Carter Gilmore grew up playing hoops in his driveway pretending to play for the Badgers. Since he was young, Gilmore's parents would take him to Wisconsin basketball camps, led by former head coach Bo Ryan, who coached Gilmore's father at UW-Platteville. As a result, Gilmore fell in love with the idea of playing his college ball at the Kohl Center.

On Thursday, that dream became a reality.

Accepting a preferred walk-on position from head coach Greg Gard, the Arrowhead standout turned down a handful of Division 1 scholarship offers in order to chase down his childhood ambition.

"My family and I have grown up Badger fans," Gilmore told Badger247. "It's always been a dream of mine."

Gilmore chose UW over full scholarship offers from DePaul, Southern Illinois, UW-Milwaukee, Illinois-Chicago, Indiana State, Missouri State, Appalachian State, and Hofstra.

The 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward, who received the PWO from Wisconsin on Tuesday, said Gard swayed him py pitching the story of Trevor Anderson, a former walk-on and now junior scholarship guard. Anderson, who turned down a PWO offer coming out of high school, spent one season at UW-Green Bay before transferring to play for the Badgers as he second-guessed his decision despite being a starting guard for the Phoenix in year one.

"We didn't want to go somewhere else knowing that my heart was with Wisconsin," Gilmore explained. "That really stuck with me and my family."

Gilmore was able to catch Gard on the phone, just before UW's head coach left for vacation to tell him the good news.

"He said it was a great start to his vacation," Gilmore explained. "It put a smile on his face. He's excited and he believes I can make it there."

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Wisconsin is expected to return everything minus senior guard Brevin Pritzl when Gilmore arrives in 2020-21. However, with six juniors currently on the roster, the Badgers may have a scholarship to give Gilmore the following season.

"They said it's not out of the question that after my first year, I could earn a scholarship," said Gilmore. "With their core guys being juniors this year, something may open up. I just have to prove myself and work hard each and every day."

Wisconsin how has four commitments in their 2020 recruiting class. Joining Gilmore in Madison will be Jordan Davis (La Crosse, Wis.), Johnny Davis (La Crosse, Wis.), and Lorne Bowman (Detroit, Mich.).

"The Davis brothers seem like very good kids," Gilmore explained. "Playing against them, I know how hard they work and the grit they have. They love to win. I've seen Lorne throughout EYBL. He's very good, very talented.

"I think we're off to a great start."

Not only did Gilmore turn down plenty of mid-major scholarship offers, but the chance at some high major scholarships as well. Gilmore was also receiving high major interest from Minnesota, Butler, Creighton, and Wake Forest prior to his UW commitment.

"It's an investment for at least a year and you just have to bet on yourself," he said. "My family just told me to believe in myself. At worse, I graduate as a student-athlete from the University of Wisconsin.

"That's a pretty good option."

As a junior, Gilmore averaged 19.9 points per game as Arrowhead finished second in the Classic Eight Conference and appeared in the Division 1 regional finals.

Able to make his commitment official in November, Gilmore hasn't quite come to the realization that he'll one day be wearing the Cardinal and White as more than just a fan.

"It doesn't even feel real yet," Gilmore said. "It hasn't sunk in yet, but I know I'm ready and I can't wait."