19-20 First Look: Eden Prairie

<p>The Eden Prairie Eagles senior class has been preparing for this year since they won state titles in the fourth grade.  What's the squad look like in 19-20?  Pretty much the same, but better. </p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>:  The Eagles lost two guys from last year's rotation: 1) Drew Edwards, the lone senior from last year's team that played, and 2) Ariel Bland, a 6-foot-7 agile big that is now at a prep school out west.  With Bland in the line-up this team was the 19-20 preseason number one because he gave the Eagles a different element, an athletic 6-foot-7 long armed big that can block shots and finish explosively.  Bland gave the Eagles a player that can guard Ben Carlson, Dain Dainja, Dawson Garcia, Steven Crowl, Jacob Hutson, and others with his size and agility.  </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  When EP was healthy it was <strong>Drake Dobbs</strong> (Liberty commit), <strong>Connor Christensen</strong> (Dartmouth), <strong>Austin Andrews</strong> (UMD), and <strong>John Henry</strong> (D1/D2 offered) in the starting line-up with Bland.  This returning group of players has more experience together than any group in the state as Dobbs and Andrews have four years of varsity play under their belts, Christensen three, and Henry two.  Most of them played together not just in EP jerseys but also D1 Minnesota jerseys.  And many of these guys have been together since playing youth ball. The best part of all four of these guys is they excel (among the state's best) in multiple things: Dobbs in handling and scoring, Christensen in defending and leading, Andrews in low post work and court IQ, and Henry in shooting and position defending.  </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>There are three guys that came off the bench a year ago and helped push EP to state: <strong>Miles Frisch, Lukas Dunford, and Brenden Donohue</strong>.  Miles is one of the elite shooters in the state and he showed that last winter scoring 9.2 points a game.  Dunford is a MIAC level big and Donohue works perfect with this group as a role guy.  Who starts?  Tough question and it may change from night to night.  I can't imagine trying to guard a shooting line-up of Dobbs, Frisch, Christensen, and Henry.  They will need the size of Dunford. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: Randy Williams</strong> played some varsity minutes last year and he's also going to be a senior.  Others to watch are junior <strong>Cole Tiran</strong>, a six foot guard, and 6-foot-3 sophomore <strong>Ryan Warren</strong>. Being on the EP junior varsity the past couple years must of felt like a no-man's land with so all of the current seniors holding varsity spots for so long.  That said, the Eagles will need a player or two to step up form the JV especially if they are hit by injuries again.  </p> <p><strong>New to Town</strong>: At the moment I don't know that EP has a transfer or young player that may play some varsity time, so I don't think it's something to expect. </p>