Wilkinson attended
Wisconsin Heights High School, where he played basketball for the Vanguards. In his senior year, Wilkinson earned the Mr. Basketball award, which is the player of the year award in Wisconsin high school basketball. Wilkinson played
college basketball for the
Wisconsin Badgers from 2001 to 2005,
redshirting his freshman year, for a total of five years with the basketball program. He averaged 14.3 points per game and was selected to the All-
Big Ten Conference First Team his senior year. He was just the second player to finish his playing career with at least 1,500 points and 800 rebounds at Wisconsin. ==Professional career==