Recruiting: 2020

[IrishDawg]

Could be a steal!

https://www.htrnews.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2019/01/19/sam-dekker-sheboygan-lutherans-jacob-ognacevic-similar-coaches-say-high-school-basketball/2599369002/

This video shows more of his versatility, though the competition isn't what it is in the EYBL.  While he's not super athletic, he is very skilled and plays under control, which should serve him well at Valpo. All in all, nice pickup, IMO.

[SanityLost17]

So they won the WIAA Division 5 state title game this past year in where he had 35 pts and 19 reb.  Anyone able to find the game on the Internet? Sure would be nice to see him play his title game...

"Division 5" could mean the biggest schools or the smallest schools or somewhere in-between.  Anybody know how Wisconsin sets up their class system?  Guessing with those #'s in a state title game he is from a small school. 

[IrishDawg]

So they won the WIAA Division 5 state title game this past year in where he had 35 pts and 19 reb.  Anyone able to find the game on the Internet? Sure would be nice to see him play his title game...

"Division 5" could mean the biggest schools or the smallest schools or somewhere in-between.  Anybody know how Wisconsin sets up their class system?  Guessing with those #'s in a state title game he is from a small school.

Your guess is correct. Division 5 is the smallest school sports division in Wisconsin, with enrollments of 200 kids or less per school. So those stats are similar to looking at Fazekas in their state title game. If you're a legit 6'8 D1 recruit (which I think he is), you should be able to dominate that level of competition basically every night.

[wh]

Could be a steal!

https://www.htrnews.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2019/01/19/sam-dekker-sheboygan-lutherans-jacob-ognacevic-similar-coaches-say-high-school-basketball/2599369002/

Jacob doesn't even have to be a steal to get my vote. I love it that we landed yet another young, enthusiastic, moldable 4-year player who is almost certainly coming to Valpo for all the right reasons. This is what strategic, proactive recruiting looks like.

[vu72]

Could be a steal!

https://www.htrnews.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2019/01/19/sam-dekker-sheboygan-lutherans-jacob-ognacevic-similar-coaches-say-high-school-basketball/2599369002/

Jacob doesn't even have to be a steal to get my vote. I love it that we landed yet another young, enthusiastic, moldable 4-year player who is almost certainly coming to Valpo for all the right reasons. This is what strategic, proactive recruiting looks like.

Article says he had offers from Milwaukee, Green Bay, Indiana State, DePaul and UC Davis in addition to interest from Iowa, Creighton, Butler and Ohio State. It was written May 9 so probably other offers and this all after his Junior year.  He may still be growing at 6'8+.  It's sounding better and better.  I wonder whether or not he attended one of Valpo's elite camps.

https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2019/05/09/college-recruiting-sheboygan-lutherans-jacob-ognacevic-gets-offers/1135826001/

[vu72]

Observations from the 14th annual Rick Majerus WBY Shootout
01/01/2019, 11:30am CST
By Mark Miller

Brayden Dailey

Some observations from the 14th annual Rick Majerus Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout, held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Buuck Fieldhouse on the campus of Concordia University in Mequon:

Five Individual Standouts



Jacob Ognacevic, 6-7, F, Jr., Sheboygan Lutheran
College coaches at the NCAA Division I level were out in droves to watch Ognacevic, one of the fastest rising class of 2020 prospects in Wisconsin. An extremely productive and consistent forward who can hurt defenses from the perimeter, off the bounce and in the paint, Ognacevic helped Sheboygan Lutheran to wins over St. Thomas More and St. Mary's Springs, finishing with 32 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots against St. Mary's Springs, while adding 32 points and 18 rebounds in the win over St. Thomas More. Ognacevic is averaging 31.1 ppg and 15.6 rpg for Sheboygan Lutheran, the state's top-ranked WIAA Division 5 squad that improved to 10-0 on the campaign.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/JeremiahOden/status/1159181134435102725?s=20

[valpo84]

wh--hope we are able to Jacob.  For us veterans on the board, feels like a potential Jon Diebler situation.  Oral commits after junior year (one in the bag), keeps improving home state school comes along and steals him and I've disliked Thad Motta since.  BTW the Bucks in TBT with Jon D are doing very well (and Jake is back on the bench as an assistant at OSU).

[vu84v2]

Jacob Ognacevic seems like a very good get. Valpo's very best recruiting and greatest player development success has been from guys who show good talent and seem to be mature and have a great work ethic. This was the case with Peters and Broekhoff and I believe may also be the case with Freeman.

If he had a great AAU summer and continues playing well in his senior season, he'll get inquiries from P5 + Big East schools. I can see Creighton and Iowa working to see if they can get him to change his mind and him getting inquiries from Marquette and Wisconsin.

[VUBBFan]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159511551285628930

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159656034807554050?s=20

[wh]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159656034807554050?s=20

As good as our beat reporters are, I don't ever recall anyone interviewing a "verbal commit" before. Instead, we're always scratching and clawing to learn more from some distant source from the time they commit until they sign their LOI. Then, the local guys jump in. Congrats to Robbie for breaking the mold!

[IrishDawg]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159511551285628930

I could see him potentially as a 4, but he's going to need to get significantly quicker to play the 3, IMO. Also, given the roster makeup, he'll very likely have to play some time at the 5, and I think would be a bigger match up problem there than the 3 or the 4.

[M]

Guys who can play and ideally guard multiple positions is the wave of the future (present?)!

[Pgmado]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159656034807554050?s=20

As good as our beat reporters are, I don't ever recall anyone interviewing a "verbal commit" before. Instead, we're always scratching and clawing to learn more from some distant source from the time they commit until they sign their LOI. Then, the local guys jump in. Congrats to Robbie for breaking the mold!

We often interview guys after they commit, but our editors in the past haven't often felt the need to publish those stories for one reason or another. Things are looking up now.

[FieldGoodie05]

https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1159656034807554050?s=20

As good as our beat reporters are, I don't ever recall anyone interviewing a "verbal commit" before. Instead, we're always scratching and clawing to learn more from some distant source from the time they commit until they sign their LOI. Then, the local guys jump in. Congrats to Robbie for breaking the mold!

We often interview guys after they commit, but our editors in the past haven't often felt the need to publish those stories for one reason or another. Things are looking up now.

Paul you and Todd did an outstanding job of evaluating the team and players (individually) before last years first games.  Any chance that becomes an annual event for USH?

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1161678770660663296?s=21

[wh]

Impressive young man. I love Chicago kids. The coaching is excellent, the competition is fierce, and the players are taught to love and respect the game. Doesn't get any better.

https://youtu.be/z61Q1kKlme0

[CPkValpoFan]

I think Jacob will end up being a very stalwart, outstanding player for Valpo for
four years.    Many years ago when the Big Eight was not the Big 12, we had
a 6'-5" center in our conference that came from a similar size school to Jacob's.
He won a scholarship to Missouri  (in the days when freshman couldn't play) and
is one of only four Missouri players to average a double - double for his career.   A few
years ago he was inducted into the Missouri sports hall of fame.  By the way he
was a first round draft pick and played four years in the NBA.   The forum won't let me
post an external link so do a Google search:  Al Eberhard Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.
Jacob has a similar look, but taller, and same type of character.
Let no one despise humble beginnings.   

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1161678770660663296?s=21

Impressive young man. I love Chicago kids. The coaching is excellent, the competition is fierce, and the players are taught to love and respect the game. Doesn't get any better.

https://youtu.be/z61Q1kKlme0

I'm not going to pretend to predict where Jeremiah will eventually commit, but one thing I can share is that he does tend to like tweets/post about Valpo Basketball news. It may mean nothing but it's a positive sign that he has a good relationship with the coaches and some of the players.

Seems to be pretty talented as well

[M]

Not a Valpo get, but Gary product Jonelle Davis is committing to FAU.

[VUGrad1314]

I'd like to believe after going 4-0 in Canada over the past week including beating mighty Carleton we've done ourselves some good on the recruiting trail. Go Valpo!

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1161678770660663296?s=21

https://twitter.com/jeremiah0002/status/1128455058234933250?s=20
https://twitter.com/jeremiah0002/status/1122994851472130054?s=20

How the Class of 2020's top 10 shapes up coming out of the summer.
By Joe Henricksen  Jul 15, 2019, 9:33am CDT
For the Sun-Times

....

8. Jeremiah Williams, 6-3, St. Laurence
Extremely versatile and a true stat-sheet stuffer, Williams opens eyes with his physical attributes, production and upside. He uses his length to impact the game as a rebounder, finisher and defender. As his perimeter jumper becomes more consistent, the impact Williams provides will make an exciting jump forward.

The long, wiry, smooth guard has a host of mid-major programs heavily involved as Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Valparaiso, UW-Milwaukee, Northern Illinois and Akron have all offered.

... https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/7/15/20694648/dj-steward-whitney-young-duke-class-of-2020-top-ten-rankings-illinois-high-school-basketball

https://twitter.com/TBaranek/status/1076319580077871104?s=20

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/bballscoop1/status/1160217499029430275?s=21

[VUBBFan]

Let's hope his final visit is with us.

https://twitter.com/Valpo_Hoops/status/1162473957301391360