Ethan Happ is an American professional basketball player for Fortitudo Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A. He is the all-time leading rebounder for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he started all 139 games of his college career and is the school record holder in blocked shots, double-doubles and triple-doubles. Happ is one of just six players in NCAA history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 400 assists. At a height of 2.08 m tall, Happ plays at both the power forward and center positions.
He attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played college basketball with the Wisconsin Badgers. Happ red-shirted during his freshman season, during which the Badgers were the 2015 NCAA runner-up. Happ started every game for the in 2015–16 for the Badgers and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was also a unanimous selection the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. He was selected to the third team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable mention by the coaches. As a sophomore, Happ became a greatly improved player. He was named a third-team All-American after averaging 14 points per game. Despite not being listed in most mock drafts, Happ declared for the 2018 NBA draft without hiring an agent, giving him the option to return to college, which he later did. On December 22, 2018, Happ grabbed his 1,000th career rebound in a win over Grambling State. On February 12, 2019 he scored his 2000th point, making him the first player in the Big Ten to score 2,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds in 35 years. As a senior, Happ averaged 17.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Happ was the only player in NCAA during the 2018—19 season, to lead their respective team in all 5 statistical categories.
After appearing in only one game with Olympiacos, Happ was loaned on November 5, 2019, to the Italian League club Vanoli Cremona, for the remainder of the 2019–20 season. On June 30, 2020, the Greek club officially announced that they had forfeited their contract option and Happ thus became a free agent. Happ averaged 18.3 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game.
Fortitudo Bologna
Happ signed with Fortitudo Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A on July 10, 2020.
Happ's parents are Randy and Teresa Happ. His father Randy, played college basketball at North Central College, and his brother Eric, played college basketball at Carl Sandburg College. Happ is a first cousin of New York Yankees pitcher J. A. Happ. Happ had roots from Sicily through his great grandfather.
