Minnesota Way-To-Early 2019-20 Preview: Class AAAA
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 AAAA…
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Continue ReadingHigh 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 AAAA
Eden Prairie
The Eagles were one of the three or four teams at the top of rankings going into last year and they ended up struggling more than expected. Some of that was the schedule they played was the toughest in the state. Can their crop of juniors take another step forward? It didn’t seem like they took as big a jump forward as I thought they would from a year ago at this time. But they’ve got a complete group with a ton of talent and experience.
East Ridge
East Ridge will have two of the best players in the state in Kendall Brown and Ben Carlson. If those two guys to make advancements in their games – particularly as shooters – East Ridge will go from very good to elite again next winter.
Cretin-Derham Hall
Cretin-Derham Hall graduates Jaeden King but the Raiders should be better next year if only because their younger guys should continue to get better and better. Curtis Jones and Tre Holloman give CDH arguably the best backcourt in the state and Amari Carter and Will Burke return in the frontcourt.
Shakopee
The Sabers were one of the surprise teams in Class AAAA last year. Success will be no such surprise next winter as Charlie Katona, Will Cordes and Caleb Druvenga all return after solid junior years. They play in a very tough conference, but they should be the best team in the league.
Wayzata
Wayzata loses a couple of really, really good guards in Jacob Beeninga and Luke Paulson. But the young talent in the program is tantalizing and guys like Kody Williams and Camden Heide continue on their current trajectory, the Trojans will be as good as anybody next year.
Park Center
The Pirates lose several longtime starting guards which will be tough to overcome but guys like Detavius Frierson and Josh Brown look capable of stepping up. There’s always talent in that Park Center program and they’ll always play that defensive style. Can Dain Dainja be dominant? If he can, then the Pirates could be a state tournament team again.
Spring Lake Park
The Panthers got off to a hot start last year before fizzling a little bit in conference play. Blake Remme and Gabe Myren are both back though, giving Spring Lake Park an elite duo. Jacob Say and Daydor Phillips will also be back.
Hopkins
This will probably end up being too low as Hopkins always has talent in its program. Whethr its guys transferring in or kids who didn’t play a lot behind a big senior class last year, the Royals will field a team that will win a lot of games. Kerwin Walton is one of the better players in the 2020 class and he’ll be the feature guy.
Buffalo
Buffalo’s window with this current core is heading into its final stage it feels like as Matt Willert, Tony Dahl, Brandon Maatz and Aiden Bouman all enter their senior seasons. All four will likely eclipse the 1,000 point mark and have been key guys for two years already. This team will be the best in the Mississippi 8 and should be the favorite in Section 8.
Prior Lake
Prior Lake will certainly miss guys like Robert Jones and Sam Nissen. But the Lakers will have the best big man in the state in Dawson Garcia, going into his fourth year as a starter. Garcia’s added significant amounts to his game each year and will probably continue to do so. Tyree Ihenacho was rock solid as a junior and will step into a much bigger role next year.