Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[Zog from Margo]

Milwaukee had a few years where incredible talent was being churned out. But the question should be who we got instead (were they comparable?), do we replace them easily if they're a one and done (essentially 2 or 3 years of guy from elsewhere instead of 1yrs of great Milwaukee guy) and are they rated in the range of normal MU recruits where landing them is a reasonable expectation (like stone, Johnson).

Milwaukee regularly produces some solid players. Mimlicovich, Knueppel, and Podziemski are some recent ones. Haliburton and Poole were in the range where MU should have had a decent shot. Whether they would have helped MU overcome Wojo's shortcomings is a good question.

[The Sultan]

Only player that left during the season, 
Played year and half, Al should have let him Finnish the season.

Like, become a Finnish citizen or just get a travel visa?

[Spotcheck Billy]

This is a timely article up today on jsonline
All six Wisconsin Mr. Basketball finalists from greater Milwaukee area

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association announced six finalists for the Mr. Basketball Award on Thursday, with all of them coming from the greater Milwaukee area.
Candidates, listed in alphabetical order, include:

Dupree Fletcher, Carmen Northwest


Tim Franks, Homestead


Nick Janowski, Pewaukee


Jaquan Johnson, Pius XI Catholic


Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran


Amari McCottry, St. Thomas More


The award has been given annually since 1982 to the most outstanding senior boys basketball player in the state. Nominees are selected by a committee of current WBCA Executive Board members. Voting for the award is conducted by a panel of WBCA Hall of Fame coaches, with the winner being announced during the boys state basketball tournament. Pewaukee's Milan Momcilovic was the co-winner of the 2023 Mr. Basketball, splitting the honor with De Pere's John Kinziger.

[The Sultan]

NO! Chones was it. Period. We went from a near certainty Natty to average after Chones left for the NBA.

He was THAT good.

Kojis number is in the rafters - Chones' isn't.
Kojis had a longer, and more produtive NBA career - and they overlapped for a bit.
Kojis made two NBA all star teams - Chones made none.
Chones had multiple future NBA players as teammates - Kojis never did.

I never saw either one of them play, but to act like its not even possible seems a little outrageous. 

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

This is a timely article up today on jsonline
All six Wisconsin Mr. Basketball finalists from greater Milwaukee area

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association announced six finalists for the Mr. Basketball Award on Thursday, with all of them coming from the greater Milwaukee area.
Candidates, listed in alphabetical order, include:

Dupree Fletcher, Carmen Northwest


Tim Franks, Homestead


Nick Janowski, Pewaukee


Jaquan Johnson, Pius XI Catholic


Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran


Amari McCottry, St. Thomas More


The award has been given annually since 1982 to the most outstanding senior boys basketball player in the state. Nominees are selected by a committee of current WBCA Executive Board members. Voting for the award is conducted by a panel of WBCA Hall of Fame coaches, with the winner being announced during the boys state basketball tournament. Pewaukee's Milan Momcilovic was the co-winner of the 2023 Mr. Basketball, splitting the honor with De Pere's John Kinziger.

There's another Dupree Fletcher?  Man, am I old!

[SaveOD238]

This is a timely article up today on jsonline
All six Wisconsin Mr. Basketball finalists from greater Milwaukee area


Nick Janowski, Pewaukee


Jaquan Johnson, Pius XI Catholic


Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran

These three are all in the Woodland Conference too.  Now that I teach at a different Woodland Conference school I really should make an effort to see these guys play when they come to town.

[willie warrior]

Kojis number is in the rafters - Chones' isn't.
Kojis had a longer, and more produtive NBA career - and they overlapped for a bit.
Kojis made two NBA all star teams - Chones made none.
Chones had multiple future NBA players as teammates - Kojis never did.

I never saw either one of them play, but to act like its not even possible seems a little outrageous.

Saw them both play. Two different players from different eras. Kojis was great as about a 6 foot 5 forward. Chones was great as a 6 foot 11 center. Kojis had a better individual career and they both are all time greats.

[Uncle Rico]

Saw them both play. Two different players from different eras. Kojis was great as about a 6 foot 5 forward. Chones was great as a 6 foot 11 center. Kojis had a better individual career and they both are all time greats.

You should watch Stevie Mitchell play sometime

[Herman Cain]

Of the best basketball players in MUBB history how many have come from 50mi around MU? (I say 50 because you run into Madison and Chicago but 50 going south is being generous) I'd say less than 10.

We don't have a need to recruit Milwaukee area as if it's make or break.

I think we'd agree MU's been fairly consistently good since 2000, with great players Kolek, Oso, Kam, JLew, Howard, Hauser (for better or worse), Rowsey, Blue, DJO, Crowder, Gardner, Butler, Hayward, McNeal, Matthews, James, Wade. None from Milwaukee area.

Great players that were: Novak, Jamil Wilson. TBD Joplin.

Vander and Wes were from Madison. Not MKE but in state and close enough.

[Galway Eagle]

Vander and Wes were from Madison. Not MKE but in state and close enough.

in state in a completely seperate city with its own major home town team is close enough? If anywhere in state is "close enough" then today I learned that Jerome Whitehead from Waukegan was culturally further away from Milwaukee than Henry Ellenson in rural north west WI.

Nope.

[avid1010]

You should watch Stevie Mitchell play sometime

I continue to appreciate you.

[Goose]

Sultan

I obviously did not see Kojis play and saw Chones play as young kid and not a great judge on who was better. That said, my BIL that did play at MU between the two has told me that Kojis was literally outstanding and a big time player. In regards to Chones, he ranks him as the second best player in his lifetime at MU. His credibility is high in my book because George Thompson played on a team that my BIL was captain of.

Now, that is one opinion and not gospel. He has been my basketball rabbi for 50+ years and I value his judgment, a lot more than I value my judgment on players. Will add, we talked at length during the SH game about Tony Miller being the most overrated PG in MU history!

[BCHoopster]

Kojis was an NBA all-star, biggest hands I have ever seen, like Dr. J, saw him dunk 2 balls at one time at his summer camp I went to.  I agree maybe the best.  Chones was the first big man Al recruited, 59-1 record, the one lose was when a ref hated Al and fouled out Dean the Dream.  The best center in MU history.  Add DWade and those might be the best ever at MU.

[4everwarriors]

#22 was tits, hey?

[Goose]

4ever

Do you have 22 the best ever?

[4everwarriors]

Just as #24 forever moved the needle, the 6'11" center from Racine solidified MU's spot on the totem pole of college hoops success. No disrespect to #54, but Jimmy was the best center. Best ever overall? Interesting argument between Warrior greats such as #3, #14, #15, #20, #31 (BE), hey?

[The Sultan]

It's Wade and pretty easily so.

[BCHoopster]

It's Wade and pretty easily so.

If your talking college, there was only national player of year at MU, Butch Lee

[MU82]

4ever

Do you have 22 the best ever?

Nah, he just liked 22's tits.

[Goose]

4ever

Agreed on Chones being the best center ever. Wade is hands down the best, imo. Hard to pick #2 because I could make arguments for a number of guys and really not a wrong pick.

[JWags85]

There's another Dupree Fletcher?  Man, am I old!

I played against the OG Dupree in grade school/middle school and remember knowing even then he was a D1 talent. I feel ancient

[The Sultan]

If your talking college, there was only national player of year at MU, Butch Lee

Wade was better.

[BCHoopster]

Wade was better.

Agreed, but in Butchs defense, he started and played 4 years at MU, DWade only 2

[Lennys Tap]

4ever

Agreed on Chones being the best center ever. Wade is hands down the best, imo. Hard to pick #2 because I could make arguments for a number of guys and really not a wrong pick.

Goose

How about a team with Meminger and Kolek at the point, Wade and Butch at the 2, George and Tatum at the 3, Luke and Bo at the 4, and Chones and Oso at the 5. JFB, Jae and Kojis can be our last 3 scholarships. Not bad, eh?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Goose

How about a team with Meminger and Kolek at the point, Wade and Butch at the 2, George and Tatum at the 3, Luke and Bo at the 4, and Chones and Oso at the 5. JFB, Jae and Kojis can be our last 3 scholarships. Not bad, eh?

Not sure MU could afford those NILs.