Section 4AAA Preview

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The‌ ‌Playoffs‌ ‌are‌ ‌right‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌corner.‌ ‌With‌ ‌small-school‌ ‌section‌ ‌tournaments‌ ‌set‌ ‌to‌ ‌begin‌ ‌in‌ ‌</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">the‌ ‌next‌ ‌few‌ ‌weeks,‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌turn‌ ‌our‌ ‌attention‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌postseason.‌ ‌</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a look at Section 4AAA</span></p> <p><strong>Favorite: Minnehaha</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The favorite to win the Class AAA state title, the Minnehaha Redhawks are the most talented team in the state regardless of class. They’ve been challenged more than some might’ve expected given the abundance of high-octane talent on their roster, but that only means that this team is as prepared for competition as anybody. And when the lights are brightest, this team is going to turn it on. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-suggs/">Jalen Suggs</a> has had a terrific senior season and can put a stamp on one of the best high school careers in state history with a fourth state title run before he’s off. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chet-holmgren/">Chet Holmgren</a> can dominate a game in a way few other guys in the state can. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/prince-aligbe/">Prince Aligbe</a>, Hercy Miller, Donovan Smith, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/terry-lockett/">Terry Lockett</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chase-carter/">Chase Carter</a> and Kaden Johnson round out a deep, big, skilled rotation.</span></p> <p><strong>Contender: Totino-Grace</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Eagles won 18 games in the regular season and never shy away from challenging themselves out of conference play. They have a stud point guard in freshman Taison Chatman, who averages better than 13 points per game and can do it all. He’s big, strong, athletic, can score from all three levels and defend at a high level. Freshman forward CJ O’Hara is right there with Chatman when it comes to freshman-phenoms around the state. The 6-foot-4 swingman can score from all over the court and has improved as the season’s gone on. He’s averaging better than 14 points per game over the second half of the year. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devin-burger/">Devin Burger</a> is another quality frontcourt player and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dj-akpati/">DJ Akpati</a> is a very good complementary two-way guard. The Eagles have the depth, size and skill to beat just about anybody in this section and potentially challenge the Redhawks. </span></p> <p><strong>Watch Out For: St. Paul Johnson, Mahtomedi, St. Anthony Village, Columbia Heights</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">St. Paul Johnson started the year 1-6 and have since gone 15-2. The Governors don’t have the high-octane talent that some of the other top teams in the section have, but they’ve got strength in numbers as 10 guys play and average at least five points per game. Junior guard Julian Hodges has been their best player, averaging better than 13 points per game. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hylanders don’t have a great record, but they’ve got a dynamic duo in senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-jones/">Jordan Jones</a> and sophomore swingman <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/muja-burton/">Muja Burton</a>. Those two combine to average nearly 40 points per game. They don’t have great depth and they’ve been inconsistent on both ends of the floor, but they’ve got the firepower to put a scare in anybody. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mahtomedi went to state a year ago and despite its best player transferring, the Zephyrs have been competitive most of the season. Brody Fox and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-ricker/">Luke Ricker</a> are steady guards who can fill it up from beyond the 3-point line. Cal Greene and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cole-chapman/">Cole Chapman</a> are solid interior players who can protect the paint and rebound. The Zephyrs don’t have the same kind of juice as some of the top teams in the section, but they can be dangerous because of their size, experience and ability to shoot. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">St. Anthony Village has been mostly middling throughout the year but the Huskies are dangerous if only becasue senior gaurd <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tait-nelson/">Tait Nelson</a> is capable of taking over a game essentially by himself. Nelson averages better than 22 points per game, scoring from all over the court and can get after people on the defensive end too. </span></p>