Wisconsin high school basketball governing body rejects proposal of shot clock usage

Multiple sources confirmed that the governing body for Wisconsin high school basketball denied the proposal for shot clock implementation. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Advisory Council thumbed down the proposal of shot clock usage for non-conference games during the 2025-26 season.

Their vote means that the WIAA Board of Control won’t even tackle the proposal during their meeting today. A report from WisSports.net’s Travis Wilson revealed that the WIAA Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee proposed shot clock usage as early as 2017.

BREAKING: Both proposals for a shot clock in basketball were voted down by the WIAA Advisory Council this morning, meaning they will not be considered at tomorrow's Board of Control meeting. #wisbb #wisgb pic.twitter.com/jGkhdrpPrU

— Travis Wilson (@travisWSN) June 24, 2025

Four years later, the National Federation of State High School Associations voted to allow shot clock usage. However, the discretion of implementing the vote still rests with the governing bodies. With this recent development, Wisconsin high school basketball won’t be among the 30 states and the District of Columbia that will implement the shot clock at varying degrees.

However, the NFHS’s vote brought out contrasting opinions from Wisconsin high school basketball coaches and administrators. The most recent survey by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association showed that 62 percent of coaches supported shot clock usage. Conversely, 54.3 percent of administrators were against it, based on a December 2022 WBCA survey.

The latest decision of the WIAA Advisory Council means that Wisconsin joins Texas and Pennsylvania in rejecting shot clock usage. Earlier this month, the University Interscholastic League delayed its implementation for all competition levels. Likewise, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association decided against the shot clock, which the NFHS recommends at 35 seconds.

Meanwhile, unlike Wisconsin high school basketball, Florida approved universal shot clock usage by the 2026-2027 season during a vote conducted in the first week of June. Last April, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association also voted for universal shot clock implementation by 2026-27.

Both sides have valid points regarding the high school shot clock. Those in favor, like legendary coach Bob Hurley, see it as a way for young players to easily adapt to college basketball and the NBA. On the other hand, those against it cite the costs of purchasing shot clocks and the training of people who will operate them during games.

Aside from Wisconsin high school basketball’s governing body saying ‘no’ to the shot clock, the WIAA Advisory Council also rejected the proposal of expanding state tournament participants from 20 to 40 teams.