Nike EYBL Session 4: Saturday Notebook

KANSAS CITY -- News and notes from Saturday’s action at Nike EYBL Session 4...   TEAM HERRO COMES UP SHORT AGAINST NJ SCHOLARS Needing to play well and get some help to reach Peach Jam, Team Herro 17U started the weekend at 2-0, including a huge win over N.H. Lightning, who was the top team in its division. However, Herro dropped their final game on Friday to Meanstreets, putting them one game back of sixth place in their division. Saturday, Herro took on a loaded NJ Scholars squad, who were without DJ Wagner, arguably the No. 1 player in the country. Herro led much of the way, but<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/20220423_103859.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1438570" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/20220423_103859-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> couldn’t finish the deal in crunch time, despite a major second half from [player_tooltip player_id="953944" first="Milan" last="Momcilovic"]. The state’s top ranked player poured in a game-high 25 points, including 17 in the second half alone. Momocilovic was tested by some strong athletes and passed with flying colors. The Pewaukee standout has gotten so much better at scoring against size and length, relying less on his finesse and more on his strength. Momcilovic was 10-of-17 from the floor and also dished out two assists. Illinois State commit [player_tooltip player_id="953943" first="John" last="Kinziger"] also performed well. In front of his future head coach Ryan Pedon, Kinziger scored or assisted on 14 of the first 17 points for Herro. Early on, Kinziger was carving up the Scholars and got his team off to a great start. Kinziger would finish with 12 points, eight assists, and two steals.   PHENOM 16U PICKS UP TWO WINS Phenom 16’s went 1-2 in pool play, bouncing back from an 0-2 start, they were able to handle NH Lightning in their final game on Friday behind a 25-point, 6-assist effort from [player_tooltip player_id="1089682" first="Nick" last="Janowski"].<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/Nick-Janowski-2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1477850" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/Nick-Janowski-2-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> Four players finished in double figures, led by wing [player_tooltip player_id="1142123" first="Kon" last="Knueppel"], as Phenom manhandled Mokan Saturday morning. Putting together yet another huge weekend, Knueppel posted 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The Wisconsin Lutheran wing was simply automatic shooting the basketball, going 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Phenom got great production across the board, Janowski had another balanced effort, chipping in with 15 points and seven assists. Thought he did an excellent job of going back and forth between a scorer and a faciliator. Brookfield Central’s [player_tooltip player_id="1142131" first="Jack" last="Daugherty"] showed some strong flashes, facing up and knocking down jumpers and making some athletic plays above the rim. Daugherty added 11 points, five assists, and five rebounds. A player that’s growing on me this summer, [player_tooltip player_id="1089686" first="Quinton" last="Lomack"] finished with 11 points and five assists. The Madison La Follette guard has gotten so much better with his court awareness and shot selection over the last year. He’s developing into a nice point guard prospect. Also a plus defender, Lomack generates stops, shuts off drives to the rim, and plays the passing lanes well. Late in the afternoon, Daugherty went crazy, dropping 29 points, including a 7-of-11 effort from 3-point range as Phenom University pulled away from Why Not.   BORDER BATTLE SET FOR SUNDAY With Phenom’s two wins along with two victories for Howard Pulley, that set up a very intriguing matchup for the Silver Division title. Pulley blasted PG Elite by 24 points in their opener. The Minnesota standouts then held on for a 69-63 win over Team Melo, with Carmelo Anthony himself in attendance. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/58-Jack-Robison.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1496515" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/58-Jack-Robison-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> 2024 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1151197" first="Daniel" last="Freitag"] led the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Conitnue to be astounded by his ability to show up in crunch time. If all else fails, Freitag is a guy that can break down a defense and get something positive at the rim. He’s lived in the paint and at the free throw line all week. 2024 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1284083" first="Andy" last="Stefonowicz"] has had a big weekend as well. Think this is a prospect that mid-major programs will jump in quickly on. May not posses ideal size and measurables, but Stefonowicz knows how to play. He’s a right place-right time prospect with a very advanced feel for the game. A guy you want at the controls, if you’re open, Stefonowicz will find you. He made a handful of huge plays down the stretch in Saturday’s win, finishing with 13 points (6-9), eight assists, and six rebounds. 2024 wing [player_tooltip player_id="1284147" first="Jack" last="Robison"] added 11 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. The 6-foot-5 wing is very skilled and there’s more to his game than just offense. Robison is the first to the floor for loose balls, puts his body on the line and takes charges, and is a very good offensive rebounder that knows how to keep plays alive.   THE BATTLE FOR NO. 1 The 2025 class in Wisconsin is loaded, but two prospects have separated themselves at the top -- [player_tooltip player_id="1240335" first="Kai" last="Rogers"] (Wauwatosa West) and [player_tooltip player_id="1390443" first="Davion" last="Hannah"] (Nicolet). Rogers currently owns the top spot, but Hannah has just as good of a case. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/DSC02503.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1499955" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/DSC02503-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> The two faced off at the Prep Hoops Summer Challenge with Hannah and Mac Irvin Fire besting Rogers and Wisconsin Playground Club in decisive fashion. Hannah is the better player right now. Rogers owns the top spot due to his long term upside and that he’s just more unique, but Hannah isn’t making this decision easy. Saw Hannah put up what looked like an easy 22 points against the Oakland Soldiers with Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard in attendance. It’s just silly how easy Hannah makes scoring the ball look sometimes. The 6-foot-5 wing glides effortlessly to the bucket and can float for an extended period of time. Hannah also needs limited dribbles to break down defenders as well. Like that Hannah is a two-way player as well. He was guarding the other team’s best player and was looking to cool off a hot hand.