The IMAC Preview

<p>We continue our league previews by stepping into the IMAC, the six team league of private schools in the metro. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p>State Title Contender - Minnehaha Academy</p> <p>Odds are that had there been a state tournament we would be talking about Minnehaha Academy’s 4th straight state title, and looking for a fifth.  While that may have been unfair to some other quality teams - DeLaSalle, Marshall (Mankato East, Totino-Grace, and Waconia are the other Top 6 ranked Class AAA teams but they were all knocked out in section title games) - the reality is Minnehaha Academy was the favorite.  And they will enter this season the Class AAA favorite with three starters returning ([player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"], [player_tooltip player_id="850702" first="Prince" last="Aligbe"], [player_tooltip player_id="680229" first="Hercy" last="Miller"]) and three bench players back ready for starting roles ([player_tooltip player_id="850707" first="Chase" last="Carter"], [player_tooltip player_id="850724" first="Donovan" last="Smith"], and [player_tooltip player_id="957130" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"]).  </p> <p>Top Ten in State - Blake</p> <p>This is the season Blake has been priming for.  [player_tooltip player_id="774756" first="Robert" last="Grace IV"] is one of the fastest players in the state of Minnesota - and he would get some votes as the fastest - plus his long time running mates [player_tooltip player_id="774777" first="Gabe" last="Ganz"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774822" first="Jasper" last="Liu"] are back as well. Throw in [player_tooltip player_id="958671" first="Theo" last="Liu"] and you have a four guard/wing attack that will spend much of the season ranked in the top ten. </p> <p>Compete with Most - Providence Academy, Breck</p> <p>If the Lions can get something out of their frontcourt, they have a backcourt that can surely make nights tough for opponents.  [player_tooltip player_id="960335" first="Liam" last="Carney"] is a scorer that is capable of explosive numbers after a great summer and fall of play.  Sam Schroeder and Jimmy Fafinksi are solid returning backcourt members as well.  I expect a big step forward for Breck.  They have a really nice backcourt duo in speedy defender Jared Morton and shooter [player_tooltip player_id="958673" first="Jimmy" last="Koch"].  </p> <p>Rebuilding - St. Paul Academy, Mounds Park Academy</p> <p>SPA isn’t rebuilding as much as they are a big unknown.  Outside of the top player on the team - [player_tooltip player_id="957607" first="Adam" last="Holod"] - the Spartans lost the majority of their rotation from a 16 win team.  They will stay competitive with a lot of the teams on their schedule but so much of the rotation has to be rebuilt. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>19-20 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Minnehaha Academy (played just three conference games last year)</li> <li>Blake</li> <li>Providence Academy</li> <li>Breck</li> <li>St. Paul Academy</li> <li>Mounds Park Academy</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All IMAC</strong></p> <p><strong><u>First Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850702" first="Prince" last="Aligbe"] of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774756" first="Robert" last="Grace IV"] of Blake (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"] of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="680229" first="Hercy" last="Miller"] of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850724" first="Donovan" last="Smith"] of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Second Team</u></strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850707" first="Chase" last="Carter"] of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957130" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"] of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774777" first="Gabe" last="Ganz"] of Blake (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774822" first="Jasper" last="Liu"] of Blake (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774797" first="Jaren" last="Morton"] of Breck (Sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u><strong>Third Team</strong></u></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="960335" first="Liam" last="Carney"] of Providence Academy (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957607" first="Adam" last="Holod"] of St. Paul Academy (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958673" first="Jimmy" last="Koch"] of Breck (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958671" first="Theo" last="Liu"] of Blake (Jr)</p> <p>Mercy Miller of Minnehaha Academy (Fr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><u><strong>Fourth Team</strong></u></p> <p>Jimmy Fafinksi of Providence Academy (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774902" first="Trent" last="Finney"] of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962217" first="DeWayne" last="Givens"] of Minnehaha Academy (Soph)</p> <p>Dhruv Muppidi of Mounds Park Academy (Sr)</p> <p>Sam Schroeder of Providence Academy (Sr)</p>