​During last offseason, after going undrafted, former Wisconsin Badgers center Steven Crowl found a opportunity with the Utah Jazz by signing an Exhibit 10 contract. He participated in the NBA Summer League and spent time with the Jazz’s organization in the G League. In the G League, Crowl played 31 regular-season games for the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s affiliate, earning 22 starts and logging an average of 24.5 minutes per game. He posted 6.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting an impressive 69.3 percent from the field. His presence alongside other Badger alumni added an extra layer of intrigue to Utah’s development pipeline.
Crowl wasn’t the only former Wisconsin standout in Salt Lake City that season. He shared the court with Max Klesmit and John Tonje, both of whom also spent time with the Stars. Tonje was traded midway through the season, altering the roster composition, while Klesmit accumulated 26 appearances for Salt Lake City, contributing valuable minutes and depth off the bench. The experience highlighted the Badgers’ continued reach into the NBA’s development ranks and showcased Crowl’s potential to translate Wisconsin fundamentals to professional basketball.
Fast forward to this summer, and Crowl has secured a new opportunity on a higher-profile stage. 247Sports’ Dushawn London reported that Crowl will be part of the Detroit Pistons’ Summer League roster, with games set to begin this week. At 25 years old, Crowl brings a veteran presence and a well-rounded skill set to Detroit’s Summer League squad. Over his 153-game career at Wisconsin, Crowl averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from beyond the arc. His efficiency, versatility, and basketball IQ have continued to draw interest from NBA scouts and teams looking for a mature big man who can contribute in multiple facets of the game.
On Detroit’s current Summer League roster, Crowl will be joined by a group of forwards and centers, including Ugonna Onyenso, Basheer Jihad, and Isaac Jones. These players will vie for minutes and a potential standard contract, leveraging Crowl’s experience and Wisconsin-developed fundamentals to help the Pistons evaluate frontcourt options for the upcoming season. Crowl’s transition from Wisconsin to the NBA development ladder—through Utah’s ecosystem and now Detroit’s Summer League—illustrates the dynamic path many undrafted players navigate to demonstrate their value at the professional level.
For fans and followers of Wisconsin basketball, Crowl’s journey underscores the program’s continued ability to produce players who can adapt to pro environments, whether in the G League, Summer League, or beyond. His statistical footprint at Wisconsin—balanced scoring, solid rebounding, and reliable playmaking—coupled with his efficiency from the field, positions him as a versatile big who can stretch the floor and contribute defensively. As Crowl joins the Pistons’ Summer League squad, all eyes will be on how his game translates against higher competition and whether he can carve out a role as a dependable frontcourt contributor in the NBA.
In the broader context of Wisconsin-era players pursuing professional basketball paths, Crowl’s moves through the Jazz organization’s Exhibit 10 contract, a productive G League season, and now a Summer League stint with the Pistons reflect a common route for players leveraging development opportunities. The combination of his size, basketball IQ, and improved shooting acumen could help Crowl secure a long-term seat in the NBA, whether with Detroit, another franchise, or as a valuable contributor in the G League while pursuing a breakthrough season. As Crowl takes the court for Detroit this summer, supporters will be watching to see how his Midwest-rooted discipline translates into NBA-ready performance at the highest level.