streamed down Chucky Hepburn's face in an emotional moment after the University of Wisconsin ended its season with a 72-61 loss to James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. However, amidst his suffering, Hepburn tried to find a ray of hope to overcome his pain.
“Tonight wasn't our night,” he told reporters in the locker room. “But we'll get back to this story. This won't be our last.”
Hepburn then reaffirmed that she would return for her senior season. Yes, there were conversations during the previous offseason about schools trying to poach Hepburn with attractive NIL offers. But he had already returned to Wisconsin for his junior season and was in position to be a senior leader and four-year starting point guard, endearing himself to the fan base for his on-court ferocity and loyalty to the program. It was a person.
That's why news of his decision to enter the transfer portal on Thursday felt like such a fist pump for the Badgers. he Anyone can leave if they can.
It's no exaggeration to say that Hepburn's transfer is the most jarring move by a Wisconsin men's basketball or football player in the transfer portal era. The team's leading scorer, AJ Stoller, has declared for the NBA Draft, but he also entered the portal and is set to play at Kansas next season. He had been in Madison for less than a year and didn't have that deep of a connection to the program.
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Even the transfers of third-year starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook and Graham Mertz didn't come as much of a surprise. Not only did their play not live up to fans' expectations, but neither was guaranteed to keep their starting jobs. Hepburn, who won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award at Nebraska, committed to Wisconsin since the beginning of his senior year in 2019. Just a month ago, after a loss to Illinois, he was explaining the significance of his badger tattoo. I inked his left arm. He talked about how proud he was to wear a Wisconsin jersey. Because it goes beyond sports and embraces brotherhood and family.
Thursday's announcement was even more shocking to Badgers fans because Hepburn did not enter the portal immediately after the season ended. 9 days ago Wisconsin Basketball X Account Post a photo of your team's returning players, including Hepburn, are seen working out in the weight room with the caption, “Back.” Things obviously moved quickly from there.
In a statement released after news of Hepburn's transfer, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard acknowledged two points worth repeating.
- Players are making trading decisions at all levels across the country.
- This is the reality of college basketball today.
That is the core of our current situation. Because it would be foolish not to realize how much NIL changed things. Gone are the days when fans could expect their favorite player to develop with his one program over his four years. Not all players who move do so with more money in mind. Athletic — However, players in the upper tier can break away and get the highest amount of money.
To be clear, whatever the reason for entering the portal, Mr. Hepburn is not to be blamed for taking advantage of a system where unlimited transfers and legalized payments are made through NIL. For too long, players were bound by outdated NCAA rules and schools profited from their performance. Hepburn's value as a college basketball player will never be high, and considering he's not a guaranteed NBA player, there's no telling what kind of financial situation his professional future will be in.
Hepburn's father, Greg, did not respond to a text message seeking comment, but said in a reply to an X account user: “The numbers are staggering.” He continued, “I hate it when a young athlete is put in a position to make these choices. I love the opportunity he's been given to establish his future, but, well, this wades through unwanted murky waters. You will have to navigate.”
The numbers are amazing! Shh…
Let me tell you one thing: I hate it when young athletes are put in the position of making these choices. I would love the opportunity offered to establish his future, but well, this opens up some unwanted murky waters to navigate…
— Coach_Hep (@coach_GQ) April 18, 2024
As head coach, Gard must take responsibility for Wisconsin's disappointing midway through the season, dropping from sixth place in the AP Top 25 to being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But all the guard can do is provide opportunities for his players, and two of his best players, Stowe and Hepburn, took advantage of those opportunities. Storr transferred from St. John's to Wisconsin last offseason and nearly doubled his scoring output. Hepburn started all 103 games he played since his freshman season. Both eventually sought opportunities elsewhere.
That's probably of Key questions for the future: How well positioned is Wisconsin to compete in this changing landscape?
Guard said in a radio interview earlier this month that he and assistant coach Joe Kravenhoft started an initiative called the “Sixth Man Society” as part of the Varsity Collective to raise money more than a year ago, adding that the Badgers said, “I was able to do the following.'' As for men's basketball, in one year his NIL collective has almost tripled. ” Of course, it's difficult to know what this means in terms of exact numbers and where it stands compared to other programs. What is clear is that there is a cap on that number and other schools have more resources.
Wisconsin isn't the only state going through this. Iowa State basketball coach Fran McCaffery recently said point guard Tony Perkins is leaving the program because his NIL market value was “around $500,000.” Perkins, like Hepburn, was a multi-year starter and committed to Missouri.
At the monthly Presidential Athletics Committee meeting, Iowa State MBB coach Fran McCaffery said departing PG Tony Perkins has a market value of $500,000, which Iowa State won't be able to meet.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) April 11, 2024
Over the past two years, Hepburn has had NIL partnerships with Degree Deodorant, Fetch Rewards, The Player's Trunk, Barstool Sports and Pepsi, among others, but it's unclear how much money she made from these relationships. His autographed basketball was on sale at the university bookstore for $99.99. Hepburn said in an Instagram statement that his decision “doesn't reflect anything missing at the University of Wisconsin,” but it was difficult for people to feel that way in the aftermath of his transfer. .
Rob Masters, executive chairman of the Varsity Collective, declined to discuss specifics in an interview Friday afternoon. The Athletic When asked to offer the highest amount the organization could or would be willing to offer for a star basketball player in Wisconsin, citing each player's financial situation, he replied: But he said more work was needed to ensure the health of the group's future efforts.
“I think continued and increased support for the NIL program will be critical to ensuring we remain competitive in our pursuit of championship athletes and teams,” Master said. “The reality is that the college sports landscape, the NIL market, is evolving very rapidly. And we have a good foundation, but I don't think it's static. I think our community needs to continue to focus on and embrace NIL and Varsity Collective as it becomes a college sport.”
Master said the Guard has been “very enthusiastic” about discussing and promoting NIL resources for the men's basketball program, noting that the Guard opened up to the collective when it was in the process of forming two years ago. Masters did not provide details on what percentage of the organization's resources are earmarked specifically for men's basketball, but said the goal is to make Wisconsin more competitive in all team sports.
“We are not a one-trick sports school,” Masters said. “That's not how we do it here. I think it's much better that way than leaning into just one sport, like these schools do. That's the inherent advantage that some of them have. I understand that it could be.
“I think it's a situation where there are so many teams that are competitive. But we have to look at it and say, 'OK, there are some universities that are going to take a different position and take a different strategy.'”
Masters said Thursday was a tough day for Wisconsin and its fans, but he remains confident in the Varsity Collective's progress and approach, citing multiple revenue streams he believes will allow the Badgers to remain competitive with the NIL. He said he has. He touted Varsity Golden Ale's new collaboration with Potosi Brewing Company, saying 20 percent of its sales will be donated to the Varsity Collective, which supports NIL efforts. Custom Beer Partnership was scheduled to launch Friday afternoon at Memorial Union.
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He said the collective has grown from a small group of donors to a broader group of donors and has been programming to create an entry point for average fans to donate. This includes the different membership levels of the Camp Randall Club.
None of this changes the fact that, as Hepburn said on Instagram, she died “on a journey to explore new possibilities and pursue dreams.” His departure could be seen as a call to action for some, but for many supporters it is difficult to understand why players can and do want to leave for the opportunity they deem best. There are also things to do. their rights.
This is the reality of college basketball today.
(Chuckie Hepburn and AJ Storr Photo: Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
