Ethan Happ is the next chapter in the Wisconsin basketball story that we’ve all come to known- big, tall white guy who was lightly recruited develops into an elite on the national level player. Happ, just like his Badgers predecessors before him, has developed a versatile game that works both inside and on the perimeter. After all, he is the protege of Frank Kaminsky.
As such he’s found himself a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, as well as the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards.
Happ is the nation’s only player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals during conference play. According to the Wisconsin Sports Information Department, over the last 20 years, only three major conference players have led their team in all five categories during conference play (Utah’s Delon Wright, 2014; St. John’s D.J. Kennedy, 2010; Virginia Tech’s Bryant Matthews, 2003).
The Badgers SID also point out that Happ is the only player in the NCAA averaging at least 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. They claim that over the last 20 seasons, no major conference player has reached those marks for an entire season.
Happ is a native of Milan, Illinois and admitted in a recent interview that he was an Illinois and Michigan State fan. Neither school took a real look at recruiting him. Both the Illini and the Spartans must be kicking themselves about the decision right now. Ethan Happ will be the biggest obstacle that Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan has to winning the B1G player of the year award. Swanigan will almost certainly win it, but Happ will most likely finish runner-up.
While this is the final go-around for Nigel Hayes, the leader and alpha dog of this team, Happ has emerged as the Badgers’ best player.
The two of them combine to form what is certainly the B1G’s best one-two combination.
You’re already starting to see the name Ethan Happ in a NBA mock draft or two. If he returns to Madison next year, and continues developing like he has thus far, you could see him in the lottery for just about every 2018 mock.
He’s extremely fun to watch too.
Every time there is a Wisconsin basketball game on television, social media blows up with mentions of Ethan Happ. He’s quite often top ten trending nationally on Twitter while the Badgers are in action.
You’ll see this play out tomorrow night when #11 Wisconsin travels to Michigan for a 6pm cst tip. The game is broadcast on the evil empire’s flagship network too; thus there will be more eyeballs and hence more Tweeters looking at Happ.
Here below is a sampling of what you may see on the micro-blogging platform regarding Ethan Happ Thursday night.
Wisconsin's Ethan Happ is the best defender I've seen all season. To this point, he's the leader for National Defensive Player of the Year.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) February 6, 2017
ETHAN HAPP IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN ANY COUNTRY IN ANY SPORT!
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) February 10, 2017
Ethan Happ with the BLOCK! ?pic.twitter.com/QaxqR123Po
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/Worthyton/status/827544185821618176
Ethan Happ made a jump shot without jumping. That's how good he is.
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) February 12, 2017
Ethan Happ. #SorryForWinning
— Ryan Wing (@RyanWingFOX11) February 10, 2017
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and Bold, contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication, CGTN America, WGN CLTV News and KOZN.
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