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CBS Sports sees John Blackwell as one of college basketball's top combo guards

Only one player ranked ahead of Wisconsin Badgers junior John Blackwell on CBS Sports' ranking of the top combo guards in the nation.
Lorin Cox|
Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) dribbles the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena.
Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) dribbles the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

The hype is starting to build for John Blackwell ahead of his junior season with the Wisconsin Badgers.

He showed that he's capable of greatness while working alongside stars like A.J. Storr and John Tonje, but now that it's his show, the expectations are rising even higher.

CBS Sports writer Isaac Trotter sees Blackwell as the country's second-best combo guard this season.

2. John Blackwell, Wisconsin: The Badgers have uncorked two-straight top-20 offenses since Greg Gard hired offensive coordinator Kirk Penney. AJ Storr scored nearly 17 a night as the primary option in 2023-24. John Tonje became an All-American out of nowhere, averaging almost 20 points as the primary option in 2024-25. Blackwell flirting with All-American honors won't be a surprise to anybody. The fire-hydrant guard is a bulldozing driver who meshes perfectly with Wisconsin's five-shooter lineups. Blackwell will build a tent and camp out at the charity stripe line all year, but he's not a free-throw merchant. He's good at just about everything.
Isaac Trotter, CBS Sports

The only combo guard ahead of Blackwell is Labaron Philon of Alabama, who is making a similar transition from role player to lead option.

Trotter split up positions into different archetypes, like combo guard, initiator point guard and wing handler.

Blackwell and Philon could find themselves competing in the eyes of the national college media to be the bigger breakout star this season.

If the Badgers' junior lives up to expectations, it should be another exciting season in Madison for Greg Gard and his crew.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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