WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary head men's basketball coach Dane Fischer announced the signing of guards Connor Kochera (Arlington Heights, Ill./Saint Viator) and Jake Milkereit (Dallas, Texas/Bishop Lynch) to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
 
"We are excited to welcome Jake and Connor to the William & Mary Basketball family," Fischer said. "Both of these young men possess the attributes we are looking for in the classroom, on the court, and in the community, and they are a great start to our 2020 recruiting class." 
 

Connor Kochera
Guard
6-4 • 185
Arlington Heights, Ill./Saint Viator
 
Prep
As a junior, was named ESCC All-Conference, and Daily Herald All-Area … Averaged 15 points, five rebounds and three assists per game in 2018-19 … Shot 40% from 3-point range as a junior … A three-year letterwinner for Quin Hayes at Saint Viator … Helped Saint Viator to a regional championship and a 26-7 record in 2019 … As a sophomore, helped Saint Viator to the ESCC Conference Championship thanks to a 9-0 record … Was the Freshman MVP in 2017 in leading his team to the conference championship (9-0) … Played soccer at Saint Viator as well and was named the Lion Award winner in freshman soccer … Played the last three years for UAA-Rise Fundamental University Basketball Team … In the summer of 2019 played on the Under Armour Rise Circuit and his team was ranked in the national top 25 … Averaged 17 points per game while leading Fundamental U to an overall UAA-Rise record of 14-2, losing to eventual champion Northern Kings, 50-46, in the semifinals … His team won the UAA-Rise Anatomix Division with a record of 10-1 … Named All-UAA-Rise honorable selection … Scored 29 and 25 points in two victories against Wisconsin Playground Elite (UAA) … A member of the National Honor Society … Involved in Champions Club, Ambassadors Club and Investment Club at Saint Viator.
 
Personal
Son of Mark and Brigid Kochera … His uncles, Bill Vance '94 and Chris Vance '98, both played college soccer at Saint John's University (Minn.) … His uncle, Greg Hammarlund '84, played football for two years and baseball for two years at Brown University … His Cousin, Katelyn Hammarlund '16, played soccer for four years at Saint Louis University … His cousin, Kevin Hammarlund '17, played football for four years at Washington University in Saint Louis … His Cousin, Erin Peck '22, currently plays soccer at Illinois Wesleyan University … Enjoys playing spikeball, wakeboarding, skiing and hanging out with family and friends.
 
Coach Fischer on Kochera
"The first thing most people notice about Connor is his ability to shoot but what stood out for us were his intangibles. Connor is constantly communicating with his teammates and plays with great toughness and focus on both ends of the floor.  He can really score the ball, has a high IQ and he will be a tremendous leader in our program from day one."

Jake Milkereit
Guard
6-5 • 190
Dallas, Texas / Bishop Lynch
 
Prep
A Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State selection in 2019 … Averaged 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot as a junior …  Ranked No. 23 in Texas by Prep Hoops … A two-year team captain for coach Kyle May at Bishop Lynch … Named the MVP of the Greenville High School Tournament, scoring 29 points in the title game victory … An Academic All-State selection in 2019 … Named to the all-district first team as a junior … Selected to the all-tournament team at the South San Antonio Tournament … Led Bishop Lynch to the TAPPS 6A District Championship … Held the National 3-point Shooting Record for several weeks during his junior campaign … In 2017-18, averaged 18 points, five rebounds three assists and three steals per game … Made 271 3-pointers through his first three high school seasons … Shot 46% from 3-point range as a junior after shooting 47% in 2017-18 and 43% in 2016-17 … As a freshman, averaged 13 points, four rebounds and two assists per game … Played AAU for Drive Nation in the Nike EYBL in both 2018 and 2019 … In 2017, playing for Adidas Gold Urban DFW was named MVP of the King Arthur Classic Tourney … A 4.0 student at Bishop Lynch and a member of the student leadership … One of 20 male high school athletes chosen to be a member of the inaugural class of Trey Athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area … Trey Athletes, a nonprofit youth sports startup on a mission: Empower athletes to become lifelong leaders, representative role models, and influential voices for their communities, was founded by Rebecca Feickhert, CPA, MBA, Kansas Jayhawks WBB alum and sponsored by Harvard Business School.
 
Personal
Son of Bill and Christy Milkereit … Cousin, Michael Curry, played baseball at Marshall (1998-02) … Enjoys eating and hanging out with friends.
 
Coach Fischer on Milkereit
"Jake is a really talented player that can score in a variety of ways. He's a true combo guard with great size and his ability to shoot off the catch and off the dribble makes him very hard to defend.  Jake is a high-level athlete that has a lot of upside and should make an immediate impact in our program."
 
The Tribe is 3-0 on the year after posting its third-straight road victory in thrilling fashion on Bryce Barnes' lay-up with 3.8 seconds remaining in an 80-79 win at Wofford on Tuesday night. W&M, which leads the country with three road wins, is home for the first time under head coach Dane Fischer on Friday night, hosting Hampton at 7 p.m.