MADISON, Wis. –
Ethan Happ, a two time first-team All-Big Ten honoree, has decided to withdraw from the 2018 NBA Draft and will return to school for his senior season with the Badgers in 2018-19.
"We're happy for Ethan that he was able to go through this experience and gather valuable feedback," said head coach
Greg Gard. "That was the intent of the rule and Ethan learned a lot from this. We are also ecstatic as a program that Ethan will be back for what should be a terrific senior year. His teammates are excited to have him back and get started with the offseason workouts."
A first-team All-Big Ten selection the past two seasons, Happ is just the eighth player in UW history to win multiple first-team All-Big Ten honors. Happ, who was a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the media last season, averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block per game.
Happ has started all 105 games of his collegiate career at Wisconsin after he became just the third freshman ever to start the season opener under retired head coach
Bo Ryan. The second player in school history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Happ ranks second in school history for rebounds (875), third for steals (179), sixth for blocks (110) and eighth for points (1,541).
One of the best all-around players in the country, Happ was the only player in the nation last season to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. He became just the fifth Big Ten player in the last 22 seasons (since 1996-97) to accumulate at least 500 points, 250 rebounds and 100 assists. Happ is the only individual to do so twice.
