Class AAAA – The Early Season Surprises

<p>What teams at the Class AAAA level are off to a fantastic and maybe surprising start? And who are the players leading them?  NHR breaks it down. </p> <p><strong>Farmington</strong> (6-2). Farmington lost their first game of the year by a point to Woodbury but have since won six of seven games including victories. They've beaten Chanhassen, Tonka, Jefferson, and New Prague to this point. The Tigers are always one of the most balanced teams in the state with several playing key roles.  Six-foot-3 junior Isaac Ask and 6-foot-5 senior Carter Huschka are two Farmington players off to great starts. </p> <p><strong>Rosemount</strong> (5-2). After going 4-23 a year ago the Irish are off to a wonderful start including a five game winning streak to start the year.  They crushed BSM and played Mounds View close.  Sophomore Caleb Siwek's flame throwing touch has been a game changer scoring 16 a contest putting his name in the hat of top 2022 early season performers.  Junior guard Sean Sullivan has also had a great year so far. </p> <p><strong>Irondale</strong> (6-2).  Coming off of a 2-0 weekend at the Hastings tournament as the Knights have beaten all teams that they felt they should of beaten to this point. The explosive Iggy Ejiofor is leading the way with a double-double average of 14 and 10.  Senior Kwame Herzog has also had a great year leading the team in assists while being second in scoring. </p> <p><strong>Mounds View</strong> (9-0). Nine games, nine wins.  Knocked off Woodbury and Rosemount among the rest of the teams on their schedule to date. Big tests with CDH and East Ridge are coming in the next few weeks and it looks like Mounds View is ready for the challenge.   The combination of senior 6-foot-4 Thomas Gebhardt, junior Evan Kim, and sophomore Dylan Wheeler has been outstanding so far.  </p> <p><strong>Robbinsdale Armstrong</strong> (7-1). Armstrong started their year by losing to Hopkins by double digits but this is an improved team.  The Falcons have knocked off Champlin Park and Minnetonka plus they have tests with Totino-Grace and Park Center coming up soon. The Falcons are led by one of the best senior trios in the state Jake Breitbach, Hezekiah Iyawe, and Adam Biewen.  All three are solid propsects. </p> <p><strong>Duluth East</strong> (7-2). The Hounds are winning games by an average of 13 points a contest knocking off some locals (GR and Esko) and some metro squads (Jefferson and Orono).  The only losses are a pair to Cambridge. Six-foot-6 junior guard Mattie Thompson is scoring 20 a game so far this year while Willie Van Scoy is proving to be one of the top northern Minnesota sophomores. </p>