Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee men's basketball team is set to feature six players from Wisconsin for the upcoming season, marking the highest number since 2017-18. This trend has been on the rise since Bart Lundy became head coach in 2022. The roster includes Learic Davis, John Lovelace Jr., and Danilo Jovanovich, who have returned to play in their home state after starting their collegiate careers elsewhere.

Davis joined Milwaukee last season after a redshirt year at Tennessee State, playing in 33 games. He had a notable high school career at Bradley Tech in Milwaukee, earning First-Team All-City Conference honors twice and being named City Player of the Year.

Lovelace comes from Youngstown State where he played two seasons and contributed to a Horizon League regular-season title. He was coached by current MKE assistant Jose Winston during his high school years at Brown Deer High School.

Jovanovich has previously played for Louisville and Miami before returning home. At Whitnall High School, he was a runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin and earned multiple all-state honors.

The team also includes Vinko Polovic and Simeon Murchison who have been with the Panthers from the start of their college careers, along with freshman Austin Villarreal making his debut this season.

In interviews conducted by Roar Report, players shared their reasons for choosing Milwaukee. Simeon Murchison said: "I chose Milwaukee because it was close to home, close to family." Vinko Polovic expressed similar sentiments: "It's where I grew up... It's a blessing to represent this city."

John Lovelace cited family ties and recruitment by Coach Jose Winston as factors influencing his decision: "I just appreciate being here." Learic Davis emphasized proximity to home: "I chose Milwaukee because of 'home'." Danilo Jovanovich echoed these thoughts: "Being with my family and friends is really nice."

Austin Villarreal highlighted his initial interest in track but found an opportunity in basketball: "Being able to have the opportunity to play basketball here just really blew my mind away."

Discussing their return, Jovanovich noted an easy adjustment due to familiarity with coaches and teammates. Davis described his experience as fun while aiming for future success: "Hopefully we can bring back a trophy this time." Lovelace appreciated building relationships within the team.

Looking ahead, players shared aspirations for success on behalf of their hometown team. Murchison hopes for an NCAA Tournament appearance while Polovic looks forward to community support during postseason runs. Davis aims for participation in March Madness; Janovich seeks both league championships and tournament success; Villarreal wants to inspire younger athletes through representation; Lovelace aims for another league win now at home.