Wisconsin center Steven Crowl: 'I'm more versatile than I showed at Wisconsin'

USA Today

24-06-2025

Steven Crowl established himself as a durable, versatile center at Wisconsin, and the 7-footer is aiming to bring that ability and more to the next level in the 2025 NBA draft.
Crowl finished by averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 153 career appearances across five seasons in Madison. He leaves the program ranked second in games played (153), third in games started (141), fifth in rebounds (854), fifth in wins (105) and 12th in points (1,490).
Since becoming a full-time starter as a sophomore, Crowl played and started in 141 out of a possible 141 total games for the Badgers. He is one of five Big Ten players since the 1986-87 season to tally at least 1,400 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists.
Crowl helped Wisconsin to the NCAA Tournament last season, averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 41.6% shooting from 3-point range. He had 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting in the first round, the best single-game percentage by a Badger in a tournament game.
The 23-year-old worked to extend his range and consistency throughout his time with the Badgers, shooting 43% from 3-point range over his last two seasons (58 of 135). He is one of two 7-footers to have at least 50 3-pointers on 40% shooting over that span.
Crowl was also utilized as a playmaker for coach Greg Gard, often out of the post or on the elbow. He plays with good instincts in those situations and can fit in passes through tight windows to set up his teammates. He was second in assists among 7-footers last season (90).
After a productive career at Wisconsin, Crowl now has his sights set on taking the next step in his basketball career. He was invited to work out with eight teams ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, including the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The former four-star prospect has performed well during those visits, showcasing his ability to shoot, playmake for others and protect the rim. He is a prospect to watch as a potential late second-round pick or two-way contract candidate.
Rookie Wire caught up with Crowl on Monday to discuss his five-year college career at Wisconsin, playing in the Big Ten, preparing for the 2025 NBA draft, predraft workouts and more.
Note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
What was the most rewarding aspect about playing at Wisconsin?
SC: All of the wins and everything were fun, but I think, for me, the biggest thing this past year with NIL and the transfer portal, I was proud of our team with how quickly we came together, having those freshmen along with John Tonje and Xavier Amos. It turned out to be a pretty good team, so that is what I was most proud of this past year, for sure.
What was your mindset to stay with the program for your entire college career?
SC: I think my mindset was I just wanted to stay loyal to my coaches who had gotten me there and trusted me with the recruiting process when I was in high school and a freshman. I didn't think the grass was always greener. I just wanted to stay loyal to my teammates and coaches who helped me get to where I was. It turned out to be pretty good. We put together a pretty good team.
Could you sense there was an appreciation from the fans toward you when you stayed with the team?
SC: For sure! You go out to eat or go out after a game or something, and the first thing they would say wasn't, 'Good game!' or anything. They were just happy I stayed and was loyal to the team. I think they appreciate it more having a guy that they know who has been there for a little bit, and just having one of those guys stay. I think that was the biggest thing for them.
How do you think Wisconsin and playing in the Big Ten helped prepare you for the next level?
SC: You see a lot of pros going from the Big Ten to the NBA. I think specifically for me, just going against those big guys I had to go through throughout my five years, whether it was Trayce Jackson-Davis, Zach Edey, Kofi Cockburn or some of those other All-American bigs. I think just the experience of going against guys like that just helped a ton.
What kind of work did you put in to become a consistent 3-point shooter?
SC: I always shot 3s growing up in high school and everything. But then, when you get to the college level, especially the older you get, you kind of just find where you're going to get them. You kind of learn how to be, not a pro, but a little bit of a pro, and then you get in the gym a lot. Credit to Kirk Penney and Greg Stiemsma, they joined our staff these past two years, so just having those guys who have been pros teach you how to be a pro a little bit and live in the gym. I think those are the biggest things, for sure.
What is it about your game that enables you to assist your teammates so much as a big man?
SC: That goes back to my coaches. They put me in positions to be a playmaker, a little bit out of the post or the elbow. Honestly, I think sometimes I was too passive, and they'd get mad at me if I were too passive. Over the past two years, I've had to learn how to find that balance between facilitating and getting my teammates involved, and being aggressive and trying to shoot and score more. I would just credit my coaches for putting me in those positions, and then at the same time, I think that is me trying to get my teammates involved and find good shots. Credit to them for making it easy on me, too.
How exciting was it to start a season knowing that you had a good team and were probably going to make the NCAA Tournament?
SC: I think that is kind of the No. 1 reason you go to Wisconsin is you want to play in those big games, whether it is March Madness or the Big Ten Tournament title games or competing for regular season titles. I think that is why you go to Wisconsin in the first place. I think that goes back to my first point about staying loyal to them, and the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. I wanted to play somewhere where I knew we were going to win and had a chance to play in the big dance.
What are some of the things you're working on improving over the predraft process?
SC: I think for me, it is more so just learning how to play in space a little bit more, rather than back into the basket: Playing off those pick and rolls, playing in those short rolls and being a facilitator out of that. We all kind of know how the NBA is played now, so just being a big that can space the floor, shoot it and pull the opposing big out of the paint. I'm continuing to work on my jump shot and just learning how to play in space and play an NBA-type game.
How would you describe your game to someone who hasn't watched you play?
SC: I think I'm more versatile than I showed at Wisconsin, and that is why I was very grateful to get those predraft workouts and show teams that I'm more than the player I showed at Wisconsin. Just being a big who can space the floor and knock the 3 down at a high level. Then lastly, just playing out of that short roll and being a facilitator when the team needs you to be, making those good decisions and not turning the ball over.
What kind of feedback have you been getting from teams in your predraft workouts?
SC: A lot of them really like just the aspect of being a big who can space the floor and shoot the ball at a high level, and then on top of that, being versatile and being able to guard different positions and being a little more mobile than I showed in Wisconsin. I think, then, on the opposite side of that was probably being a little bit better defender at the rim, which is the biggest thing that I personally want to work on. And just being more of a presence at 7 feet, whether it is blocking shots or just altering shots. I think that is something I can improve on.
What do you want teams to know about you as a person?
SC: I think just a loyal, great locker room guy like I showed at Wisconsin. I think you could ask any of those coaches or teammates over there, and they'll say the same thing. Then, I'm just a guy who is going to work and isn't going to be satisfied with just making the teams. I wasn't a high recruit out of high school, didn't play right away and just stuck my head down and kept working.