MADISON, Wis. – West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year Austin Rapp has signed with the Wisconsin men's basketball team, head coach Greg Gard announced on Saturday. 

A 6-10 forward, Rapp averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks last season for Portland while collecting WCC All-Freshman Team honors. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Rapp is set to become the first Australian-born player in program history.

"We're excited to add Austin to the Badger family," Gard said. "He's a big-time shooter at the stretch-4 position and will fit really well with how we play and who we are as a program. He's a highly-skilled big man and he showed that in winning Freshman of the Year in a good conference last season. We have a lot of mutual connections with Austin and all of our conversations centered on how well he fits Wisconsin and how well Wisconsin fits him."

"I couldn't be more excited to become a Wisconsin Badger," Rapp said. "I've grown up watching basketball and remember watching the Frank Kaminsky Final Four team at Wisconsin. I've always dreamed about playing for a successful and winning program and there couldn't get one better than Wisconsin. The culture, the coaches, the fans and even the culture around the city of Madison is incredible. I can't wait to join Wisconsin and help this program win in the next few years."

Rapp shot 35.2 percent (83-of-236) from 3-point range and 81.5 percent at the free throw line. His 83 3-pointers led all WCC players and ranked second among NCAA freshmen. He averaged 2.7 3FGs per game, the nation's highest average among players 6-foot-9 or taller. 

On the defensive end, Rapp registered 45 blocks and 201 defensive rebounds, both of which ranked second in the WCC. 

Rapp earned six WCC Freshman of the Week honors, while collecting four double-doubles and scoring 20 or more points four times during his rookie season with the Pilots. 

Rapp brings international experience as well, suiting up for Australia at the 2022 FIBA U-16 Asian Championship and the FIBA U-17 World Cup. In addition, He led Victoria to a victory in Basketball Australia's U-20 National Championship, scoring 32 points and 13 rebounds and hitting the game-winning fadeaway at the buzzer.

The forward signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the 2023-24 NBL season, appearing in eight games as an 18-year-old.

Rapp also played for the Knox Raiders in Australia's NBL1 league, putting up 16 points and 12 rebounds in a 2024 National Championship victory.