Gohlke shoots a three for the Wisconsin Herd. Courtesy | Wisconsin Herd Instagram
Jack Gohlke ’23 has begun his professional basketball career in the United States, signing with the Wisconsin Herd, an NBA G League team, on Dec. 26. The NBA G League is the minor league directly beneath the NBA, and the Herd is affiliated with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Gohlke shot to fame last year during the NCAA’s March Madness tournament while playing for Oakland University, scoring 10 three-pointers and leading his team to an upset victory over the University of Kentucky.
“We were all watching their first game just to see if he would hit even one or two shots, so for him to pop off the way he did was insane and really fun to witness,” sophomore Nathan Furness said. “It’s the closest Hillsdale students have come to having a team to cheer for in March Madness and we cherished every second of it.”
Upon signing with the Herd, Gohlke immediately flew to meet the team before one of their road games. He has since played nine games for the Herd. His debut game for the Herd was on Dec. 27 against the Greensboro Swarm in North Carolina, where he scored nine points.
In that first game, Gohlke said he was surprised to play for 35 minutes because he had not practiced with the team and had signed with the Herd only the day before.
“I was expecting I’ll just be here, maybe go in for a little bit if someone gets hurt or whatever, because I hadn’t even practiced with the team yet,” he said. “I was thrown into the fire right away. But it was good. I think that’s the best way to learn too. So I just learned the most by starting and playing a bunch right away.”
John Tharp, Hillsdale College director of athletics, coached Gohlke while he was at Hillsdale and still follows his basketball career.
“I have not seen a complete Herd game of Gohlke’s, but I’ve seen highlights of what he’s doing out there,” Tharp said. “I know he hit four or five threes the other night, and so it’s great to see.”
Gohlke said the G League is teaching him that he still has a lot to learn about basketball despite his many years of experience.
“I played college for a long time, and I learned so much, and I thought by the end of college – not that I figured out basketball or anything like that – but I thought, ‘basketball is a simple game,’” Gohlke said. “And then, once I got here, the way we watch film and the way we practice and stuff, I realized that there’s still many more intricacies to basketball and I have learned so much more. So, I’m just trying to soak up as much as I can and try to improve as much as I can from the mental aspect of the game.”
Tharp said he believes the Herd will allow for Gohlke to grow as a player and continue to improve his three-point shots.
“With the athletes that he’s dealing with, his ability to get shots off will continue to improve,” Tharp said. “So he knows how to play the game. He knows how to get himself open. And there’s an art form of getting the ball in your hands, in the right positions.”
Before signing with the Herd, Gohlke played in the 2024 NBA Summer League for the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as for KK Podgorica in Montenegro.
Gohlke said there is a different level of professionalism in the NBA G League, which he appreciates compared to his experience playing professionally overseas.
“I like how it’s so professional in the G League,” he said. “We have a big staff and a lot of people to help you work out and to help you with rehab, all that type of stuff.”
Gohlke said he is grateful for his time at Hillsdale and the coaches that were an integral part of his life for five years.
“I want to shout-out coach Tharp and coach Keven Bradley for all their help from my time at Hillsdale and after as well, just putting so much time and dedication to the players that they coach and to me in particular, and helping me improve,” Gohlke said. “And I want to give a shout out to those in the basketball program.”