BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — Dean Oliver kept an open mind throughout his evaluations of Canadian prospects during his recruiting trip to Toronto, Ontario. There were a few specific individuals that the Wisconsin assistant wanted to check out. But he was casting a wide net in search of a fit.

At one stop, he got to talking with a local coach, Ro Russell from Crestwood Preparatory College. Well-known for his talent development, he was the founder of Grassroots Elite Canada, a long-running AAU program that has groomed NBA players like Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, among others.

"If you go to Toronto, you're going to stop there and see who they've got,'' Oliver said of Crestwood Prep. "Traditionally, they've always been one of the best teams in Canada. That league is a super athletic league. When I was up there what amazed me was how skilled those guys are.''

One player that Russell casually brought up in their conversation caught Oliver's eye.

"At the time, we weren't looking for his position,'' Oliver said. "But he was really impressive as far as his athleticism and just how he played – his tenacity. I got a chance to talk with him a little bit while I was there, and I was impressed with how he handled himself. His character showed right away. ''

Good kid, Oliver thought to himself. And he filed away the name: Jahcobi Neath.

"He was always kind of in the back of my mind,'' he would say later on.

Recalling that contact with Oliver during the formative years of his prep career, Neath said, "I don't think they had any scholarships open at the time and they weren't really recruiting me. But he let me know, 'You do your thing. I like your game. You can be somebody.'''

Years later, Oliver reached out to Neath when his name surfaced in the NCAA transfer portal.

Neath said their conversation began along these lines, "I don't know if you remember me?''

Neath remembered. And Oliver had not forgotten what he had seen of him in Toronto. After two seasons at Wake Forest – punctuated by the firing of the head coach (Danny Manning) who recruited him – Neath was looking for a fresh start and Wisconsin offered him that. Plus, much more.

"It's their history of winning, I just wanted to be a part of a winning program,'' said the 21-year-old Neath, a 6-4, 196-pound guard. "I just wanted to get better. I feel a lot of things in my game can improve. I know that I believe in myself as a player, and I expect big things out of myself.

"The (UW) coaching staff believed in me and felt I was capable of playing at this level and excelling. Obviously, I have things that I've got to work on. Everyone has things that they've got to work on. But they felt with their player development system they can help me get to where I want to be.''

With 50 games of collegiate playing experience, including nine starts and a backdrop of having competed against some of the best players and teams in the Atlanta Coast Conference, Neath closed the deal with a pledge, "If you all believe in me, I believe in myself as well, and we can make it work.''

From the perspective of "fit'' and "need'' – how he fits with the Badgers and the need that he fills in rebuilding the roster – Oliver said, "We needed some experience, and we were looking for some athleticism. He's definitely adding that to our team. along with being able to guard multiple positions.

"The more we talked with him, the more we found out that he's a team player and willing to be one of those utility guys who will do anything, whether it's at point guard or off-guard. It really doesn't matter to him. That's what we had a need for, and he has done a terrific job so far.''

In light of heavy graduation losses, there will be more questions than answers, at least from the onset, when the Badgers open the season Tuesday night against St. Francis Brooklyn at the Kohl Center. No less than 17 players auditioned for minutes in the Oct. 29 exhibition win over UW-Whitewater.

"It's so early to tell, and there's still a lot of positions or spots to be earned, but the sky is the limit with this group,'' Oliver said. "We're just looking to see who rises and how they grow as a group, as a team. At each position, we've got two to three guys battling neck-and-neck every day in practice.''

As one of three transfers, Neath has warmed to the competition and welcomed the bonding.

"I feel like the team took me in with open arms and everyone is real genuine, real caring and understanding,'' he said. "I like the way our team has been jelling. The culture is a big thing here and I feel like I've been fitting in. I've been building a relationship with all the coaches and all the players.

"I definitely feel comfortable here. Being an older guy, I have to be more vocal.''

In a sense, Neath is making a statement with his jersey. He wears "0'' (D'Mitrik Trice's number last season). It was what he wore as a sophomore at Wake Forest, and he explained, "I'm kind of a low-key guy. Not a lot rattles me or phases me. I just like to do my thing and stay laidback.

"Zero is the perfect number for that. Zero worries. Zero doubts.''

...

Neath has an interesting background. He was born in Toronto where he started playing soccer when he was 4. But he switched his allegiance to American football after his family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida when he was 7. He was a starting defensive back in youth leagues and on travel teams.

"I was really good, and it was probably my second favorite sport to play,'' said Neath, who was also a wide receiver. "I was in love with football. But when I got to high school in Florida, I felt like I had to make a choice. Which one do I really want to lock in on?

Thus, he reached an early crossroads from a competitive standpoint. Football? Or basketball?

"I told my parents the basketball isn't great here,'' he said. "I saw what was going on in Canada with guys getting recruited out of Toronto. And I felt like I would much rather go back home, make a name for myself, and get a scholarship. So, we moved back to Canada when I was 14.''

His parents accompanied him to Toronto that first year. His mom, a nurse, returned to Florida the second year. He lived with his dad until he went back the third year. That left him with his grandparents and his basketball, which was all consuming, especially under the guidance of Russell.

"Crestwood Prep brings a smile to my face,'' said Neath, breaking in an ear-to-ear grin. "My first year there was actually the first year that we had a prep team for basketball. We weren't very good. But we trusted in coach Russell to put the pieces together. He had been in this game for a long time.

"I felt I learned a lot and it prepared me for the next level academically as well as athletically.''

Neath helped lead Crestwood Prep to the 2019 national championship. As a senior, he averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He was the MVP of the Canadian National Preparatory Association. He played on Canada's U18 and U19 teams in addition to winning the 2019 Biosteel dunk contest.

On his first dunk, he drove the baseline and leaped over 6-10 Tyrese Samuel, now a junior at Seton Hall. He followed that up by jumping over Tyler Ennis before flushing. Ennis, a Toronto native, starred at Syracuse, and was a first round NBA draft choice. He played for the Bucks in 2015-16.
 

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"I didn't even complete the dunk that I wanted to (over Ennis) but it was still flashy, and everyone liked it,'' Neath said. "I wanted to jump over him and put my elbow on the rim. I don't know what my vertical is. When I was 17, we tested at Team Canada, and it was 36 or 37 (inches).''

The college recruiters took note. Particularly Manning.

"When he first started recruiting me, I remember coach saying, 'Danny Manning is going to call you?' I'm like, 'Who?' I did my Google research, and it was like, 'Wow, that Danny Manning,''' he said of the former Kansas star and author of "Danny and the Miracles" in the 1988 NCAA tournament.

"He was a real humble guy and he taught me a lot of things off the court.''

As a Wake Forest freshman, he appeared in 30 games, with five starts, for Manning. He was second on the team with 67 assists. He averaged only five points. But he had 16 in a double-overtime upset of No. 7 ranked Duke. He finished strong scoring in double-digits in four of the final six games.

Manning was fired at the end of the season and Neath entered the transfer portal.

"But personally, I like to finish what I started, and I wanted to continue my legacy at Wake Forest,'' he said after pulling his name and returning to play as a sophomore under new coach Steve Forbes. "I felt like I had a solid freshman year and I definitely ended it on a high note.

"I knew I could learn new things and possibly win more (under Forbes).

"But the second year didn't go as expected.''

COVID disrupted the entire season. Neath's playing time diminished. It was no longer a fit.

"I don't like to make excuses, but COVID had a different effect on everyone, and I could say that it definitely played a part in my play last year,'' said Neath who re-entered the transfer portal. Oliver saw his name, made the Toronto connection and "I got in touch with him.'' Everything else fell in place.

...

Neath was beaming after a recent Badger practice while talking about the Canadian brotherhood. The following night, the New York Knicks were playing the Bucks in Milwaukee and he was thinking about dialing up RJ Barrett for some tickets. Barrett, the former Duke star, was born in Toronto.

"There are a lot of guys in the NCAA and the NBA that I'm cool with,'' said Neath, rattling off the names of Barrett, Ennis, Joseph, Andrew Wiggins, Dwight Powell, and many other products of Canada's basketball system and national teams. "We all train together in the summer and I get to pick their brain.

"It's something I definitely value and appreciate because those guys don't act like superstars.

"They're just humble Canadians who are getting their work in.''

For the record, there were 158 Canadians on D-1 college rosters during the 2020-2021 season.

Neath was obviously proud to be one of them. Still is. In whatever backcourt role at Wisconsin.

"I'm a guard, period – I just play guard – that's how I looked at it,'' he said, smiling. "I can play the one (point guard). I can bring it up. I can play the two or three. I can post-up smaller guards. I feel within this offense all the guards are interchangeable. I feel comfortable in all the guard positions.''

As far as what head coach Greg Gard has asked of him, Neath said, "He just says play your game. We try to play inside-out and I feel that's something I can do really well. What coach has said to me is to be a lockdown defender. Be a pest. Get into guys. Lock in on defense and play the best defense you can.

"Offensively, I feel like he trusts me to pick my spots. Be a floor general as well as a playmaker.''

Neath figures to grow into a role. As will freshmen guards Lorne Bowman and Chucky Hepburn.

"Lorne is a workhorse, a gym rat, whatever term you want to use,'' Neath said. "He's always in here (the practice gym) trying to get better. He's always trying to learn and trying to pick up details. He's a crafty guard. He gets to the rim. He has some stuff to work on. As we all do. But he's willing to learn.    

"Chucky is a very skilled guard, very fast. He has some of the quickest feet I've seen. I love guarding him because it challenges me to move my feet and stay down. He plays really good on-ball defense and he's not afraid to pick up full-court. I'm very impressed with his maturity as a player.''

Neath believes his ACC background in big arenas – coupled with his own maturity and physicality – will help his transition to the Big Ten. Reflecting on his signature game at Wake Forest, the Duke upset during his freshman year, he said, "I remember playing hard, playing smart and playing aggressive.''

All the things that Oliver remembered from his trip to Toronto.