'She's just a smooth basketball player': 4 things to know about UW recruit Alie Bisballe

MADISON – Alie Bisballe became the second member of the Wisconsin women’s basketball team’s 2024 class earlier this week, news she was ready to announce for about a month.

The 6-foot-4 forward from Lake City, Michigan, made an unofficial visit to campus June 3. The vibe she received during those three hours left her excited about the prospect of becoming a Badger.

“Coach (Marisa) Moseley and the whole staff gave off such positive energy,” Bisballe said. “When I talked to them, they gave such a warm, genuine welcome and it really felt like a family there. I feel like the university itself felt super-safe and at home.”

The only thing Bisballe was missing at that time was a scholarship offer. UW assistant coach Tiffany Morton saw Bisballe play first, but, according to Rob Ruhstorfer, Bisballe's coach with the Michigan Mystics club program, Moseley wanted to see her play at the Run 4 the Roses tournament in Louisville this week before deciding whether to extend an offer.

Bisballe received a phone call from UW with the good news on the ride home Tuesday. She accepted the offer the next morning and announced her decision Wednesday afternoon on Twitter.

She joins Green Bay Notre Dame guard Gracie Grzesk in the Badgers' 2024 class.

Here are four things to know about Bisballe and what she’ll bring to Wisconsin:

Passing is the strength of Alie Bisballe's game

Ruhstorfer considers Bisballe a stretch-4 or a face-up 5.

“You just don’t see a lot of kids who do what Alie Bisballe does at 6-4,” he said. “It’s just a unique skill set. I don’t want to say Dirk Nowitzki because she doesn’t quite handle it like him, but she grabs a rebound and pushes it in transition for us. We don’t make her outlet it. She's just a smooth basketball player.”

One of the strengths of the Badgers during Moseley’s two seasons has been their willingness to share the ball and ability to create shots off ball movement.

Bisballe fits into that style of play. Ruhstorfer called her one of the best passers to come through his program. Bisballe relishes that part of the game.

"I love to pass,” she said. “I love getting that assist and watching everyone score. It makes me feel so good. I feel like the passing is a main part of my game, my favorite part.”

Bisballe will likely need to add strength to compete in the Big Ten, but that is the case for most players coming from high school.

"She’s not the strongest kid in the world, however as she gets into the college program and the weight program Wisconsin will put her through, this kid is going to be a monster in college," Ruhstorfer said.

Bisballe reponds well to pressure

Club circuit basketball is all about performing in front of college coaches, but there is an added element of pressure when a player knows that a coach who might be on the verge of offering a scholarship is in attendance.

Bisballe left her unofficial visit knowing the UW coaches would be evaluating her in Louisville.

What the Badgers staff saw at the Run 4 the Roses is what Ruhstorfer sees all the time. Bisballe was active in a variety of areas, scoring off a handful of post moves and draining 3 three-pointers in addition to hitting the boards and blocking shots.

The performance is what you would expect of a Big Ten prospect, but that doesn't mean it was easy.

"It’s hard to not look at the baselines and not see who’s there, but once you get that mindset (to ignore it) you start to play without feeling the people watching you there," she said. "You just have to keep going and think about why you started. You just want to have fun on the court."

Bisballe won a championship last season

Bisballe helped Lake City High School (enrollment 382) finish with a 24-2 record and a district championship this past season. According to her all-area capsule in the Cadillac News, she averaged 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game.

She received more than a dozen scholarship offers with most coming since the end of the high school season: Her offer list this spring and summer included: Michigan State, Cleveland State, Illinois State, Bradley, Vermont, Bucknell, Central Michigan and Bowling Green.

Basketball is in her family’s DNA

Bisballe isn't the only hoops standout in her family.

Her aunt, Cheri Euler, played at Michigan State from 1993-97, serving as a captain her junior and senior seasons and helping the Spartans win a share of the 1997 Big Ten title.

Bisballe's sister, Macy, a redshirt sophomore, and cousin, Rylie, a redshirt junior play at Division II Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan. Another cousin, Chloe Bisballe, will be a sophomore at Concordia-Ann Arbor, a NAIA program.

And at Lake City High School, Alie teams up with yet another cousin, Mackenzie Bisballe, a Grand Valley State recruit who was a first-team Division 3 all-state selection by the Associated Press last season. Mackenzie is also a rising senior.

“We all go over each other’s houses and play 4 on 4 or 3 on 3,” Alie said. “We all enjoy each other.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 4 things to know about Wisconsin basketball recruit Alie Bisballe