The Metro East Preview
The massive amount of graduated players in the Metro East opens this league to a free-for-all nearly every night.
Last Year. Senior dominated teams from Tartan and Mahtomedi led the league with 14-2 records while St. Thomas and North St. Paul were just behind them. Hastings was the middle of the league, South St. Paul continues to set new standards for struggle, Hill-Murray and Henry Sibley were five win teams. Simley is the ninth squad and each year you just never know.
Conference Commentary
State Title Contender: Likely not this year.
Top Ten: St. Thomas Academy. The Cadets went to state last year and bring back their key pieces of Jack Thompson, Sam Vascellaro, and Coach Jason Birr. If the new players can fill the roles of graduated players then the Cadets can surely be a team that hits state and wins a couple games.
Potential Top Ten: North St. Paul. The Polars have a pair of excellent seniors in Bryce Phillips and Goodnews Kpegeol meaning they could hit the top ten IF the young players step in. They have a new coach in Damian Johnson and if things click the Polars should win a big share of their games.
Will Compete: Tartan, Mahtomedi. The Titans went 25-4 a year ago but lost nearly their entire rotation but the coaching staff is still there meaning there will be several Titan ready players stepping into spots. The Zephyrs? The talent is still solid but it’s going to be young. If that young talent mixes with the older role guys they could win some games.
Someplace in Between: Hastings, Simley, Henry Sibley. Both teams return a really good player but lost nearly everything else. What will the depth be? Who knows for sure. Sibley? They have some pieces but not quite enough yet to be as consistent as they hope to be.
Rebuilding. South St. Paul, Hill-Murray. SSP has been rebuilding for as long as I can remember and Hill-Murray is not that far off as they have to find guys to fill the stat sheet like several talented scorers have in recent years.
Conference Predictions
- St. Thomas Academy
- North St. Paul
- Tartan
- Mahtomedi
- Hastings
- Simley
- Henry Sibley
- Hill-Murray
- South St. Paul
Preseason All Metro East
First Team
Goodnews Kpegeol, North St. Paul, Sr
Jack Thompson, St. Thomas, Jr.
Sam Vascellaro, St. Thomas, Sr
Jake Binley, Simley, Sr
Antwan Kimmons, Tartan, Jr
Second Team
Sawyer Levos, Hastings, Sr
Bryce Phillips, North St. Paul, Sr
Rieshaun Satar, Henry Sibley, Sr
George Stewart, St. Thomas, Sr
Brendan Lankford-Johnson, North St. Paul, Soph
Third Team
Grant Hollar, Hastings, Sr
Malik Spearman, Henry Sibley, Jr
Lance Meniboon, Hill-Murray, Sr
Jack Shay, Mahtomedi, Sr
Tytist Dean, North St. Paul, Sr
Noah Chamberlain, St. Thomas, Jr
Andre Jenkins-Whitmore, Tartan, Sr