Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Chaska

<p>Chaska is a constant 20-win team and a regular in the Class AAAA top ten.  That will not change this season.  </p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (24-4)</strong>: Wayzata, Shakopee, Edina, Cooper, Prior Lake, Lakeville North</p> <p><strong>Oops: </strong>Eastview, Eden Prairie, Cooper, Shakopee</p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: Chaska’s best player [player_tooltip player_id="846120" first="Zach" last="Lea"] is now at UMD.  He was a top scorer, the ball handler, the top defender, and a creator.  His all around game ranked with the best in his class.  Type of guy that it may take multiple players to replace what he did.  Forward [player_tooltip player_id="721980" first="Mahad" last="Faisal"] gave the Hawks a big body that could score, board, and defend.  He’s now at Iowa Central CC.  Reserve guard [player_tooltip player_id="549459" first="Ben" last="Kallman"] also graduated.  All three players started last season. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  Leading scorer <strong>Alex Strazzanti</strong> and hard working forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567064" first="Spencer" last="Goetz"]</strong> are the returning starters, and the best two scoring options on the team. Alex is a quality shooter both off the dribble and with his feet set.  He scored the 14 a game in a true scoring role.  What people need to know about Alex is that he is a better athlete than people know - he jumped at the tip off for Chaska - and I think he could expand his game in a big way this winter.  Then you have Goetz, one of the smartest, hardest working players I watched this summer.  Spencer is about to take that eight points and five boards a game, and double it.  High effort, highly competitive winner. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>That would be shooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774803" first="Jack" last="Frick"]</strong> and 6-foot-8 center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850714" first="Brady" last="Nicholson"]. </strong> Frick will be one of the best shooters in the metro this year and he’s coming off of an eight point per game year.  Nicholson will give Chaska an old school strong center on the block with a touch, great footwork, and good hands.  He could be a 12/8 guy this year.  Both are highly experienced and will have no problem moving into the starting five.  </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: </strong>Fifth starter?  That could be senior guard <strong>Tennessee Fossen</strong>.  With Goetz able to guard bigger players he can play the four and obviously Nicholson can start at the five.  That leaves space for maybe Fossen - who did play the 8th/9th man role on varsity at times - to join the starting five or be the 6th Man.  Chaska has more size in the senior class as <strong>Grant Atkinson</strong> has grown to 6-foot-7 and should be able to back Nicholson up.  A senior forward to watch is <strong>Ben Carter</strong>, a 6-foot-2 guard that has shown a knack for scoring here and there. If they need guard depth the junior class has a number of skilled players including <strong>Matt Kallman, Noah Kemp, and Cameron Walle. </strong></p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts:  </strong>The JV went 20-4 to back-up that 24-4 varsity record.  The players that will move up to the varsity and fill those 3-4 varsity spots are upperclassmen guys that have won all their life.  Now their role will be to support players that have already won at the varsity level.  I believe Chaska is not only a top five team entering this season, I think Chaska has the best chance to come out of the vaunted Section 2AAAA this year as the champ/ </p>