6’8 Milan Momcilovic - Phenom University-Team Herro/Pewaukee HS
Analysis: Milan Momcilovic continued to establish himself as the top 2023 prospect in Wisconsin and a top 50 national recruit over the grassroots season with Phenom U/Team Herro. At 6’8, Momcilovic has an advanced perimeter skillset, is an elite shooter and uses his size and a high release point to make contested jumpers. Momcilovic is an underrated playmaker and ball handler and showed some flashes initiating offense in ball screen actions. His footwork and fluidity allows him to attack closeouts and turn drives into post ups, where he has a nice fall away game and is able to spin over either shoulder and create space to get his shot off in traffic. Momcilovic needs to continue to work on his lateral movement defensively to guard quicker wings but slots as a 4/3 capable of playing on the perimiter, and his skillset projects as an immediate impact player in the Big 12.
Recruitment: Committed to Iowa State
6’4 Demarion Burch - Team Haliburton/Milwaukee Hamilton HS
Analysis: Demarion Burch was one of the biggest stock boosters of the grassroots season and built on his strong junior season in which he averaged 29.7 points for Milwaukee Hamilton. Burch is an ultra athletic lead guard who plays above the rim and has as much long term upside as any prospect in Wisconsin. What separates Burch is his elite physical tools and he has made positive strides in his skillset to push him into the #2 slot in our state rankings. He was much more consistent as a jump shooter with Team Haliburton this spring and summer and has a nice mid range game off the dribble. Burch is wired to score but has also improved as a facilitator, is comfortable operating in pick and roll actions and makes correct reads when drawing help on his drives. Burch has the wiggle and handle to be successful as a primary ball handler at the next level but can also be a secondary initiator and scorer. He has the size and quickness to guard smaller guards or bigger wings and this versatility at the 1 or 2 spots will help him earn minutes early in his college career.
Recruitment: Offers from Milwaukee, Valparaiso, Nebraska-Omaha, Robert Morris, and Bradley.
6’1 Johnny Kinziger - Phenom University-Team Herro/Depere HS
Analysis: Johnny Kinziger is a tough combo guard who was in the conversation for the number 2 spot in our updated Wisconsin rankings. Kinziger is one of the top shooters in his class, able to knock down shots with consistency off the dribble, in the midrange and in catch and shoot with range. His competitiveness stood out each time I watched him both in HS and grassroots settings and he does a lot of small things at a high level to impact winning - 50/50 balls, defensive communication, on ball defense, getting his team into correct sets to exploit matchups, etc. Kinziger had some big games in July with Team Herro on the EYBL circuit and is a fantastic pick up for Illinois State as part of a big time recruiting class along with Ty Pence. Kinziger is a bit undersized to be a true 2-guard, although he is a capable scorer able to play on and off the ball, and projects as a true point guard at the college level. As the senior leader of a loaded De Pere team, Kinziger should compete for a state championship this winter.
Recruitment: Committed to Illinois State
6’7 Marcus Hall - Wisconsin Swing/DC Everest HS
Analysis: Marcus Hall is a combo forward with a polished skillset, great footwork and is a high level shooter. Hall saw his recruitment explode over the grassroots season with Wisconsin Swing on the NY2LA Association, picking up a bunch of D2 offers over the spring before adding 5 D1 offers this summer. Hall is not a kid that is going to wow you with his athleticism, but at 6’7 he can play above the rim, is fluid with the ball in his hands and can get to his spots and rise up for jumpers. He also showed a nice post game when matched up with smaller defenders, able to use his footwork and soft touch to score around the basket. Defensively, Hall needs to continue to improve his lateral movement and, similar to Momcilovic, slots more as a 4/3 than a pure wing at this stage. He should find success as a floor spacer and pick and pop big early in his college career, but has a chance to develop into a true 3-man with his skillset and fluidity. Hall is, without question, one of the top college prospects in Wisconsin with his combination size, perimeter skillset and in-game production, and should have a huge senior season at DC Everest this winter. Don’t be surprised if hall is a sleeper in Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball conversation.
Recruitment: Offers from Green Bay, Milwaukee, Towson, Lehigh, and Purdue-Fort Wayne. Interest from South Dakota State and Wake Forest
6’8 William Whorton - Wisconsin Playground/Milwaukee Rufus King HS
Analysis: William Whorton is one of the most intriguing long term prospects in Wisconsin regardless of class, and his upside and physical tools helped push him to the #5 slot in our updated 2023 rankings. At 6’8, Whorton is long and athletic, can run the floor like a guard covering ground in a hurry with his long strides, and plays above the rim as a shot blocker and lob finisher. Although he still needs to continue to polish his skillset, Whorton has continuously improved over the last 2-3 years since we first saw him as a raw young prospect, and is a kid that may see his most productive basketball come after high school. Right now he has the most impact on games defensively and on the glass, can finish drop off passes and lobs around the basket and I love his ability to get out and play in transition. If he can add some perimeter skill and fine tune his jump shot mechanics, I like Whorton's potential as a face up big, able to slash to the rim. Whorton has a chance to be one of the best players from this class when we look back 3 years from now.
Recruitment: Offers from Tennessee State, Central Michigan, Louisiana Monroe, and SIU-Edwardsville