After a long appeals process, and visits to possible schools...Ben Brust has officially signed to become a Badger.
Following an official visit in Madison last Friday, Brust made his official decision. He wants to be a Badger. While on the official visit Brust made the decision and according to a report by madison.com, Brust celebrated becoming the newest Badger at a barbecue at Bo Ryan's house this past weekend.
The road for Brust to become a Badger was indeed a long one, and in many ways an odd one. When Brust was being recruited earilier in his high school career he thought about becoming a Badger, but signed with Iowa after Vander Blue committed to UW. But just a year ago Blue de-committed and decided to head to Marquette.
After the termination of Todd Lickliter at Iowa, the Hawkeyes allowed Brust out of his commitment, and he was flooded with new scholarship offers. But coming to the Big Ten was still a long way off for Brust.
Because of a conference rule Brust would not be able to come to another Big Ten school and receive a scholarship after committing to Iowa. Again Brust's path to college basketball would take another odd turn.
The departure of Ian Markolf from the men's basketball team opened up another scholarship at UW. Markolf who left the team in order to focus on his school work created a hole in the 2010 freshman class that needed to be filled or left until the 2011 recruiting class. The exact spot that Brust will fill. Without Markolf deciding not to continue at Wisconsin as a player, Brust would most likely not have the opportunity to be a Badger.
Northwestern, Minnesota, and Wisconsin would all sponsor and appeal on Brust's behalf after his first appeal to the Big Ten failed. The support was all that Brust needed to get over the hump. He was granted a waiver from the rule and would be allowed to attend another Big Ten school and receive a scholarship.
After a visit to Northwestern earlier last week Brust found his way back to Madison. This time Brust has decided to stay...and play.
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