MADISON – Trey Autry grew up seeing basketball at the “highest level.”
His father, Adrian, spent 15 years on the Syracuse staff (including three years as the head coach), was on Seth Greenberg’s Virginia Tech staff before that and now is an assistant at Virginia.
Now, the younger Autry is relishing the opportunity to compete at the highest level himself after transferring from George Washington to Wisconsin and making the jump from the Atlantic 10 to the Big Ten for his senior season.
“Wisconsin has a great winning tradition,” Autry said in a Zoom call with reporters April 19. “They’re in the tournament all the time. … At the end of the day, I wanted to live a [childhood] dream and make it into the NCAA Tournament.”
Autry, a 6-foot-4 guard, has a skill set that should fit well with the Badgers’ offensive scheme for several reasons. Autry’s 2.5 3-pointers made per game ranked fifth in the Atlantic 10, and his 38.5% 3-point percentage was 14th in the league. (It was almost identical to John Blackwell’s 38.9% for the Badgers.)
University of Wisconsin assistant men's basketball coach Gard in the 2006-2007 season.Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on during the first half against the Xavier Musketeers in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 20, 2016, in St Louis, Missouri.Wisconsin coach Greg Gard talks with the team at end of practice on March 24, 2016, in preparation for their upcoming NCAA Sweet 16 game against Notre Dame. The practice took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.University of Wisconsin head basketball coach Greg Gard (left) talks with Nigel Hayes (center) and Ethan Happ (right) as they arrive at Kohler Company's corporate aviation hangar for the 5th Annual Wisconsin Sports Awards in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., on April 12, 2016.University of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard (left) talks on a radio show with Bo Ryan and Mark Tauscher (right) as guests arrive at Kohler Company's corporate aviation hangar for the 5th Annual Wisconsin Sports Awards in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., on April 12, 2016.Head Coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers directs play from the sidelines during the first half against the Idaho StateBengals at Kohl Center on January 02, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin.NCAA referee Terry Oglesby talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during a game with the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center on Feb. 5, 2017. Wisconsin defeated Indiana 65-60.Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) talks to head coach Greg Gard during the game with the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center on Feb. 5, 2017. Wisconsin defeated Indiana 65-60.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard on the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in East Lansing, Mich.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard huddles with his team during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 18, 2017 in Buffalo, NY.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard and the Badgers bench react during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 23, 2018 in Iowa City Iowa.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to his team in a timeout during the game with the Michigan Wolverines at the Kohl Center on Feb. 11, 2018 in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to guard Brevin Pritzl (1) and guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) during the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on Nov. 13, 2018. The Badgers won 77-68.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) during the game with the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center on Jan. 26, 2019 in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half of his team's game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Feb. 23, 2019 in Evanston, Ill.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to the bench during the game against the St. Mary's Gaels at Sanford Pentagon on Nov. 5, 2019 in Sioux Falls, SD.Wisconsin guard Brevin Pritzl (1) in congratulated by head coach Greg Gard in the waning moments of their game on Nov. 17, 2019, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Marquette 77-61.Wisconsin Badgers senior guard Brevin Pritzl (1) and head coach Greg Gard shake hands in pre-game festivities on senior night before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center on March 4, 2020, in Madison, Wis.North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard after game in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Mackey Arena on March 19, 2021 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Badgers won 85-62.Wisconsin Badgers star sophomore Johnny Davis (1) speaks with head coach Greg Gard about the Pewaukee versus Wisconsin Lutheran game on Jan. 4, 2022, at Pewaukee High School. The Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings defeated the Pewaukee Pirates in double OT 101-99.Wisconsin guard Brad Davison (34) listens to head coach Greg Gard during the second half of their game at the Kohl Center Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Madison, Wis. Michigan State beat Wisconsin 86-74.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard watches his team during the second half of their game Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Michigan 77-63.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with Wisconsin Badgers guard Johnny Davis (1) during the game with the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center on March 1, 2022, in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks to an official during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 18, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Wisconsin beat Colgate 67-60.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard speaks to an official during the first half in their second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 20, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Iowa State beat Wisconsin 54-49.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Kamari McGee (4) during the first half of their game against Stanford on Nov. 11, 2022, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.Wisconsin Badgers forward Tyler Wahl (5) talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Kohl Center on Jan. 17, 2023, in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard argues a call during the first half of their game against Purdue on March 2, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) talks with head coach Greg Gard during the second half of their game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Kohl Center on March 2, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis.Current Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard and former head coach Bo Ryan speaks about Howard Moore as the Wisconsin men’s basketball family gathered to honor Howard Moore and to kickoff a fundraising initiative for the Moore family on April 15, 2023, at the Champions Club in the Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their preseason game against UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 1, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their game on Dec. 2, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Marquette 75-64.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown before their game against Nebraska at Kohl Center on Jan. 6, 2024, in Madison, Wis.Jamison Battle (10) of the Ohio State Buckeyes shoots a three-point shot over the defense of Max Klesmit (11) of the Wisconsin Badgers as Greg Gard watches from the sideline during the first half of the game at Value City Arena on Jan. 10, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers stands on the sideline during the first half of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 10, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their game against Michigan State on Jan. 26, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) is greeted by head each Greg Gard during the second half of their game on Jan. 26, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Michigan State 81-66.Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to players during a timeout against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 1, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb.1 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsUniversity of Wisconsin assistant men's basketball coach Gard in the 2006-2007 season.1 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsUniversity of Wisconsin assistant men's basketball coach Gard in the 2006-2007 season.2 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsHead coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on during the first half against the Xavier Musketeers in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 20, 2016, in St Louis, Missouri.3 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin coach Greg Gard talks with the team at end of practice on March 24, 2016, in preparation for their upcoming NCAA Sweet 16 game against Notre Dame. The practice took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.4 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsUniversity of Wisconsin head basketball coach Greg Gard (left) talks with Nigel Hayes (center) and Ethan Happ (right) as they arrive at Kohler Company's corporate aviation hangar for the 5th Annual Wisconsin Sports Awards in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., on April 12, 2016.5 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsUniversity of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard (left) talks on a radio show with Bo Ryan and Mark Tauscher (right) as guests arrive at Kohler Company's corporate aviation hangar for the 5th Annual Wisconsin Sports Awards in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., on April 12, 2016.6 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsHead Coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers directs play from the sidelines during the first half against the Idaho StateBengals at Kohl Center on January 02, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin.7 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsNCAA referee Terry Oglesby talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during a game with the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center on Feb. 5, 2017. Wisconsin defeated Indiana 65-60.8 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) talks to head coach Greg Gard during the game with the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center on Feb. 5, 2017. Wisconsin defeated Indiana 65-60.9 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard on the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in East Lansing, Mich.10 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard huddles with his team during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 18, 2017 in Buffalo, NY.11 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard and the Badgers bench react during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 23, 2018 in Iowa City Iowa.12 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to his team in a timeout during the game with the Michigan Wolverines at the Kohl Center on Feb. 11, 2018 in Madison, Wis.13 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to guard Brevin Pritzl (1) and guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) during the second half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on Nov. 13, 2018. The Badgers won 77-68.14 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to guard D'Mitrik Trice (0) during the game with the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center on Jan. 26, 2019 in Madison, Wis.15 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half of his team's game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Feb. 23, 2019 in Evanston, Ill.16 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to the bench during the game against the St. Mary's Gaels at Sanford Pentagon on Nov. 5, 2019 in Sioux Falls, SD.17 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin guard Brevin Pritzl (1) in congratulated by head coach Greg Gard in the waning moments of their game on Nov. 17, 2019, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Marquette 77-61.18 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers senior guard Brevin Pritzl (1) and head coach Greg Gard shake hands in pre-game festivities on senior night before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center on March 4, 2020, in Madison, Wis.19 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsNorth Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard after game in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Mackey Arena on March 19, 2021 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Badgers won 85-62.20 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers star sophomore Johnny Davis (1) speaks with head coach Greg Gard about the Pewaukee versus Wisconsin Lutheran game on Jan. 4, 2022, at Pewaukee High School. The Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings defeated the Pewaukee Pirates in double OT 101-99.21 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin guard Brad Davison (34) listens to head coach Greg Gard during the second half of their game at the Kohl Center Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Madison, Wis. Michigan State beat Wisconsin 86-74.22 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard watches his team during the second half of their game Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Michigan 77-63.23 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with Wisconsin Badgers guard Johnny Davis (1) during the game with the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center on March 1, 2022, in Madison, Wis.24 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks to an official during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 18, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Wisconsin beat Colgate 67-60.25 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard speaks to an official during the first half in their second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 20, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Iowa State beat Wisconsin 54-49.26 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Kamari McGee (4) during the first half of their game against Stanford on Nov. 11, 2022, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.27 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers forward Tyler Wahl (5) talks with Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Kohl Center on Jan. 17, 2023, in Madison, Wis.28 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard argues a call during the first half of their game against Purdue on March 2, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.29 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) talks with head coach Greg Gard during the second half of their game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Kohl Center on March 2, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis.30 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsCurrent Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard and former head coach Bo Ryan speaks about Howard Moore as the Wisconsin men’s basketball family gathered to honor Howard Moore and to kickoff a fundraising initiative for the Moore family on April 15, 2023, at the Champions Club in the Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.31 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their preseason game against UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 1, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.32 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their game on Dec. 2, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Marquette 75-64.33 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown before their game against Nebraska at Kohl Center on Jan. 6, 2024, in Madison, Wis.34 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsJamison Battle (10) of the Ohio State Buckeyes shoots a three-point shot over the defense of Max Klesmit (11) of the Wisconsin Badgers as Greg Gard watches from the sideline during the first half of the game at Value City Arena on Jan. 10, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.35 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsHead coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers stands on the sideline during the first half of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 10, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.36 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the first half of their game against Michigan State on Jan. 26, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.37 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) is greeted by head each Greg Gard during the second half of their game on Jan. 26, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Michigan State 81-66.38 / 38Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard through the yearsWisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks to players during a timeout against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 1, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb.He now joins a team that attempted 1,131 3-pointers and made 409 of them in 2025-26 – easily program records in both cases. The only high-major team to attempt more 3-pointers than UW’s 32.3 was Alabama with 35.9.
“They took 1,200,” Autry said. “Not opposed to taking 1,300.”
Autry will be on a team that includes other capable 3-point shooters such as returners Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter. Fellow transfer portal addition Eian Elmer hit a whopping 42.9% of his 3-pointers for Miami (Ohio) in 2025-26, and international addition Owen Foxwell hit about 34% of his 3-pointers last season in Australia’s National Basketball League.
“Doing a lot of research, the spacing and the shooting that they have and being able to get downhill and then create shots for other people – that’s something that I’m really excited to be a part of,” Autry said.
Autry also gives Wisconsin the coveted college basketball experience that last year’s senior transfers such as Nick Boyd, Braeden Carrington and Andrew Rohde had. Autry appeared in 100 games and made 68 starts in his time with the Revolutionaries.
That’s in addition to the intangible experience and knowledge he gleaned from his coaching father.
“I still call him after my games and kind of ask him what he sees and how he can help me,” Autry said. “So it’s definitely been something that’s a blessing.”
UW announced Autry’s signing April 17 – the first of three portal signings so far with another three roster spots open. UW then signed Elmer and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu on April 18.
Wisconsin got some help from a pair of players who are no longer wearing cardinal and white. Boyd and Blackwell – yes, Blackwell, the ex-Badger star currently in the transfer portal – both endorsed the program.
“They both spoke very highly about Wisconsin and about Coach [Greg] Gard,” Autry said. “Spoke highly about all the coaches, the fan base. … Being able to hear great things from two good friends was something that was really exciting and really encouraging.”
Boyd and Autry have the same agency. Blackwell competed against Autry at the AAU level, and the guards have stayed in touch as the once-underrecruited Blackwell blossomed into the coveted transfer portal player he now is.
Now, Autry has a chance to be the one to “continue to add to the winning culture.”
“Continue to keep having those winning seasons and great seasons that they have,” Autry said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Wisconsin, Trey Autry became ideal pairing in transfer portal