Jackson Ball developed a special kinship with Hayden Jones well before Ball arrived on Wisconsin’s campus last month for his freshman year of college. The two New Zealand natives already had been teammates when they helped lead their country to a fourth-place finish at the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup last summer. Ball, who is one grade younger than Jones, relied on Jones as a sounding board on multiple occasions.

That included last September when special assistant to the head coach Kirk Penney, a fellow New Zealand native who recruited both players to Wisconsin, left the staff to return home and be with his family.  

“I think the fact that after Kirk left and Hayden stayed, when I was having talks with Hayden, it was just how highly he spoke of the school,” Ball said. “I think that gave me the full confidence that this is the school I want to be at. Obviously when I went on my visit, I loved the school.”

Ball and Jones remained in touch in the leadup to Ball’s arrival. When Ball’s Hawke’s Bay Hawks team played in Jones’ hometown of Nelson, New Zealand, in May, Jones was in the stands. The two talked extensively after the game about their futures together.

“We’re both really excited about what we can do this year at Wisconsin,” Ball said.

In the latest Badger Connect Podcast, Ball and Jones sit down with Mike Heller to discuss their friendship, the paths that led them to Wisconsin and more. Check out the full episode here:

(Top photo courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics)