Four-star in-state guard will stay home and play for the Badgers
Tyler Herro visited Wisconsin unofficially Saturday, just a one day after head coach Greg Gard watched him in person at Whitnall High School early Friday morning.
Monday, the four-star in-state guard committed to the Badgers, becoming the first for Gard and his staff in the 2018 class.
"Choosing Wisconsin was a no-brainer for me and my family," Herro told BadgerBlitz.com. "First off, playing in front of my family and friends in my home state is something that almost every kid grows up dreaming about.
"My family will be able to drive an hour and a half to my home games and wherever it may be in the Midwest we're playing."
The No. 66 ranked prospect in the junior class, Herro chose Wisconsin over offers from Arizona, Marquette, DePaul, Indiana, Florida and Xavier, among others. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound shooting guard received Gard's first scholarship when he took over as interim head coach of the Badgers in December of 2015.
"Coach Gard and the coaching staff made me a priority ever since Gardo got the job," Herro said. "I have beyond a good feeling that they believe in me as much as I believe in them.
"The support across the state that I already have is tremendous. Deciding early was never really on my mind but I always told myself whenever I felt like it was home, I'd commit and pull the trigger."
This summer with the Wisconsin Playground Warriors on the adidas Gauntlet circuit, Herro averaged a double-double of 27.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during the final July evaluation period from July 20-24. As a sophomore, Herro averaged 24.0 points and helped the Falcons to a WIAA Division 2 semifinal appearance.
"Coming into Wisconsin as a freshman I think I'll be able to help with whatever that may be," Herro said. "Pushing guys during practice, most importantly, but also by my versatility. Coaches tell me I can play either the 1, 2 or 3 during my time at Wisconsin. I know the coaching staff will be able to push me and make me better on and off the court."
The Badgers are now expected to have one more scholarship available in the 2018 class with fellow in-state standout Joey Hauser the top target moving forward.
From Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi: "Tyler Herro has one of the most well developed mid-range games in the class of 2018. He's almost automatic on pull-up jumpers between 2 and 17 feet and he's got a very nice assortment of dribble and hesitation moves that he can use to set himself up.
"While his mid range game stands out, Herro is also a good shooter from deep and especially when he gets his feet set. He has good size and he has a good overall feel for things on the offensive end.
"The number one thing, in my eyes at least, to keep an eye on is to see how Herro develops as he adds strength. Against really athletic or stronger players, he does have to work really hard off the dribble or away from the ball to create separation and it is sometimes reflected in drops in shooting percentages when he plays against more physically mature players. "If added strength allows him to get his offense a bit more economically and without having to work quite so hard, he could really take off as a prospect. All nit picking aside, he is a super early pickup for Wisconsin and more proof that it's business as usual under Greg Gard in Madison."
