Deepest Returning Metro Teams Pt. 2

The 2020 class in Minnesota was special, with a handful of nationally ranked talents and depth of prospects at all levels. But they’re moving on to college, leaving a lot of holes to fill. Which metro teams come back with the depth to compete for state during the 2020-21 season? NHR has you covered with five of the deepest returning metro teams! Minnehaha Academy Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="850702" first="Prince" last="Aligbe"] (2022), [player_tooltip player_id="680229" first="Hercy" last="Miller"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="850724" first="Donovan" last="Smith"] (2022), [player_tooltip player_id="957130" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"] (2021) Despite losing [player_tooltip player_id="532350" first="Jalen" last="Suggs"], [player_tooltip player_id="846113" first="Terry" last="Lockett"], and Kaden Johnson to graduation, Minnehaha will once again field arguably the most talented lineup in the state. It starts with 7 footer [player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"] causing havoc on the defensive end with his timing and wingspan that allow him to block nearly everything in the paint. He’ll also look to make up for some of the scoring lost with the departure of Suggs, using his range to stretch the defense, and guard like handles to get to the hoop. [player_tooltip player_id="850702" first="Prince" last="Aligbe"] has been a double-digit scorer the past two seasons with a solid shooting stroke and explosive finishing around the rim. He’s also an elite level defender. [player_tooltip player_id="680229" first="Hercy" last="Miller"] is a high major point guard prospect who can attack the basket and create open looks for his teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="850724" first="Donovan" last="Smith"] will once again stretch the floor with his deep range and ability to create his own shot off the bouce. Minnehaha’s depth on the wing gets scary with guys like [player_tooltip player_id="957130" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"], [player_tooltip player_id="958638" first="Demarion" last="Watson-Saulsberry"], and [player_tooltip player_id="850707" first="Chase" last="Carter"] all capable of getting to the rack and finishing. They’ll also add additional depth from some of the talent from last winter’s JV team. Richfield Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id="774779" first="Ryan" last="Miles"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="774874" first="Isaiah" last="Casey Hammond"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="958679" first="Mitchell" last="January"] (2022), [player_tooltip player_id="958660" first="Jaden" last="Wollmuth"] (2022) Arguably the most improved team in the state last year, Richfield put together an impressive season and will return almost the entirety of their core lineup. Shifty guard [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"] returns after scoring 20 a game as a junior, and he has the speed to come off screens hard to get to the rack or make defenders pay from beyond the arc with his shot. [player_tooltip player_id="774779" first="Ryan" last="Miles"] is a do-it-all wing at 6’5 who can handle, get to the rack, knock down jumpers, and defend just about everywhere on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="958679" first="Mitchell" last="January"] is an additional scoring threat who excels at finishing in transition and causes a lot of problems for opposing ball handlers with his pesky defense. [player_tooltip player_id="774874" first="Isaiah" last="Casey Hammond"] at 6’7 and [player_tooltip player_id="958660" first="Jaden" last="Wollmuth"] at 6’5 will make up a strong frontcourt duo. Casey Hammond has a long wingspan to contest shots and finish explosively above the rim while Wollmuth is a bruiser who can finish through contact and rebounds extremely well. Hopkins Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id="532569" first="Andre" last="Gray"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="850704" first="Elvis" last="Nnaji"] (2022), Jaelen Treml (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="957132" first="Xavier" last="White"] (2021) Hopkins loses arguably the state’s top shooter and one of the best players overall in [player_tooltip player_id="532358" first="Kerwin" last="Walton"], but return a deep lineup of guards capable of stepping up. [player_tooltip player_id="532569" first="Andre" last="Gray"] could become the top scoring option as an explosive finisher who is dangerous at creating his own shots off the bounce. He’s one of the top 2021 guards in the state. Jaelen Treml is a long guard who could play the 1 or 2 and provides an outside shooting threat and consistent ball handling. [player_tooltip player_id="957132" first="Xavier" last="White"] is a 6’5 wing who broke out as a junior, knocking down high arcing threes and developing into a more aggressive attacker. In the post Hopkins will look for [player_tooltip player_id="850704" first="Elvis" last="Nnaji"] to provide shot blocking and finishing. He’s an explosive 6’8 forward who looks to dunk everything in the paint. Additional guard depth will come from [player_tooltip player_id="774778" first="Tristan" last="Lee"] who is an elite on-ball defender, and possibly 2022 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="958658" first="Tyrell" last="Sappington"] who was a standout JV performer. [player_tooltip player_id="957153" first="Andrew" last="Chisley"] at 6’6 and [player_tooltip player_id="774852" first="Jack" last="Hernandez"] at 6’8 provide some additional size. South St. Paul Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] (2022), [player_tooltip player_id="962201" first="Maxsamus" last="Wilson"] (2023), [player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"] (2021) South St. Paul had a breakout season last winter, and will return will a majority of their top contributors. It starts with [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"], one of the top scoring threats in the metro after averaging 25 ppg as a sophomore. He’s able to change direction in a hurry and blow by defenders to get to the rim, contorting his body to finish in a variety of ways. [player_tooltip player_id="962201" first="Maxsamus" last="Wilson"] will look to take a step forward as one of the state’s top 2023 prospects. He has great passing vision off penetration, and is a dangerous shooter off the bounce from three. [player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"] is an undersized forward but uses his strength to score tough buckets around the rim. Both Ramontay and [player_tooltip player_id="958806" first="Ramontre" last="Harmon"] saw big minutes at guard spots, and they both look ready to step into more consistent roles. [player_tooltip player_id="958744" first="Anthony" last="Faulk"] is a 6’5 2022 forward who saw some consistent minutes last year, and could step into a much bigger role to provide some necessary size for the Packers. DeLaSalle Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="774737" first="Keijuan" last="White"] (2021), [player_tooltip player_id="774807" first="Evan" last="Boyd"] (2021) As can be expected with a dominant program like DeLaSalle, they’ll return next winter with plenty of talent. [player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"] has emerged as one of the top wings in the state, as he can knock down threes in bunches with his high release. He’s also grown as an athlete and has the ability to finish above the rim with ease and take defenders off the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id="774737" first="Keijuan" last="White"] is a stellar on-ball defender and is one of the most explosive players in the state. He attacks the basket hard and can elevate over defenders to finish. Additional scoring will come from [player_tooltip player_id="774807" first="Evan" last="Boyd"], a solid outside shooter who excels at pulling up from mid-range. He averaged 6.7 ppg as a junior but could be in for a breakout senior year. The guard depth runs deep with guys like 2023 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="962218" first="Nasir" last="Whitlock"] who dominated at the JV level, or [player_tooltip player_id="958672" first="Amir" last="Everett"] who is a bulldog guard capable of finishing through contact at the rim.