Happ returning to UW for senior year
MADISON – Ethan Happ has reached the decision most observers expected.
He is returning to Wisconsin for his final season of college basketball.
Happ, who graduated earlier this month, announced his decision Wednesday. The announcement came after Happ met with coach Greg Gard.
The versatile forward entered the 2018 National Basketball Association draft but did not sign with an agent. He did not receive an invi- tation to the NBA draft combine but was able to work out for several teams.
The feedback he received from those teams was that he needed another year of preparation.
Not only was Happ not projected to be taken in the first round, it was possible he would not have been selected had he stayed in the draft.
Underclassmen who declared for the draft without signing with an agent had until 10:59 p.m. (Central) Wednesday to withdraw their names and retain their eligibility.
Happ led UW in scoring (17.9 ppg.), rebounds (8.0), assists (3.7) and steals (1.5) last season, but UW finished just 15-18 and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1997-’98 season.
Happ made just 1 of 11 three-pointers (9.1%) and 105 of 191 free-throw attempts (55.0%).
His decision means UW returns all of its key players from last season. That list includes guards D’Mitrik Trice and Kobe King, who played in only 10 games before undergoing season-ending surgery.