The Wisconsin Badgers saw one of their players drafted for the first time in three years last month, as the Utah Jazz took guard John Tonje with the No. 53 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Tonje, a 6’5, 220-pound wing, had a breakout season in 2024-25, averaging 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds on 46.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from deep. He became one of the best scorers in the country, earning All-American honors in the process.
His name got significant buzz leading up to the draft, with his
range varying across the second round. Ultimately, he landed at No. 53 with the Jazz, who prioritized shooting with the selections of Tonje, Rutgers star Ace Bailey, and Florida star Walter Clayton Jr.
How was the Tonje selection received by the public?
ESPN polled nearly a dozen college coaches to give their thoughts on the 2025 NBA Draft, and Tonje was a consensus ‘value’ pick in the second round alongside Auburn’s Johni Broome, Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud, and West Virginia’s Javon Small.
“Auburn’s Broome, Stanford’s Raynaud, West Virginia’s Small and Wisconsin’s Tonje stood out to coaches as values,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello wrote.
Each of the players was considered a ‘value’ pick for various reasons, according to Borzello. For Tonje, one Big Ten coach noted his scoring ability and
Of the group, Tonje had the most circuitous route to the draft. He spent four years at Colorado State, played sparingly at Missouri before suffering an injury, then transferred again to Wisconsin, where he emerged as a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection.
“His shotmaking is real,” a Big Ten coach said. “I don’t know why people don’t like him.”
As for the others, a couple of coaches pointed out Broome’s resume in comparison with his peers in the draft.
“Two [coaches] pointed out that the gap between Broome — a consensus first-team All-American and the perceived runner-up to Flagg for Player of the Year honors — and first-round big men such as Murray-Boyles shouldn’t have been that wide.
“He’s a player that is limited athletically. There’s probably more things people can say about him, age, all this stuff,” one coach said. “But he got Player of the Year in the best league in the country, he went to the Final Four. Some of that has to have some substance at the next level. He did everything that everyone asked. And he produced every night. What else is he supposed to do? He had a historic year in a conference that was historically one of the best ever.”
Raynaud’s overall productivity stood out to coaches, with his ability to shoot, score, and rebound at a high level.
“Raynaud was also one of the most productive players in college basketball last season, averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting nearly 35% from 3 at 7-foot-1.
“I like Raynaud. He’s big and can shoot. He can pick and pop. He rebounds,” one coach said. “What can he do defensively? He’s not switchable, he’s not a rim protector, so what does that look like? But offensively he’ll be able to play. He’s a plug-and-play role player.”
As for Small, his defense stood out to coaches, who compared him to Jamal Shead.
“Finally, one coach compared Small to former Houston guard Jamal Shead, who made an impact at both ends of the floor for the Raptors in a key bench role as a rookie.
“He’s the consummate backup NBA point guard,” the coach said. “Experience, size, shotmaking ability. Pick-and-roll passer. He should be a better defender, but he’s a good rebounder for a guard.”
Each of the four could end up being value picks for their respective teams, with Tonje’s shotmaking potentially being a boost to Utah’s offense as a rookie.
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