Week Three’s Underclassman Standouts
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With week three of the high school season wrapped up, I’ll recap the games I was able to see in person and on film this week. These are seven of the best freshmen and sophomores that I was able to…
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Continue ReadingWith week three of the high school season wrapped up, I’ll recap the games I was able to see in person and on film this week. These are seven of the best freshmen and sophomores that I was able to watch this week!
Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (6’8 2023 F, Pewaukee)- One of the top young prospects in Wisconsin, Milan caught fire in a win against Pius XI. The long stretch-forward dropped 30 points while sitting a majority of the second half with his team up big. At 6’8 he’s a difficult matchup, as he can stretch the floor with his shooting and force opposing forwards to step out and guard him. Despite his size he’s able to move well both without the ball or take his man off the dribble, meaning taller forwards have a hard time keeping up with him, and he’s able to shoot over smaller players with ease. Against Pius he caught fire from deep, showing no problem shooting over the contest, and also making a few nice off-ball cuts to get easy looks around the rim.
Colin Hardrick Colin Hardrick 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2022 State WI (6’3 2023 G, Wauwatosa West)- In a close game against a tough Oak Creek squad, it was Colin Hardrick Colin Hardrick 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2022 State WI who really stepped up in the second half. Colin has some nice physical attributes with his length, frame, and all-around athleticism, and also plays with a change of pace that makes him difficult for defenders to stay in front of. That change of pace allowed him to get to the rim at will, where he was an efficient finisher. The threat of him attacking the basket allowed for him to find space from beyond the arc, where he shot 3/4 on the day on his way to 22 points.
Jaquan Johnson (5’8 2024 G, Pius XI)- One of the more skilled guards in the 2024 class, Jaquan is a fearless player on the offensive end for Pius XI. Against a tough Pewaukee squad, Jaquan put in a solid performance scoring 11 points, showcasing a mature feel for the game. As just a freshman he plays with great change of pace and direction, and has advanced footwork around the rim that allows him to score inside over taller defenders. I came away impressed with his ability to run off screens or create shots with just one or two dribbles, and he showcased a nice stroke from three.
Demerius Shakur Demerius Shakur 6'2" | CG Martin Luther | 2023 State WI (6’3 2023 G, Martin Luther)- One of the top 2023 guards in the state, Demerius had a solid performance for Martin Luther in their win over Shoreland Lutheran. Finishing with 6 assists on the day, Demerius was impressive getting out in transition, and keeping his eyes up to find slashing teammates for easy buckets. He also excelled at beating the initial defender off the dribble, where he was able to find the open man or use his long frame to extend and finish at the rim. Demerius has some dangerous scorers around him, and he does a good job of running the show and making sure that they all get involved.
Matt Schmainda (6’ 2023 G, Brookfield East)- Against one of the top teams in the state on Friday night, Matt led Brookfield East in scoring with a 16 point performance. The sophomore sharpshooter poured in four 3’s on the night, moving off the ball to create open looks for himself. With some of the talented players around him drawing the attention of defenses, Matt is able to run off screens or slide into space along the arc, and then receive and get off his shot before the close out. Shooter to watch in the 2023 class.
JR Lukenbill (6’3 2023 G, Burlington)- Was my second viewing of JR this season, and I once again came away impressed with his play. He’s a long guard with really nice size as a college prospect, and brings a versatile game to the floor for Burlington. Going at some talented players on Westosha Central, he scored the ball in a variety of ways. JR was able to go into the post and turnaround to shoot over opposing guards, using his length to his advantage. He also handles the ball well for his size, able to create for himself going to the rim, and play off two feet to go up balanced and finish.
Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (6’2 2024 G, Pewaukee)- Another talented young prospect coming up out of Pewaukee, Nick impressed off the bench in a win over Pius XI. I really like his ability to score from mid-range, and he showcased a smooth pull-up jumper that looked like it could be a go-to move for him down the road. Nick was also able to post up opposing guards using his footwork and touch to score at the rim. As a freshman he has a really advanced skillset that allows him to score in a variety of ways, and he’s definitely a 2024 prospect to keep an eye on over the next few years.