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Journal Sentinel 2023-24 all-area boys basketball team led by Mr. Basketball, state qualifiers

Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·9 min read

Led by eight state-qualifying teams, three state champions and all six Mr. Basketball finalists, the greater Milwaukee area featured some of the premier boys basketball talent in the state in the 2023-24 season.

Here is the Journal Sentinel all-area boys basketball team, featuring the standout performers from an area loaded with talented prospects and successful programs.

First team

Wisconsin Lutheran's Kon Knueppel, right, and Nicolet's Davion Hannah were both named to our all-area boys basketball teams. Knueppel was a first-team selection, and Hannah was a second-team choice.
Wisconsin Lutheran's Kon Knueppel, right, and Nicolet's Davion Hannah were both named to our all-area boys basketball teams. Knueppel was a first-team selection, and Hannah was a second-team choice.

Kon Knueppel II, 6-6, sr., G, Wisconsin Lutheran: The Duke commit led a historic perfect season for the Vikings while winning the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association's Mr. Basketball Award. His 11 assists in the WIAA Division 2 state title win over Pewaukee were a state tournament record effort that contributed to two other tournament records for team assists (22) and team field-goal percentage (68.0). His season averages included 25.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He finished his career with a school record 1,978 points, and was named to the WBCA D2 all-state team.

Nick Janowski, 6-3, sr., G, Pewaukee: The Nebraska commit finished just shy of leading Pewaukee to a fourth-straight WIAA D2 title in a championship game loss to Wisconsin Lutheran, but nonetheless concluded one of the more successful careers in state history on a high note. Without much of the supplementary scoring that he benefitted from often earlier in his career, Janowski maintained a 52.7 field-goal percentage (308 of 587) while taking 227 more shots than his junior year. He led the 25-5 Pirates with 30.8 points per game, along with per game averages of 8.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals. His 2,297 points for his career are a school record. He was named to the WBCA D2 all-state team and a Mr. Basketball finalist.

Nolan Minessale, 6-5, sr., G/F, Marquette: The twice-reigning Greater Metro Conference player of the year led the Hilltoppers to the program's first WIAA D1 state title win over Arrowhead on March 16 with a team-high 29 points. The St. Thomas (Minn.) commit averaged 22.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the 26-4 Hilltoppers, spearheading Marquette to a second consecutive conference title share. He holds the school records for career points scored (1,695) and single-season scoring (662). The WBCA named him to the D1 all-state team.

Bennett Basich, 6-4, sr., G, Arrowhead: The Classic 8 Conference player of the year led Arrowhead to the WIAA D1 title game for the second consecutive season with tone-setting play on both ends of the court. The UW-Green Bay commit averaged 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals for the 27-3 Warhawks. He was named to the WBCA D1 all-state team.

Amari McCottry, 6-6, sr., G, St. Thomas More: The WBCA D3 all-state team honoree led the Cavaliers to a 29-1 season that concluded in a WIAA D3 state title win over Lakeside Lutheran. McCottry concluded his career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,284 points, capped by a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He was also named the Metro Classic Conference's player of the year for the third consecutive season, and a Mr. Basketball finalist. He remains uncommitted, with reported NCAA DI offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Grambling State, Indiana State, Lousiana Tech, Miami (Ohio) and UW-Milwaukee.

Coach of the year: Ryan Walz, Wisconsin Lutheran: The Vikings completed just the second 30-0 season in WIAA state history with a nearly flawless 83-62 win over Pewaukee in the D2 state title game on March 16. After three consecutive seasons falling to the Pirates in sectional final contests, Wisconsin Lutheran broke through with a three-game sweep over Pewaukee this year. Among its other impressive wins this season were an 82-67 win over Arrowhead on Dec. 1, 2023, an 83-73 win over St. Thomas More on Dec. 27, 2023, that proved to be the Cavaliers' only loss of the season and a 70-68 win over De Pere on Jan. 13 that brought a 42-game winning streak for the Redbirds to an end. While the eventual 2024 Mr. Basketball Kon Knueppel led the way, Walz pulled all the right strings to bring along a young team that graduated seven seniors from the season prior. WIAA state tournament records for team assists (22) and team field-goal percentage (68.0) in the title game win over Pewaukee proved the Vikings were built to succeed at the highest level in a way unlike few programs to ever precede them.

Ryan Walz led Wisconsin Lutheran to the WIAA Division 2 state title during a 30-0 season. It was just the second undefeated season in WIAA history.
Ryan Walz led Wisconsin Lutheran to the WIAA Division 2 state title during a 30-0 season. It was just the second undefeated season in WIAA history.

Second team

Dupree Fletcher Jr., 6-0, sr., G, Carmen Northwest: The 2022-23 Milwaukee City Gold Conference player of the year followed up a strong junior season with an inspired senior campaign for Carmen Northwest. The Mr. Basketball finalist led the conference with 27.6 points per game, to go along with per game averages of 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.6 steals. Carmen Northwest finished 20-8, losing in the sectional final to St. Thomas More. Fletcher Jr. was named to the WBCA D3 all-state team.

Jaquan Johnson, 5-11, sr., G, Pius XI Catholic: The third Mr. Basketball candidate coming from a loaded Woodland West Conference was Johnson, who was also named to the WBCA D2 all-state team. In a conference with Knueppel and Janowski to contend with, Johnson outscored both with a 32.3 points per game average that was fourth-highest in the state across all divisions. The Bradley University commit did it all for the 17-9 Popes this year, averaging 7.6 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 4.0 steals a game in addition to his ability to create his own shot. His 2,473 career points are a school record.

Tim Franks, 6-5, sr., G, Homestead: The Highlanders put up a competitive bid for the North Shore Conference, finishing a game behind Nicolet in the conference thanks in large part to the school's all-time scoring leader Franks. The St. Thomas commit averaged 27.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game in his senior campaign, wrapping up a career in which he scored 1,923 points. He was named the North Shore player of the year, a Mr. Basketball finalist and a WBCA D1 all-state member.

Davion Hannah, 6-6, jr., W, Nicolet: The North Shore champion Knights were led back to state for the second-consecutive season by the versatile NCAA D1 recruit Hannah. Nicolet ran the fast break like few teams in the area this season, led by the opportunistic defense of Hannah both in the paint and on the perimeter. His offensive averages of 19.4 points and 2.3 assists per game were rounded out nicely by defensive averages of 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.9 blocks. He was named to the WBCA D2 all-state team.

Kai Rogers, 6-11, jr., C, Wauwatosa West: The area's top big prospect put together another strong season for the 18-9 Trojans, leading the conference in rebounds with 13.6 per game. His scoring average of 20.0 points per game led averages that also included 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game. He was named an All-Greater Metro Conference first team member, as well as a WBCA D2 all-state team member.

Third team

Ky'moni Hunt, 5-9, sr., G, Milwaukee Hamilton: Despite losing one of the area's best pick and roll duos from a season ago in Demarion Burch and Simeon Murchison, Milwaukee Hamilton put together another deep postseason run led by a breakout season from Hunt. The Milwaukee City Gold Conference player of the year increased his points per game average from 16.0 as a junior to 26.3 as a senior, good for second best in the conference. He added 4.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game for the conference champion 19-6 Wildcats, proving he could create opportunities in the fast break with his on-ball defense, scoring and facilitating. He was named a WBCA D1 all-state honorable mention.

Eric Kenesie, 6-1, sr., G, Kenosha St. Joseph: The 20-10 Lancers finished just shy of a storybook ending for one of the program's all-time best, losing 65-64 in the WIAA D4 state title game to Mineral Point. A second straight trip to the state tournament nevertheless set the standard for KSJ going forward, which was once again led by the All-Metro Classic first team honoree Kenesie. His 24.5 points per game came on 57.7 percent shooting from the field, including 45.5 percent (55 of 121) from deep, provided a chunk of the offense for the Lancers all season. Averages of 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals helped earn him a WBCA D4 all-state team nod.

Will Stuckey, 6-1, sr., G, Kettle Moraine: A run back to the WIAA D1 state tournament did not seem to be in the cards for Kettle Moraine in the first year of a new head coach and after losing returning leading scorer Drew Wagner for most of the season due to injury. Nevertheless, Stuckey and the Lasers found a way with gritty defense and more than enough scoring in key games. The St. Norbert commit averaged 17.4 points to carry a significant load of the scoring for a 25-4 KM team that finished a game behind Arrowhead for the Classic 8 Conference title. Stuckey was named to the All-Conference first team, and a WBCA all-state honorable mention.

Sekou Konneh, 6-9, sr., F, St. Thomas More: The other half of STM's dynamic duo that led the state title run was provided by the athletic above the rim play from Konneh. The WBCA D3 all-state team honoree and Metro Classic Conference first team member averaged 22.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He remains uncommitted, but reports offers from Indiana State, Loyola (Ill.), Miami (Ohio) and UW-Milwaukee.

Jace Gilbert, 6-5, sr., F, Arrowhead: The Iowa State football commit proved he can be as much of a terror on the basketball court as he can be in offensive backfields this season. The Classic 8 All-Conference first-team selection was a dominant paint presence for a state title-reaching Warhawks squad, averaging 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season. He was named a WBCA all-state honorable mention.

Honorable mention

Isaiah Allen, sr., Milwaukee Lutheran; Ahmad Badwan, sr., Salam; Nacir Beamon, sr., Nicolet; Jaquarius Bent, jr., Milwaukee South; Devin Brown, jr., Milwaukee Academy of Science; Termarion Brumby, sr., Racine Case; Jack Daugherty, sr., Brookfield Central; Samuel Hans, sr., Lake Country Lutheran; Dooney Johnson, fr., Milwaukee Juneau; Jack Lutz, jr., Whitnall; Anthony Przybilla, sr., Brookfield Academy; Connor Roffers, sr., Burlington; Manasseh "MJ" Stackhouse, sr., Kenosha Indian Trail; Aaron Womack III, jr., Dominican; Isaiah Woodland, sr., Milwaukee Audubon Tech.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Journal Sentinel 2023-24 all-area basketball team led by Kon Knueppel