Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Wayzata

<p>When it comes to depth of talent, Wayzata has the most in Class AAAA basketball.  That said, they were 11-17 last year.  Despite last year’s stumbles I still believe they are on the short list of Class AAAA favorites.</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20</strong>: CDH, Edina, Armstrong, Tonka</p> <p><strong>Oops:</strong> 17 losses in 28 games is a lot of oops regardless of the early season injuries as well as the late start from the football players.</p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: The Trojans return six of their top seven scoring threats from last year so all the key pieces are back, they still lost four seniors from the regular rotation.  Those players are [player_tooltip player_id="955923" first="Josh" last="Gullickson"], Jacob Wildermuth, [player_tooltip player_id="955933" first="Connor" last="Yarbrough"], and Grant Bokowitz.  It’s a group of reserve forwards and guards that combined to score 10.4 points a game last year with Gullickson giving half the production (Gullickson started). </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: After a brutal 2-12 start, Wayzata settled into a healthier, steady rhythm winning nine of their last 15 games.  In that starting line-up was guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532609" first="Kody" last="Williams"]</strong> (now a senior) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958661" first="Drew" last="Berkland"]</strong> (junior), and forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"]</strong> (junior) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850713" first="Carter" last="Bjerke"]</strong> (junior). Williams is an explosive athlete at guard that can often be a defensive menace and an attacking finisher.  He scored a dozen a game last season while Berkland finished at ten a game while also being a top defender.  Williams, Berkland, and [player_tooltip player_id="774744" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"] have a chance to be one of the elite defensive guard trios in the state, and the potential to be one of the best defensive groups you will see.  Then you have Bjerke and Heide who are both division one level skilled forwards.  Heide is the top junior wing in the state as well a top 50 player nationally in his class.  Bjerke is a skilled four man that should have a breakout junior season (scored a team high 377 points last year during the regular season).  </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: [player_tooltip player_id="774744" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"]</strong> was hurt a good part of last season or the Minnesota State-Moorhead committed guard likely would of been a starting player.  Beeninga had a fantastic summer playing with the Minnesota Fury often teams being the late game clutch playmaker.  Eddie played so well that he earned a scholarship from the Dragons like his brothers did before him.  Speaking of guys who had a big summer, wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796955" first="Ryan" last="Harvey"]</strong> had some massive scoring games for the Minnesota Heat.  He was a three bucket a game guy for Wayzaya last year and has the potential to be a double figure scorer.  The thing is, Williams, Beeninga, Heide, and Bjerke are certainly double figure number getters and like Harvey, Berkland has that potential too.  Wayzata will certainly have a player up for 6th Man of the Year and my guess is it will be Harvey.  </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: </strong>Two younger guys that played on JV last year are now sophomore <strong>Hayden Tibbits</strong> (a guard) and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958724" first="Logan" last="Broady"]</strong> (another guard).  Williams, Beeninga, and Berkland will eat up a lot of clock but there is still room for another player in there and perhaps it’s either Hayden or Logan. A senior that could also compete for some of that time is <strong>Trey Lance</strong>, a 5-foot-10 guard that came off the varsity bench last year when the Trojans were short-handed.  <strong>Ryan Horst</strong> is a senior at 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 and with the Trojan senior class being quite small in height, he may be needed in a forward role.  </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  If Wayzata hadn’t lost 17 last year there is no doubt in my mind they would enter the year as the clear preseason number one.  They have some things to prove though after the 2-12 start that of course shook them up some.  That said, [player_tooltip player_id="774744" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"] and [player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"] will start this year healthy and that’s a huge difference.  If I was to pick a team to win state it would be between the Trojans and the Cougars right now.  But the season is wide open. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>