By Scott Beedy
Staff Writer
Channel 3000

MADISON, Wis. -- Will Hudson, now a junior at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. returns home to play the Wisconsin Badgers Wednesday night at the Kohl Center. Hudson was a three-time letter winner at Middleton High School for head coach Kevin Bavery.

"He was very gifted as an athlete," said Bavery. "To have somebody 6'9" be as athletic as he is very rare."

Hudson averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior for Middleton. Bavery said Hudson played tough and aggressive on the court, but afterward, the former all-state first team selection, got along with everybody.

"He really was the nicest kid I've ever coached," said Bavery. "He was the most unassuming kid, especially with everything that was coming his way."

As a junior, Hudson is a starting forward for the Grizzlies. He scored two points, grabbed eight rebounds and got one block in the team's season opener against Eastern Michigan. In his freshman and sophomore years he started 26 games and played in 67, but his parents said to say he is happy to return home is an understatement.

"Will loves the state of Wisconsin, he even has a tattoo of the state on his arm," said Lynn Hudson.

Will's mom even said that when Will was recruited by Grizzlies coach Greg Kampe, Kampe said he would try and schedule a game with either Marquette or Wisconsin.

"He wore No. 4 last year in honor of Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers and now he switched to No. 11," his dad, David Hudson said. "He did that for his friend."

No. 11 is the same number a former teammate of his, Tone Boyle, wears for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"(Will's) very loyal to his friends and family and very loyal to the state," said David Hudson.

David Hudson said he has been playing ticket master leading up to the game. He said he's managed to find 80 to 90 tickets for family and friends, some coming from as far away as Columbia, Mo., and Appleton, Wis., and many places in between.

"As I said to Will, 'You're in here entertaining everybody,'" said Hudson. "I know it’s a game, but it's entertainment."

Wednesday's show will be Hudson's second collegiate game in his native state. Both he and his family remember the first one very well. It was one of his best games for Oakland, scoring six points to go with 11 rebounds and four steals against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

"It is challenging at times (to contain ourselves)," said David Hudson. "Obviously, your very proud of your son and excited about the opportunities he's getting as a young adult, the places he's going, the teams he's playing against. It's just a lot of fun to follow it all."

For former coaches, family and friends the inner battle will be rooting on the home team while celebrating the hometown hero. One thing you can count on for sure, Will Hudson's cheering section will be loud.

"When one of your own comes back, it's kind of like (Favre playing for the Vikings) you want to see him do well," Bavery said. "We'll be cheering for the Badgers for every game, (except Wednesday)."

"Obviously we'd like to have a win, but I think it would be just, just to have a good game between the two teams," David Hudson said. "We know kids on both teams obviously and have been following both schools pretty close. We're just hoping for a great game."