Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell says he is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will play at Duke next season. He made the announcement Friday on Instagram after a strong 2024-25 run that included a return to the NCAA Tournament for Wisconsin.
When John Blackwell posted his decision on Instagram Friday, Wisconsin fans didn’t just see an offseason move—they saw the end of a standout run that put the Badgers back among the country’s best.
Blackwell, a former Wisconsin guard, is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will play at Duke next season.
Last season, Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. At 6-foot-4. he formed one of the nation’s top backcourt tandems alongside Nick Boyd. and his shooting helped drive Wisconsin’s season: he hit 39% from 3-point range as the Badgers finished 24-11 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.
His biggest performances came against teams Wisconsin couldn’t afford to overlook. Blackwell scored 26 points in a road win over eventual national champion Michigan. Against Final Four participant Illinois, he averaged 27.5 points in the Badgers’ two victories. Late in the year, he added 25 points in a road win over Purdue, an NCAA regional finalist.
Blackwell’s NCAA Tournament run ended in Wisconsin’s first-round loss to High Point. In that game, he recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Across the 2024-25 season overall, he averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Now, the next chapter is set for Duke—after a decision that will reshape both what Wisconsin loses and what Duke gains coming into next season.
John Blackwell NBA draft Duke Blue Devils Wisconsin Badgers college basketball NCAA Tournament Nick Boyd High Point Illinois Michigan Purdue