Milan Momcilovic Draws Near Decision
Milan Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8 rising senior forward from Pewaukee (WI) High, is one of the top players in the Midwest in the Class of 2024 and is ranked as the 29th senior in the class by Rivals.
He recently announced his Top Six schools of Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, UCLA and Virginia.
Momcilovic averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season as the Pirates finished 27-3, winning their second straight WIAA Division 2 state championship with a 67-48 win over LaCrosse Central.
He finished with 19 points and seven rebounds as he made eight of ten shots from the field in the title game. He has scored in double figures in every game but one with a season-high 34 points versus Wisconsin Lutheran and De Pere.
Momcilovic was named Player of the Year in the Western Division of the Woodland Conference as a sophomore after averaging 16.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The Pirates finished 27-3, defeating Onalaska 54-37 to win WIAA Division 2 state championship.
Momcilovic averaged 14.8 points per game as a freshman as the Pirates finished 15-9.
The Gopher Report caught up with Momcilovic after his opening game at the EYBL event in Kansas City with Team Herro.
The Gopher Report: How pleased are you with how well you guys played throughout the spring and summer?
Milan Momcilovic: "We’ve been playing good. We’ve been competing with every team here. We’ve just got to close out our games. That’s the one thing that we’ve been lacking. We’ve been up like six with 50 seconds left a couple times and let that slip. We closed this out and a big win for us. We need to win a lot here to make it to Peach Jam, so that was a good start."
The Gopher Report: When we talked for the first time back in January, you were heading into the middle part of your season. You ended up winning another state title. How did this one compare to the first one?
Momcilovic: "The last second one, I felt that it was a bit better than the first, which was during COVID. Back-to-back is hard to do. We did it and now, we’d like to go back-to-back-to-back. It is going to be the hardest one this year, because the senior class was heavy."
The Gopher Report: Have there been another other schools or players that have won three straight state titles at a higher class level?
Momcilovic: "The two schools that I know are Stevens Point (2015-17) did with the Hausers. They did and Germantown (2012-14) did."
The Gopher Report: What would that mean to you to get that third title?
Momcilovic: "That would big. Winning back-to-back-to-back is crazy. Not many people win one state title. To win three is huge."
The Gopher Report: You recently announced your Top 6. Minnesota, Virginia, Louisville, UCLA, Iowa State and Michigan State. How hard was it to narrow it down to those six?
Momcilovic: "It was pretty tough, but at the same time, I kind of knew that those six were my favorites. They were the people that contacted me the most. Showed me the most interest. You could say it was hard to narrow it down to six, but not as hard as it is to pick one."
The Gopher Report: Have you made official visits to most of those schools?
Momcilovic: "I made official visits to all of them except Louisville."
The Gopher Report: Are you planning on doing that?
Momcilovic: "No."
The Gopher Report: Have you set a date when you are going to try to make a decision?
Momcilovic: "I am going to try to make it before Peach Jam."
The Gopher Report: What is going to be the main factors that are going to make you pick School A over School B or C?
Momcilovic: "The relationships with the coaches. That is going to be big. The opportunity. The style. How I fit in? Where do they see me? The opportunity I have to play and winning."
The Gopher Report: Is it nice in a way to know that, to be honest, any of the six schools are going to hopefully be a great basketball and educational experiences? Does that make it a little bit easier knowing that you don’t have a bad choice? Does that make it a little bit easier knowing that you don’t have a bad choice?
Momcilovic: "For sure. I hear my parents and they said wherever I go, they are going to be fully supportive because they’ve got involved and they love every school. I am going to get their full support wherever I pick. I’m going to take their input, but at the end of the day, it’s my decision."
The Gopher Report: Let me ask you about each school. What do you like about UCLA?
Momcilovic: "It’s LA. It’s out west. California. The opportunities are there, because they have some players leaving and hopefully, the opportunity to play right away."
The Gopher Report: What about Virginia?
Momcilovic: "Coach Bennett is going to make you work and play defense. I can fit in there. They sent me a couple of clips of Sam Hauser and how I would fit in there. You have got to play defense."
The Gopher Report: How about Michigan State?
Momcilovic: "Tom Izzo. Legendary coach. He is just a really funny dude. A really good dude. It’s close to home. My parents could go to all the Big Ten games. I like that it’s close to home."
The Gopher Report: What about Iowa State?
Momcilovic: "T.J. and his staff, J.R. They have loved me since Day One. They’ve been in to see me six times. I like their campus. I love them. Their style of play is great. I think that I can come in and have the opportunity right away and just the relationship with T.J."
The Gopher Report: How about Minnesota?
Momcilovic: "Minnesota. Jason Kemp is my favorite assistant and Ben Johnson. They have some really good people up there. I like them. They are close to home. They play Wisconsin twice a year."
The Gopher Report: You mentioned Wisconsin. Any disappointment that Wisconsin and Marquette didn’t recruit you harder?
Momcilovic: "To me, it’s going to be about the schools that wanted me. They didn’t want me."
The Gopher Report: Is that something that you will remember if you go to a school that plays them?
Momcilovic: "I’ll remember that, for sure. They didn’t want me."
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