The Wisconsin Badgers have kicked off their fall practices ahead of the 2025-26 season, debuting nine new players as they look to build off a successful 2024-25 season.
Wisconsin brought in several transfers
to start, but they also compiled an impressive freshman class that includes four-star Zach Kinziger, in-state center Will Garlock, and international recruits Hayden Jones and Aleksas Bieliauskas.
Each player has their own skillset and combine to be perhaps the most ready-now group that Wisconsin has gotten in some time.
Looking at Garlock, the freshman center is physically imposing at 7’0, 250 pounds, looking the part of a college center. And the coaching staff is taking notice.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft noted Garlock’s growth, both physically and mentally, while pointing out how unique he is on the team.
“Growing by the day,” Krabbenhoft said about Garlock. “I think he’s grown in height certainly since the day I went and saw him three, four years ago in high school, and when he committed over a year and a half, two years ago to now. I mean, he’s grown just physically, and then what he’s doing in the weight room every day has been tremendous progress since June 1, really.
“So we’re seeing just a young big man really coming into his own quickly, and I think just playing with guys that are so experienced and so skilled. I mean, he’s learned a lot from like a guy like Aleksas [Bieliauskas]. Like just a guy who’s probably from the day he stepped on the floor, learned how to play in ball screens to where maybe Will Garlock, this is his first real crack at it.
“So he’s got great mentors, gold winners, played in a lot of Big Ten games. So he’s learning really, really fast, and it’s fun to watch.”
Looking at Garlock, his athleticism and size separate him from the pack, which gives Wisconsin a different threat than they’ve seen at center.
“He’s different than anybody else,” Krabbenhoft continued. “I think you can just see that with your eyeballs. You know, the eyeball test. Like he’s strong and he’s athletic, and we’re going to put that to good use. I think Will just brings a different body and change to the game. With him rolling out of the screens, that’s just different than anything else we got. So I think he just adds what others don’t. He was born with the true gift of size and physicality. Now it’s getting him to learn the nuances of the game, and the defensive end of the floor will be probably his biggest challenge.”
It’s unclear how much Garlock can crack the floor as a freshman. Wisconsin has Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter as projected starters, and they got Elijah Gray from the transfer portal as a big. But, with Gray sidelined in team drills as he gets healthy, Garlock and fellow freshman Aleksas Bieliauskas are making the most of their opportunities as they push for early playing time.
