Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Class AAA Top 10

<p>Basketball season is months away but it’s never too early for way-too-early season.</p> <p>Class AAA lost a contender when Waseca moved down to AA but gained one with Minnehaha Academy opting up to Class AAA. The Redhawks won three straight Class AA titles and will be among the elites again next winter. After that, there are a lot of familiar programs vying for top status again.</p> <p>Here’s a way-too-early Top 10 at the Class AAA level:</p> <p><strong>Minnehaha Academy</strong></p> <p>The Redhawks won three straight state titles in Class AA and undoubtedly have the talent to win a state title in Class AAA just as well. Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren form the best one-two punch in the state and are coming off monster summers. Prince Aligbe continues to get better yet will just be a sophomore. Kaden Johnson is in his fourth year as a starter too. The Redhawks are loaded and an argument could be made that they are the best team in the state regardless of class.</p> <p><strong>Mankato East</strong></p> <p>The Cougars were one of the three or four best teams in Class AAA last year but lost to Waseca in the section tournament, missing the state tournament entirely. East will be the favorite in Section 2 next winter as the Cougars have elite talent all over the court. Jax Madson and Joich Gong form one of the best perimeter duos in the state. Jordan Merseth is a physically imposing space eater inside and there’s no shortage of solid athletes in the wings.</p> <p><strong>DeLaSalle</strong></p> <p>Barring some changes, the Islanders don’t have quite the same kind of ridiculous talent they have in previous years. But they’ve still got plenty to win a state title. Jalen Travis is back to man the middle as a senior. Amir Whitlock, Andrew Irvin and Semaj Hart are all back after playing rotation roles last year. The potential breakout guys are Keijuan White and Cade Haskins who both had really good summers.</p> <p><strong>Austin</strong></p> <p>The Packers will be right in the mix with Mankato East as the favorites to win the Big 9 as they return a number of key contributors including star guard Agwa Nywesh. Nywesh averaged better than 16 points per game as a junior and could push that number even higher next year after a really strong summer. Teyghan Hovland is a guy to watch as he’s got the athleticism, motor and skill to excel in their system. And Moses Idris was a rotation guy last year.</p> <p><strong>Totino-Grace</strong></p> <p>The Eagles play an incredibly tough schedule so their win-loss record might not reflect how talented this team is. They played a lot of young guys last year and took some lumps but T-G should be among the best teams in Class AAA next year. DJ Akpati and Devin Burger were starters a year ago and among the best players in Minnesota’s junior class. Carter Weierke returns after a solid summer and Chasen Livingston saw rotation minutes as a sophomore.</p> <p><strong>Hibbing</strong></p> <p>The Bluejackets won 22 games and reached the section championship game last year before bowing out to a high-powered Princeton team but they’ve got the returning talent and now experience to get to state next winter. Ayden McDonald is one of the best players in Northern Minnesota. Parker Maki is a double-double caliber guy inside and Mayson Brown gives them some juice on the perimeter.</p> <p><strong>Marshall</strong></p> <p>The Tigers lost leading scorer Matt Onken but with the young talnet in the program, they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Noah Puetz was one of the best players in the area last year and should take another step as a senior. Matt Hmielewski returns after playing a lot of minutes last year too. The junior class has a ton of talent with point guard Bryce Lance and Josh Baker in Particular.</p> <p><strong>Mound Westonka</strong></p> <p>The Whitehawks won 21 games a year ago and return a great deal of talent. Jameson Sexton and Jason Spaeth could form one of the better backcourts in the state after combining to average 26 points per game a year ago. Santiago Phommahaxey joins them on the perimeter after playing a lot of minutes last year. Connor Prok returns up front too. There’s a lot of young talent in the pipe for this team.</p> <p><strong>St. Cloud Apollo</strong></p> <p>The Eagles started last year extremely well but faded a bit down the stretch. With a lot of returning pieces, the foundation is there for a really good year. Mike Gravelle should be one of the best players in the Central Lakes and could be among the conference’s leading scorers. Deng Diew is a terrific athlete in the frontcourt. Puoch Daboul Moe Mohamed and Logan Johnson are all back too. This team should compete in the CLC and be the favorite in Section 8.</p> <p><strong>Waconia</strong></p> <p>The Wildcats always play in arguably the toughest section in the state but they are always solid and in the mix. Waconia won 17 games a year ago and return one of the state’s best scorers in PJ Hayes. The 6-foot-4 swingman averaged better than 23 points per game a year ago. Connor Schwob averaged 10 points and seven rebounds and Eric Groeneveld was a solid rotation guy a year ago.</p>