MADISON – Austin Rapp removed any doubt about his future with Wisconsin men’s basketball.
The 6-foot-10 forward reaffirmed his plans to return to the Badgers in 2026-27, announcing his return with posts on his X and Instagram accounts.
Rapp’s retention is hardly a surprise after he said following the High Point loss that he was “100%” planning on returning to the Badgers.
“This wasn’t a one-year thing for me,” Rapp said. “This is a couple-year thing. I want to be here, and I love this group. I love the staff. I love the support staff. … It’s kind of a family away from home in a sense.”
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers walks on court before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn ImagesPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: High Point Panthers fans are seen before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleadrs perform prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn ImagesMar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans in the stands prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn ImagesPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers warm up before taking on the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The High Point Panthers Athletic Band perform before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band performs before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images1 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.1 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.2 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.3 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers walks on court before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.4 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsMar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images5 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: High Point Panthers fans are seen before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.6 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsMar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleadrs perform prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images7 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsMar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans in the stands prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images8 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers warm up before taking on the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)9 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The High Point Panthers Athletic Band perform before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)10 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsPORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band performs before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)11 / 11Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlightsMar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn ImagesThe Portland transfer averaged 9.7 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists in his first season as a Badger. Highlights of his 2025-26 season included his 18 points in the second half of UW’s Big Ten tournament semifinal loss to Michigan. Rapp previously was the freshman of the year in the West Coast Conference.
Wisconsin general manager Marc VandeWettering told the Journal Sentinel that the Badgers are having “really good conversations” about retention and “feel really good” about keeping the players who have not already entered the transfer portal, which is open through April 21.
UW still has plenty of work to do in the transfer portal as it looks to fill six open roster spots and the void left by star guard John Blackwell’s departure. Players do not need to commit to their new schools during the portal window.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin forward Austin Rapp reaffirms plans to return to Badgers