Missouri transfer John Tonje has made his decision, opting to commit to Wisconsin, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Initially, Tonje had reportedly committed to New Mexico but later changed his mind, ultimately choosing the Badgers as his new collegiate destination.
A 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward hailing from Omaha (Neb.), Tonje saw action in eight games for the Tigers before a foot injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. His collegiate journey began at Colorado State before he transferred to Missouri following his senior campaign.
Tonje’s commitment marks the third addition from the transfer portal for Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard this offseason. He joins Central Arkansas transfer Camren Hunter and Northern Illinois transfer Xavier Amos in bolstering the Badgers’ roster.
Ranked as a three-star prospect in the 247Sports college basketball portal rankings, Tonje still has one year of eligibility remaining, providing Wisconsin with added depth and talent for the upcoming season.
The transfer portal, a platform for student-athletes to explore new opportunities, opened on March 18th and will continue to accept entries until Wednesday, May 1st. Tonje’s decision to join Wisconsin adds another chapter to the ongoing narrative of player movement and roster adjustments in collegiate basketball.
During the transfer window, which spans from March 18th to May 1st, collegiate athletes have the opportunity to initiate a transfer by submitting paperwork to their current school. Once received, the school has 48 hours to enter the player’s information into the NCAA Portal database.
However, outside of this designated window, players who have accumulated enough credits to graduate can opt to enter the transfer portal at any time, identified as “Grad Transfers.”
Additionally, in conjunction with coaching changes, such as a head coach being dismissed or accepting a new position elsewhere, players from the affected team are granted a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal, independent of the March 18th to May 1st timeframe.
Once a player has officially entered the transfer portal, other schools are permitted to reach out to them and commence the recruiting process.
This off-season introduces a significant change to the transfer landscape. Previously, players were allowed a one-time transfer waiver. If they transferred for a second time, they had to seek a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible immediately. However, a recent memo from the NCAA indicates that transfers during this spring are expected to be immediately eligible for the 2024-25 season, eliminating the need for additional waivers.
