Kamari McGee, a graduate of Racine St. Catherine's High School, is coming to UW after standout freshman season at UWGB

MADISON – Wisconsin coach Greg Gard and his staff have bolstered their backcourt for next season and beyond.

The Badgers received an oral commitment Tuesday from point guard Kamari McGee, a graduate of Racine St. Catherine’s High School who made the Horizon League all-freshman team this past season at UW-Green Bay.

McGee, who recently entered the transfer portal and visited the UW campus Sunday, started the final 21 games for the Phoenix and finished at 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

Before Sunday, his only time in Madison came last season when UW-Green Bay faced UW at the Kohl Center.

"The city of Madison is very beautiful," McGee said Tuesday. "The campus is very beautiful. The facilities were beautiful. Everything was … it just felt good.

"And the coaches showed nothing but love throughout the entire time."

McGee shot just 38.8% overall, including 27.5% from three-point range, at UW-Green Bay. However, he improved with more playing time and in the final five games averaged 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds and shot 50.1% (34 of 67), including 40.0% from three-point range (6 of 15).

McGee teamed with Iowa State guard Tyrese Hunter to help St. Catherine’s win a WIAA state title in 2021.

More: Longtime 'best friends' give Racine St. Catherine's the state's best backcourt duo

Nick Bennett, who helped UW-Stevens Point to NCAA Division III titles in 2004 and 2005, coached McGee and Hunter at St. Catherine's. He believes McGee can help UW on both ends of the court and in the locker room.

"I think his shooting percentages will go up,” Bennett said, acknowledging that McGee will be surrounded by more overall talent at UW. “His shots are going to be better shots. I think his efficiency numbers will get higher.”

McGee concurred.

"I can be a more efficient player," he said. "At Wisconsin I won’t have as much pressure.

"Even in high school – I know it is high school, but I was an efficient player because I had certain guys around me who helped out."

McGee essentially takes the spot vacated by Lorne Bowman, who returned home to Michigan during the season to deal with personal issues and recently announced he was leaving the program. Bowman announced Sunday he is transferring to Oakland, which is near his home.

The Badgers have one freshman signed for next season, Indiana guard Connor Essegian. With Essegian and McGee set, the Badgers have three open scholarships.

McGee played 22 minutes in the Phoenix's 72-34 loss to UW on Nov. 12 and finished with four points, three rebounds and one assist.

Asked about the challenge of making the transition from the Horizon League to the Big Ten, McGee sounded unfazed.

"I am a huge competitor," he said. "When I was at Green Bay and we faced those high-major teams, I never shied away from those games. I loved playing against the higher competition."

The 6-foot McGee is a tenacious defender.

“He loves it,” Bennett said. “I’m not just saying that. He was our best defender. I thought he was the best defender in the state his senior year. That was his role for us, guarding the other team’s best (scorer). He guarded guards, big guys, point guards. He is really strong. He looks like a football player.

“And he was a 4.0 student in high school. I’m darn proud of him for that. He is probably the neatest kid I’ve coached. Just his personality, a team-oriented kid. He is positive. He cares about winning. He’s not selfish. He is humble.

“If I gave you the numbers of all the teachers at St. Catherine’s and said call them and ask them about Kamari, I’d have zero doubt that every teacher would say: What a treat he was to have in class.’ ...

“He is just a quiet, humble kid.”

At a minimum, McGee will help ease the workload of Chucky Hepburn, who started all 33 games at point guard for UW as a freshman last season.

"They see me as a competitor who has that grit, that dog in them, to want to work hard and get better each day," McGee said, referring to the UW coaches. "And they see me as a leader."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Green Bay freshman standout Kamari McGee to transfer to Wisconsin