Hoops notebook: Power forward Jovan Milicevic commits to UNM, preseason polls include Lobos

The Lobos are adding some size to the 2024 recruiting class.

Jovan Milicevic, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound power forward of Serbian descent who is from Toronto announced on Monday afternoon he has committed to head coach Richard Pitino and the UNM Lobos men's basketball team.

"I felt like from the jump (in the recruiting process) we really had a connection — me and the coaching staff. They were the most consistent school out of every school that was recruiting me," Milicevic told the Journal.

"They were always communicating with me and showing me love — letting me know I'm wanted there. And on my visit there (earlier this fall), it felt like home there. The fans are amazing, the players I got along with great and it just felt like home."

Milicevic is the second recruit to give his verbal commitment to the Lobos so far for the Class of 2024, joining 6-2 Texas combo guard Kayde Dotson, who announced his commitment last month.

Milicevic will play this high school season at Dream City Christian School in Glendale, Ariz., has competed in the Canadian junior national team system and plays on the EYBL circuit with Arizona Unity, which is coached by former UNM Lobos assistant coach Jerome Robinson, who is also from Toronto and competed in the Canadian National Team system.

As for what type of player Lobo fans can expect to see playing in the Pit down the road, his self-scouting report is a good one.

"They'll definitely see someone that loves to win," Milicevic said. "I feel like I can really affect the game in multiple ways. I am a three-level scorer (he showed great touch from the 3-point line this past summer and fall playing with Arizona Unity). I really just look forward to helping the Lobos win and get to the NCAA Tournament."

He added that he can play both physical or with some finesse often lumped under the umbrella of being "European" style of basketball. Milicevic noted both Nikola Jokic and Kevin Love as NBA big men he would be happy to compare his game with.

"I can read the game and make the right decisions," Milicevic. "I feel like maybe an underrated part of my game is my IQ on the floor and knowing where everyone is on the court."

Multiple recruiting websites report Milicevic, listed as a 3-star prospect by 247Sports.com, had recruiting interest and offers from programs like Oregon, UC Santa Barbara, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Fresno State, UT Arlington, New Mexico State and others.

UNM Lobos coach Pitino and his staff can not comment specifically on the commitment until a player signs his National Letter of Intent. The first high school seniors can do so this season in the early signing period is Nov. 8.

POLL POSITION: The Associated Press Preseason Top 25 men's hoops poll was released Monday morning and, while not ranked, the UNM Lobos did show up in the "others receiving votes" section, showing up at No. 25 on one voter ballot (Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press).

Defending Mountain West champion San Diego State is ranked No. 17 in the country with a high vote of No. 9 by Honolulu Star-Advertiser writer Dave Reardon and being left off eight voter ballots altogether.

Boise State was the only other Mountain West team to receive votes, getting four points and appearing on three voter ballots (one at No. 24, two at No. 25).

UNLUCKY NO. 2? Stat nerds rejoice. Sunday was the unveiling of the preseason KenPom.com analytic ratings— a system that is largely based on things like returning Division I production and continuity on a team.

Clearly, in the age of the transfer portal, preseason ratings are harder than ever to read too much into.

That said, KenPom hasn't exactly been that far off through the years.

And there is good news/bad news for Lobo fans about what this year's preseason KenPom numbers predict for the Mountain West.

The Lobos are rated No. 46 out of 362 Division I programs, and second in the Mountain West behind first place San Diego State.

It's the highest preseason rating for UNM since being No. 45 in 2013 ahead of Craig Neal's first season, which was another year the team was ranked second in the preseason poll and ended up finishing second.

Unfortunately, most of the past decade has been rather unkind to the Mountain West's No. 2 team in KenPom's preseason rankings.

Last year, No. 2 Wyoming ended up finishing 11th in the 11-team league. Two year ago, preseason No. 2 Nevada ended up finishing 8th.

In the past 10 years, the preseason No. 2 has gone on to win the Mountain West just once (2017-18 Nevada), met expectations by finishing second twice (2020-21 Utah State and 2013-14 UNM), and finished below second place seven times. In those seven seasons, the average final place in the MW standings of the preseason No. 2 team was 6.6.

On the other hand, just beyond a decade ago, UNM was picked preseason No. 2 in the league in both 2012-13 and 2011-12 and went on to become Mountain West regular season and tournament champions both seasons.