Class AA Title Contender Series: Caledonia

Caledonia finished the 2019-20 season as the number one ranked team in Class AA basketball. What do they have back and is another shot at the top spot expected? We talk Caledonia today at NHR. Key Wins in 19-20 (28-1): Byron, Waseca, Minneapolis North, Maranatha, Lake City, Stewartville, JCC Oops: Minnehaha Academy Moving On: The Warriors lose one starter, but it’s a big one. [player_tooltip player_id="721829" first="Noah" last="King"] was the team’s point guard and leading scorer. He shut down other top guards while leading the team in scoring and assists. King earned All State Class AA First team, All State Third Team, and was a Mr. Basketball finalist. King is the lone starter gone, but he’s a tough spot to fill especially when other top contenders Waseca and Minneapolis North have all their talent back. The Warriors also lost some deep bench support with the graduation of Tanner Conniff, Elias Dvorak, and Austin Heaney. The trio didn’t play big roles but they were in that deep rotation when Caledonia went to a third, fourth, or fifth guy off the bench. [caption id="attachment_1063547" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/jackson-koepke-caledonia-2022.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1063547 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/jackson-koepke-caledonia-2022-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"][/caption] Returning Starters: There are four (five) of them: senior [player_tooltip player_id="957156" first="Austin" last="Klug"] who has been offered by NAIA schools, senior [player_tooltip player_id="957133" first="Sam" last="Privet"] who has accepted a scholarship to D2 Northern Michigan, junior [player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"], and nationally ranked 2022 football and basketball prospect [player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"]. Privet missed games last year so [player_tooltip player_id="774913" first="Casey" last="Schultz"], a senior, also started. I’m not sure who came off the bench when Privet was healthy (could of been Sam himself) but whomever did will just slide right into a starting role this year so all five guys will have starting experience. [player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"] can be the distributor, he can be the scorer off the ball, or he can be both. Eli can also go the other way and defend the other team’s best player. He’s coming off a great summer. Also having a great 17u summer? That’s [player_tooltip player_id="957156" first="Austin" last="Klug"] and [player_tooltip player_id="957133" first="Sam" last="Privet"]. Both picked up scholarship chances with their 17u play. Klug is a top shooter and a good defender while Privet is a skilled big that should be able to give about 14/8 this year on a good team. Koepke fits his group perfectly as King, Privet, and Klug can be the main scorers while Koepke plugs that hard working defender role while working hard to score in active ways. Jackson will be one of the hardest working players you will see. Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: If the Warriors look to consistently use a traditional four man that has the strength to move to the five backing up Privet, that’s [player_tooltip player_id="774913" first="Casey" last="Schultz"]. Casey is a 230 pound North Dakota football recruit that is rugged and tough which will allow him to pair nicely with Privet. [player_tooltip player_id="774936" first="Andrew" last="Kunelius"] could start giving the team a fourth guard, or the senior could come off the bench. Either way, Andrew is an ideal 6th man for this team because he’s a shooter that can make shots on the move or with feet set. The other returning player with experience is now junior guard Jashon Simpson. Simpson looked really good playing with the Comets this fall and he played a role off the deeper bench last year. Simpson will a quality 7th man with experience and talent. Potentials from the JV: Caledonia has guards that could support this squad from the bench. Guys like junior Thane Meiners and senior Devin Vonderohe who had solid playmaking JV years and could be ready to help the varsity in a reserve role. Junior forward Chris Pieper is 6-foot-3 and should provide sizable depth. Final Thoughts: Caledonia is certainly among the top three contenders for the Class AA crown (if there is such a thing, yes I realize a state tournament is in real danger of not happening and of course there are doubts about what kind of season we may have, but I’m not ready to give up the thought of a champion). The Warriors have experience, talent, athletic ability, and depth. Of the main three teams (Caledonia, Minneapolis North, and Waseca) Caledonia lost the best player by far ([player_tooltip player_id="721829" first="Noah" last="King"]). But then again they beat North and Waseca last year.