Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – Wisconsin men's basketball coach Greg Gard covets versatile players and has shown an affinity for three-guard lineups.

UW is adding a versatile guard, from one of the state’s top high school programs.

Trevor Anderson, who helped Stevens Point High School win WIAA Division 1 titles in 2015 and ’16, announced Wednesday he is transferring from UW-Green Bay to Wisconsin.

Anderson, who played in 20 games as a freshman last season before a back injury ended his season, must sit out the 2017-’18 season but will have three seasons of eligibility.

“Looking back on my first year at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful and impactful people,” Anderson wrote on Twitter. “Although my freshman year ended prematurely due to injury, I would not consider it a failure.

“When the season closed, I did a lot of self reflection; evaluating all aspects of my life from school, sports and personal happiness.

“Growing up in Wisconsin, it was always my personal dream to play for the Badgers. With that in mind, I have decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the 2017-’18 season.”

Anderson, 6 foot 2 and 180 pounds, averaged 9.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for UW-Green Bay. He started all 20 games in which he played. He shot 37.6% from three-point range (35 of 93) and 80.4% from the free-throw line (45 of 56).

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” he wrote. “I want to thank Coach (Linc) Darner for all he has done for me in the two and a half years since he started recruiting me. I have nothing but love towards him and the coaching staff.

“To my teammates, I consider myself blessed to have played along side you this past year. Never underestimate the gratitude I have towards all of you.”

As a senior at Stevens Point, Anderson was named Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and the player of the year by The Associated Press.

He averaged 24.6 points and 4.4 assists per game that season and shot 55% from three-point range (66 of 120).

Then-coach Bo Ryan recruited Anderson but did not offer a scholarship. Anderson committed to UW-Green Bay before the start of his senior year.

He had offers from Drake, Lehigh and Toledo at the time but was also being evaluated by UW, Butler, Wichita State, Xavier and Indiana.

The Stevens Point teams that won state titles in 2015 and ’16 featured Anderson and brothers Sam and Joey Hauser.

Sam Hauser will be a sophomore at Marquette next season. Joey Hauser will be a senior at Stevens Point.

Both UW and Marquette are recruiting Joey Hauser, a versatile 6-foot-8 forward.

UW, which has two scholarships available for 2017-’18, expects to have at least four scholarship guards next season.

D’Mitrik Trice will be a sophomore, Brevin Pritzl will be a redshirt sophomore, and Brad Davison and Kobe King will be freshmen.

Jordan Hill, who would have been a redshirt senior, decided to transfer and plans to enroll at Seattle as a graduate transfer.

Walt McGrory, a 6-2 guard from Edina, Minn., announced earlier this week he is joining UW as a walk-on next season. McGrory had scholarship offers from Furman, Brown, Drake, Maine and South Dakota State.

UW has looked at adding a graduate transfer for next season.

Casey Benson (Oregon) decided to stay close to home and play at Grand Canyon in Phoenix.

Lexus Williams, who plans to transfer from Valparaiso after graduating later this spring, is another target.