Badgers miss out on Blue, but sign 3 others.

MADISON - After being spurned by hometown prep star Vander Blue, who changed his mind and signed with state rival Marquette on Wednesday, Wisconsin regrouped to pick up three other players.

The Badgers signed 6-11 center Evan Anderson, 6-8 forward Duje Dukan (pronounced DOO-yay, DOO-kahn), and 6-4 guard Josh Gasser.

Anderson averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game in an injury-shortened junior season for Eau Claire North, but still earned AP all-state honorable mention.

Dukan is from Deerfield, Ill., and is a native of Croatia. He is the son of Ivica Dukan, who is currently the Director of International Scouting for the Chicago Bulls, after playing professionally in Europe for 15 years.

Gasser averaged double figures in both points and rebounds in each of the last two seasons at Port Washington.

Recruiting analyst Van Coleman believes it's a class that will be ranked among the top 30 or 40 nationally by most analysts. He has it ranked as the sixth-best among Big Ten Conference teams.

The Badgers would have had a top-20 class if Madison Memorial standout guard Vander Blue hadn't broken the hearts of many UW fans by opting out of his oral commitment so he could play at Marquette. Coleman believes Blue is an exceptional talent and a difference-maker in games, but he also believes the Badgers haven't lost track of what it takes to keep winning games.

"Folks have to trust that you're competing for Big Ten titles every year because of a coach who recognizes what works for him," said Coleman.

"Sometimes it's not just getting the player everybody has heard of," said Coleman. "Sometimes it's getting a player who fits the system so well that he immediately makes an impact."

- Capital Newspapers' Rob Schultz contributed to this story