GLENDALE - Davion Hannah emerged as a top target for the Wisconsin coaching staff just a few weeks after his freshman year.
Now a sophomore at Nicolet High School, Hannah earned an offer from the Badgers on June 30 during the team's advanced camp this past summer.
"I was a little surprised - I'm actually surprised every time an offer comes through," Hannah told BadgerBlitz.com after a 46-32 win over Whitefish Bay on Friday. "Scholarships don't come easy and you have to work for them.
"When I went to the camp I was talking a lot with the coaches during the day and they were happy to see me perform. At the end of the day it was good enough to get their attention and make them want to offer me. They just told me that I'm what Wisconsin wants in their program and I can help them win a title."
Hannah, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound wing, feels he's taken a big jump from the summer to winter. The No. 31 prospect in the country attributes those gains to time spent in the gym and weight room at Nicolet.
"I feel like I've put in the work," Hannah, who scored 22 points on Friday, said. "I'm in the weight room every morning with the team and sometimes I'm there two times a day. It's something that's important to me. When the offers started to come in, it showed that the work I've put in and the growth I've made is starting to show. Countless hours in the gym was going to pay off eventually.
"The biggest improvement I've made is shooting. I've put a lot of work into getting getter at that and I have a lot of confidence shooting the ball right now. I'm much more comfortable."
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard and assistant Sharif Chambliss have made it known to Hannah that he's a top priority for them in the 2025 class. He's taken no less than three unofficial visits to Madison since the summer.
"Just the love I get from them stands out to me," Hannah said. "It's feels like home at Wisconsin. Every time I see them they show me love, and when I'm there the guys and the team show me love like I'm already their teammate. It's just an amazing feeling. They are showing the most love and the most interest in me and I appreciate them a lot.
"Who doesn't want to go somewhere that your friends and family can come see you for every game? It's everyone's dream to see their family in the crowd while playing for a big-time school like Wisconsin."
Gard and Chambliss traveled to see Hannah play in person on Jan. 4.
"It means that they really want me there," Hannah said. "Driving to see a sophomore play during their busy schedule, that means a lot to me and I love the support from them."
In addition to UW, Hannah also list offers from Arizona State, Bradley, LSU, Marquette, Mississippi State and Oregon.
"Michigan State, Iowa, Iowa State, Ohio State and Ole Miss are also talking to me a lot," Hannah said. "I want to visit Ohio State and Oregon. I really love what Oregon has with the colors and Nike headquarters being out there. That's a great option for me."
In the 2025 class, the Badgers have offered Kai Rogers, a 6-foot-10 center from Wauwatosa West.
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