First Look: Class AA
The Class AA field of basketball in Minnesota is so wide open that we really can’t go with a categories approach to it, we have to settle in more with a simple “contenders list” approach. Who is number one? Number…
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Continue ReadingThe Class AA field of basketball in Minnesota is so wide open that we really can’t go with a categories approach to it, we have to settle in more with a simple “contenders list” approach. Who is number one? Number ten? Number twenty? Does it matter? Class AA is so close together it’s crazy. ABC order for list of contenders.
The Top Contender List
Caledonia. They have a top 2018 in Minnesota in Owen King plus we really like big Gavin Schroeder and scoring wing Colton Lampert around them. In that group you have three key pieces including a top talent plus there are quality coaches and good working role players.
Lake City. Brady Kuchinka is back, they will be back. Not to mention Eli Custer and Matt Kjos also return and they were two of the top three scorers after Brady so this team has nowhere to go up but up after a 23-4 season. The Caledonia/Lake City battle should be fantastic but don’t forget about St. Charles.
Maple River. The loss of Jonah Breiter will be tough to overcome but Grant Sonnek, Cole Sohre, and Jeff Lewis all return from last year’s talented club and that is three of the top five scorers. Sonnek put up nearly 15 points a game and should be able to step into that top scoring role for this team.
Jackson County Central. JCC is scary team because they won 19 games a year ago and bring back just about everything. They have a D2 post in Bodey Behrends and scorers around him in Matt Rinkgkob, Colton Timmer, and Jacob Christopher. If there was ever a year they were to make a run, this is it.
St. Croix Lutheran. 30-3 last year and they bring everything back. In a wide open class of basketball, they are considered the favorite because of depth, experience, and talent in seniors Ade Lamu, Trenton Krueger, and Aage Rovney. That said, Section 4AA will be a brawl and the fight for the one seed will go all year long.
Minnehaha Academy. Minnehaha put everybody on notice at the Breakdown Bracket Buster winning the Class AA division and they have all the pieces for a title run. Their mix of veterans and youth is nearly perfect because they have an unstoppable load on the block in JaVonni Bickham and a young scorer in Jalen Suggs who is the best in his class. Hold on though, love their upper classmen in Benny Larry, Jake Richardson, and Freddy Reeves plus the youth along with Bickham and Suggs is strong as well.
St. Paul Academy. Dalante Peyton and Kent Hanson rose to the occasion as sophomores, had a bit of a slip last year, and now they are back ready for a state return in 2016. Peyton and Hanson are two of the finest student athletes out there and they will in this to the end but, do they have the depth to beat Minnehaha or St. Croix Lutheran in the finals? That’s the question.
Braham. The Bombers, this is the year everything was supposed to be their best. Chris Olson, Alec Olson, Ryan Larson, John Larson, and Connor Tschumper, few in Class AA have a five man group that explosive and talented. Problem is, Bob Vaughan has moved on. Can the program move on to where they should be this year with their architect?
Watertown-Mayer. The Royals lost five of their top eight but they will still have a nasty backcourt led by Trae Berhow who has D1 offers and a world of talent. Ben Theisen and Adam Grotbo are two players that should be able to step up and take some pressure of Trae as the Royals work to improve on the 19 wins from a year ago.
Melrose. Can they defend their state title? Yes they can. Will they? I think they will make a good run but at state this class is so balanced it’s hard to see a team repeating. I can see them in the title game or at least the final four though because they return their top three players: Tyler Braegelman, Drake Meyer, and Dillon Haider.
Esko. One of the state’s top lead guards Jaxson Turner, the top low center prospect in 2018 in Adam Trapp (offers from Iowa and DePaul, and yes we should have him ranked higher). Add in a quality coaching staff and a disciplined, tough style of play and we can see them back at state, again.
Albany. With Kyle Birr returning from a team that went to Class AAA state last year, Albany is an instant contender. They also bring back big man Josh Terres and have some really nice young players. They will be in the mix for sure.
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