According to Connor Muldowney of The Spartans Shadows, top-55 transfer Nebraska-Omaha forward Frankie Fidler is reportedly choosing between Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Michigan State got his last visit and seemingly made up quite a bit of ground on the rest of the field this past weekend, but the leader has been rumored to be Wisconsin. I’m not sure Tom Izzo and Michigan State did enough to catch up to the Badgers, but getting the last visit will surely make things interesting come Monday morning. The Hall of Fame coach surely gave the talented Omaha transfer something to think about.
Nebraska-Omaha Transfer Reportedly Choosing Between Michigan State and Wisconsin
Fidler is slated to make a college decision tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. (CT) on the Sharp and Handley Show at 1620 The Zone in Omaha. Gary Sharp is the Omaha Mavericks’ play-by-play announcer.
Fiddler entered the transfer portal during the first week that players were allowed, following an outstanding junior campaign at Omaha. The 6-7 forward disclosed his final four schools on April 4: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Creighton, and Nebraska.
Fiddler made the trek to Lansing (MI) to visit MSU this past weekend for his final visit. Fiddler began his collegiate tour at Creighton on March 25. He then made visits to Lincoln and Madison later that week.
Who Is Frankie Fidler?
Fidler is an Omaha area native, attending Bellevue West High School, where he was one of the best players in the state. Fidler made an immediate impact with the Mavericks and improved every year.
The 2023-24 All-Summit League first-team selection averaged 20.1 points on 45.2% shooting from the field and 1.6 threes at a 35.6% clip. He produced a career-high 6.3 rebounds, doled out 2.6 assists, and cut his turnovers down to 1.5 turnovers while attempting nearly eight free-throw attempts a game.
Fiddler, known for his offensive prowess, ranked in the top 20 of the Summit League in several statistical categories. He scored in double-figures in 31 of his 33 appearances and compiled five double-doubles.
While Fiddler wasn’t a nationally known prospect out of high school, he is a consensus top 55 player in the transfer market. 247Sports has Fiddler as the 54th-rated transfer. The Athletic has him at No. 44, ESPN at No. 34, ON3 at No. 84, and Rivals at No. 29.
“Fidler was one of the best-kept secrets in the country this year,” said The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. He was a skilled scorer at Omaha with size, shooting ability, and a tight handle that allowed him to attack defenses in diverse ways. Fidler is a no-doubt starter-quality player at the highest level of college hoops, with some upside to be more. It’s easy to envision him upping his 3-point rate and becoming an effective hybrid wing/forward in the right scheme.”
Update: According to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fidler has decided to delay his college commitment decision.
1620 The Zone (Omaha) notes that #Badgers target (hoops) Frankie Fidler has delayed announcing transfer destination. Fidler recently released final four of UW, Michigan State, Nebraska and Creighton.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) April 15, 2024
A Look At MSU and Wisconsin
Michigan State Spartans
MSU has been one of the top programs in the country since the late 1990s. The Spartans went 20-15 this past season and could use some scoring, as they finished 195th in the nation at 72.9 points. With Malik Hall’s graduation, the Spartans also need a small forward.
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin is believed to have an edge because Fidler’s high school teammate, Chucky Hepburn, is on the squad. The Badgers, who have won 20 games in five of the seven seasons under Greg Gard, also need help at forward with the graduation of Tyler Wahl.
