Week Five’s Underclassman Standouts
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With another week of the high school season completed, we take a look back at some of the top freshman and sophomore performers from week five! All of these players I either watched in-person or on film throughout the week.…
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Continue ReadingWith another week of the high school season completed, we take a look back at some of the top freshman and sophomore performers from week five! All of these players I either watched in-person or on film throughout the week.
Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (6’8 2023 F, Pewaukee)- I’ve seen Milan play three times this winter, and each time he’s impressed with his advanced skillset for a player his size. His maturity and feel for the game is advanced beyond what you typically find in a sophomore, and it shows in his ability to score with ease in a variety of ways. Against Neenah he took over in the second half on his way to a 25 point finish, floating out on the perimeter to knock down a handful of threes, while also taking smaller forwards onto the block to score. He has one of the best turnaround jumpers in the state, and hits it at a high rate from the baseline making him so dangerous on the block, while also having the threat to float out and shoot the three at a high percentage. He also showed flashes of passing vision, lofting passes over the top of his man for easy assists around the rim.
Drew Wagner (2024 PG, Kettle Moraine)- No height listed for Drew Wagner on the Kettle Moraine roster, but the undersized guard brought big game to the floor against Waukesha West. He has a really quick burst off the dribble that allowed him to get an edge on his defender and attack the basket against size, using a high arching floater to score over length at the rim. He also looked really good pulling up and elevating for a couple of mid-range shots, including a buzzer beater at the half. As just a freshman, Drew was one of the most vocal players on the floor, and after finishing with 10 points, he looks ready for a productive four-year varsity career.
Connor Roffers (6’2 2024 G, Burlington)- Burlington just has a collection of young talent on their roster, with Connor Roffers being the latest to show his talent and potential last week. Against Racine St. Catherine’s, Connor came off the bench ready to play, finishing with 10 points on the day. The long and lanky guard has no shortage of confidence, running off screens able to quickly set his feet and fire off a three, a shot that he can hit consistently. Listed at 6’2 but looks even taller than that, Connor has plenty of length as a freshman to compete on both ends, and as his offensive skillset continues to grow he’ll be a dangerous prospect in the SLC.
Jacob Dunham Jacob Dunham 6'4" | SG South Milwaukee | 2023 State WI (6’2 2023 SG, South Milwaukee)- One of the top mid-range scorers that I’ve seen this season, Jake Dunham poured in 27 points against a tough Whitnall squad, keeping his team competitive for most of the game. Jake did a really nice job of curling off screens tightly to create some separation, where he was then able to take one dribble and pull-up from mid-range off two feet or hit a soft floater off one foot. You can tell that Jake puts a lot of work in on his fundamentals, as he made these types of plays look routine as he shot 13-16 on the day. His ability to move off the ball and create shots without needing to dribble makes him a unique player at his age.
Kon Knueppel (6’3 2024 G, Wisconsin Lutheran)- Already averaging in double figures for the #1 ranked team in Division 2, Kon made his presence felt off the bench in a key win over Franklin last week. I really like his feel for the game, especially when he catches in the paint and has the presence of mind to play with patience and go up balanced to finish. Off-ball he does a really nice job of moving when one of his teammates penetrates, to either find space for a kick out, or to cut to the basket himself for an easy dump off pass and finish. Looked really comfortable stepping into his shot from three on his way to 15 points in a win.
Prentice Young Prentice Young 6'4" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State #273 Nation WI Jr. (6’4 2023 G, Wisconsin Lutheran)- Prentice Young Prentice Young 6'4" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State #273 Nation WI seems to contribute in so many ways each night for Wisconsin Lutheran. In a win over Franklin, he put up 13 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists, showcasing his ability to score in multiple ways but also set up his teammates. Young has a really nice change of pace when attacking the basket, and is able to absorb contact while maintaining his balance to finish at the rim. The bulk of his scoring comes attacking the basket or pulling up from mid-range, but he also showed flashes of being able to hit the three off the catch. Passing-wise he does a good job of stopping on a dime and then threading the needle with a crisp bounce pass.
Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (6’3 2024 G, Pewaukee)- No shortage of confidence from this freshman, as Nick is the spark off the bench for a loaded Pewaukee squad. Against Neenah he came into the game and immediately made his presence felt with a smooth pull-up mid-range. In the second half it was his ability to move off the ball and hit the three that helped Pewaukee close the gap, and it was the freshman who hit a three with 30 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime. Nick has that combination of positional size, advanced skill, and confidence that will make him a dangerous scorer over the next few years.