Which mid-major backcourt player will Greg Gard transform into a Big Ten superstar?
It’s a query that would have appeared ludicrous just three years ago. However, after the feats of Nick Boyd (San Diego State), John Tonje (who initially committed to New Mexico out of the portal), and AJ Storr (who joined Wisconsin from St. John’s before Rick Pitino resurrected it), it has become a Wisconsin basketball tradition to select a dynamic player from a lesser institution and transform them into a superstar in Madison.
With six roster spots now vacant and the top two players from the 2025-26 season slated to leave the program by a large margin, Gard and his staff have no option but to use their transfer portal expertise once more.
With the gateway formally open until April 21, teams are being formed and dismantled on a daily basis. Wisconsin has already lost three transfers, but the Badgers are working to replace them. One objective that Gard and his companions have emphasized? Chevalier Ice Emery, a former Neenah standout.
Emery’s winding college journey
Emery has already had a remarkable collegiate career. He joined Merrimack after coaching Neenah High School to a state championship. However, he only appeared in 15 games as a freshman, averaging 2. 7 minutes. That absence of participation prompted him to transfer to JUCO Dodge City Community College as a sophomore, where he averaged 17. 4 points per game.
That led to a chance with Western Carolina, where he averaged 9. 3 points, 1. 9 rebounds, and 2. 0 assists in 24. 8 minutes per game, with 14 starts in 30 games. He then moved to Cleveland State, where he spent the 2025-26 academic year.
Emery joined Cleveland State off the bench, yet he had a significant effect for the Vikings. He was the Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year, with 12. 7 points, 1. 2 rebounds, and 2. 0 assists while shooting 38. 2% from outside. He had six games with at least 20 points and 14 with at least 15.
What distinguishes the 6-foot guard’s game? His three-point percentage is certainly attractive, but it is a more recent addition to his game; In 2024-25, he only made 28. 7% of his attempts at Western Carolina. But Emery also demonstrated a flair for getting to the rim, a strong layup package, and a proclivity for difficult finishes.
Emery is expected to play the two guard position in Madison, and while his transfer from the Horizon League includes some projection, he has shown to be a reliable player at each of his previous three stops.
Wisconsin did not provide Emery out of high school, but the native son has a chance to return to Madison for his senior year.
