Nick Janowski, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Pewaukee (WI) High, is one of the top players in the Midwest in the Class of 2024 and is ranked as the number four sophomore in the state by Wis Sports.
Janowski is averaging 19.8 points per game this season as the Pirates are off to a 10-2 start. He has scored 20 or more points in seven games, including a career-high 34 points versus Westosha Central
Janowski was named honorable mention all-league recognition in the Woodland West Conference as a freshman after averaging 10.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 28 points in a four-overtime triumph over Delafield St. John’s Northwestern Academies. The Pirates finished 27-3, defeating Onalaska 54-37 to win WIAA Division 2 state championship, playing alongside his brother, Ashton, who signed with Division II Hillsdale.
Jankowski helped lead the Pirates to a 78-52 win over Robbinsdale Armstrong in the Breakdown Border Battle.
GopherHole caught up with Janowski after the game to learn the latest on his college recruitment and sophomore year.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, a big win here for you today. You guys are off to a great start. How pleased are you with how well you guys are playing this year?
Nick Janowski: I love it. This team is awesome. We all share the ball. We all can shoot. We had a really good showing of that today. We came out of the gate really hot. We hit almost every shot in the first half. Some hiccups along the way, btu again, this team is awesome. I love playing with them. I love everybody, because we all make each other better.
GopherHole: You had nine threes in the first half and shot the ball well and moved the ball well, like you said. Is that something that you feel is one of your strengths because you had the great year last season, winning the state title and you have great chemistry. Do you think that is something that has been one of the keys for your success?
Nick Janowski: Yes. Sharing the ball is huge. We have five guys that are going to go play college basketball. When you have that, it is so easy to just rely on one-on-one moves, but what makes us get to the next level, is the fact that we all share the basketball and the fact that we are willing to make that extra pass to get a great shot, instead of a good shot. That is something that gives us wide open threes. When you give us wide open threes, you don’t have a shot.
GopherHole: You won the state title last year, beating Onalaska in the state championship game. What would it mean to get back there and win another title?
Nick Janowski: It would mean the world. I want to send this senior class and my brother, especially on a back-to-back. The thing for us is you know when you get one state championship, you are really good, but the next step is the two and once you get there, you’re an all-time great and so, we just want to get there and we are working on it every day and obviously, we are on the path to get there and so, we are just going to keep working every day and get there.
GopherHole: Do you guys feel that you have a little bit of a target on your backs, because everybody is going to give you their best game?
Nick Janowski: 100%. As you see all these games, every team comes out shooting crazy good. Every team comes out playing their best, because it is their state championship. If they beat Pewaukee, it’s like they beat the best. They beat the Golden State Warriors, the best team in the state, so we just want to come out every night with the same energy and if it is a below average team or an above average team, we are going to come out with the same intensity and same energy.
GopherHole: You are playing with your brother and this is his senior year. What is that experience like?
Nick Janowski: It’s awesome. I love my brother. I love everything he has done for me. He is the reason I’m where I’m at today and I just want to send him out, like I said, with a state championship, so he can go next year with two gold balls in his bag. The chemistry, we have between each other is just awesome. I love playing with him and he loves playing with me.
GopherHole: Do you have a rivalry when you are playing one-on-one?
Nick Janowski: For sure. Growing up, we would always play one-on-one and he would always beat me. We would have fights and everything at home, but once we step on the court together, we’re brothers and we love each other and we make the extra pass to each other. We have great chemistry, so that’s what makes us so dangerous.
GopherHole: Do you feel that you know where each other is, maybe more than other teammates since you are so close?
Nick Janowski: Exactly. That is a huge part. We’ve got a bunch of brothers on this team and that is obviously what gives the best chemistry. My brother, Ash, we play together and practice so much, we’ve been together so much of our lives, like you said, we know where each other is at on the court at all times, because of that.
GopherHole: It is going to be tough to get back to the state title, because you have Wisconsin Lutheran in your conference. You had a tough game against them already. A great game (a 101-99 overtime loss) and might have to play them in the postseason, too. What is it going to take to get back there?
Nick Janowski: It’s going to take a lot. They are a really, really good team and they beat us. They did. They came our home floor and they beat us, Whatever you want to say, they beat us. They got us good. We played a heck of a game. They played a heck of a game. They played a better game and beat us. We just got to figure out a game plan for once we get to the playoffs for each game. Take it one by one and then once we get to Wisconsin Lutheran, game plan the heck out of them. Stop Kon (Kueppel) and we win.
GopherHole: Recruiting-wise, I think you have four offers. Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Marquette and USC. What other schools are you hearing from besides those four?
Nick Janowski: I’m hearing from Minnesota, Wisconsin. I’ve heard from Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.
GopherHole: What was your first offer?
Nick Janowski: My first offer was USC back in the end of July.
GopherHole: Where did they see you?
Nick Janowski: They saw me at Peach Jam. They heard about me from my AAU coaches and they came to the EYBL. Watched me play there and I played pretty well, apparently and they gave me an offer.
GopherHole: That has to make you feel pretty proud to have four offers from four really good schools only as a sophomore?
Nick Janowski: It’s awesome and I think it’s a testament to my work ethic, but that is nothing to me. All I care about is winning and I want to win another state championship with us. Until we do that four times, then we’ll think about college. Right now, it’s definitely in the background. The forefront is winning, but it does mean a lot as a sophomore to have that many offers and coaches looking at me. I’m just thankful.
GopherHole: Did you have a chance to go to many college football games or college basketball games so far this year?
Nick Janowski: I had a chance to go to a few. Wisconsin. I’ve been to Marquette’s campus a bunch, obviously not for a football game. I think that I’m going to take a bunch of unofficials here next fall and summer. I think it’s really about getting better right now and once summer comes and all the coaches are watching, then that’s where I am going to show it and so, I’ll probably go on a bunch of unofficials next fall as I’m a junior.
GopherHole: I know that (Minnesota) coaches (Jason) Kemp and Coach (Ben) Johnson are here after their game today to watch the end of your game. What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Nick Janowski: I’ve talked to them a good amount. I really like their new staff. They got a bunch of new guys and I like what they are doing so far. They have a pretty good record so far. They beat some solid teams and I really do like what they are doing. They are in the Big Ten, which is one of the Power 5 conferences. I’m really hearing good things like “Just keep working. Just keep getting better every day and we are going to stay watching.”
GopherHole: Do you feel likely maybe an offer could come down the road from them?
Nick Janowski: It could. I’m not really thinking about that, but it could. It’s up to them obviously and we’ll see what happens and go from there. Just keep talking to them. Keep conversing and we’ll go from there.
GopherHole: Having your brother, do you think that helps you with the recruiting process? You have seen what he has gone though.
Nick Janowski: Ashton went through it and it really helps because he showed me the reins and because he already experienced it, he knows the ins and outs. What to do. What not to do and it’s huge, because he is a really a big supporter of mine when we are off the court and he has really helped me through it so far.
GopherHole: I know that it is a ways before you make your college choice since you are only a sophomore, but what are going to be the main factors that are going to make you pick School A over School B or C?
Nick Janowski: Definitely, the coach. If you get injured or something, he’s in the trenches with you. Just helping you out. He’s your guy. Number 2 is culture. Winning culture. I want to go into a place that we are going to win right away. That is what I care about the most, winning. My third thing is that they produce some guys at the next level. A lot of schools that I’m hearing from right now, do that. I’m just looking forward to getting better.
GopherHole: Do you have anyone else in the family that is athletic?
Nick Janowski: My dad played basketball for awhile. He tried to walk-on at Wisconsin, but didn’t. My mom played basketball in high school. I guess they weren’t good enough in college. My dad was a big football player. Just an athletic dude.
GopherHole: Did he graduate from Wisconsin?
Nick Janowski: Yes, he graduated from Wisconsin.
GopherHole: Where did your mom go to college?
Nick Janowski: Marquette. She just played basketball in high school and volleyball in high school and that’s it.