Minnesota Way-To-Early 2019-20 Preview: Class AA

Matt Bigelow

March 29, 2019 @ 10:05 AM

High school hoops in Minnesota ended last weekend. Before moving into full offseason mode and focusing on AAU and recruiting stuff, let’s take a quick look at what could be ahead next winter. Here’s a quick preview on Class AA Maranatha Maranatha was one of the surprise teams in Class AA last year as the Mustangs won 23 games and advanced to the section semifinals. They won’t sneak up on anybody next season as a handful of their top guys are returning. Hakim Daniels is one of the really solid all around players in the 2020 class and he’ll be joined by regulars Chase Carter, Tristan Lee and Maciah Harut. Lake City Lake City took home a third-place finish this past winter and the Tigers have a chance to see similar success next year. Nate Heise and Reid Gastner will finally be in their senior seasons and while they were good enough to carry the Tigers for a good chunk of this year, they’ll have better play around them as Jake Wohlers and Justin Wohlers are back after starting last year. Minneapolis North The Polars are losing some significant pieces from a state runner-up season but there’s always talent in the pipeline and their style of play will get them a lot of wins. Davon Townley should be one of the best big men in Class AA as an upperclassman. Willie Wilson had a strong state tournament and Clifford Brown was their best perimeter shooter last winter. St. Croix Prep St. Croix Prep had one of the best offenses in Class AA last year and should have no issue piling up points again next winter as three double figure scorers should be back. Daniel McCarrell and Addison Metcalf give the Lions two very strong scoring guards and Zach Doely gives them a boost inside. Caledonia Caledonia had a down year last winter and still was one of the five to seven best teams in Class AA. With Noah King finally going into his senior year and Eli King continuing to get better seemingly by the week, the Warriors should once again be a force. Those two could form the state’s best duo. Cristo Rey Jesuit The Pumas should be equipped for a lengthy postseason run next year as they’ll have one of the best trios in the state next. James Sommer is one of the best players in the 2020 class and fresh off a season in which he put up 23 points and eight rebounds. Erick Burgess is a do-it-all guard who averaged 16 points, six rebounds and five assists and Derek Burgess is the team’s best 3-point shooter. Osakis Osakis lost just once in the regular season and while some of that was the competition level not being very high, a lot of it was also the talent level of the Silverstreaks. Daniel Savageau is one of the best guards in the state and Luke Imdieke and Kobie Lara are solid in complementary roles. East Grand Forks The Green Wave won 22 games last season and should be one of the best teams in Class AA next year. It may be completely off the radar way up yonder but guys like Sam Votava, Julian Benson, Nathan Willett and Tanner Campos can really play. St. Charles Section 1AA is going to be a monster again next year with many of the top teams returning a big chunk of their top guys. St. Charles is one of those teams as the Saints bring back Kooper Vaughn and Drew Maloney. Both guys averaged better than 15 points per game a year ago as underclassmen and should make for some fun nights next winter. St. Peter The Saints went to the state tournament this year and could be even better next year Wyatt Olson heads into his senior year. Olson averaged 17 and 12 as a junior. He’ll be joined by Josh Johnson, Ethan Grant and Eli Lubiani.