The Metro West Preview

Chaska steps into the season a Class AAAA contender but on their heels in the Metro West once again is Cooper. Here is the Metro West Preview!

Conference Commentary

Top 10 in State – Chaska

The Hawks are a constant in the top 10 of Class AAAA basketball. They are right now one of the most consistent programs in the state consistently bringing back starters, and continuing to find up and comers to plug in spots, and they become valuable contributors. The Hawks have leading scorer Luke Strazzanti Luke Strazzanti 6'4" | SG Chaska | 2021 State MN back, they have their center back in Brady Nicholson Brady Nicholson 6'9" | C Chaska | 2022 State MN , there is always a shooter to chase and this year it’s Jack Frick Jack Frick 6'2" | SG Chaska | 2021 State MN (along with Luke), and there is the worker Spencer Goetz Spencer Goetz 6'3" | SF Chaska | 2021 State MN .

Top 20 in State – Cooper

Cooper and Chaska have been going back and forth in this for several years (most of the years) and this year will be no different. Cooper enters the year a top 20 in Class AAAA with Broderick Powell Jr Broderick Powell Jr 5'11" | PG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2021 State MN , Tyson Dallas Tyson Dallas 6'2" | SG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2021 State MN , and Davion Evans Davion Evans 6'0" | PG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2022 State MN back leading an experience group. Cooper and Chaska split games last season and with Cooper having a bit more back than Chaska, their pair of games this year should be excellent.

Compete with Most – St. Louis Park, Jefferson

The Orioles of StLP will be competitive because they have the toughest to defend scorer in the league in Paris Johnson Paris Johnson 6'4" | SG St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN . There is so much changing around Paris that there is some rebuilding but he will keep them competitive. What gives them a chance to really push for wins is the addition of an experienced transfer and that is Derric Standifer Derric Standifer 5'7" | PG St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN . Even though Jefferson lost six of their top eight scorers (in point totals) they have a bit more back than you think. Sam Wanzek Sam Wanzek 6'4" | SF Bloomington Jefferson | 2021 State MN is the top returning player and Aidan Atkins Aidan Atkins 5'10" | PG Bloomington Jefferson | 2022 State MN is a reserve ready for a bigger role. What really helps is that two solid players who were injured most of the season – Isaac Freitag and Hayden Holland Hayden Holland 6'0" | PG Bloomington Jefferson | 2022 State MN – are back and ready to go. What Jefferson doesn’t have is experienced size.

Rebuilding – Kennedy, Chanhassen, BSM

Kennedy had a nice year with a .500 record at 13-13 but they won only three league games and five of their top six players graduated. Amarion Hanspard Amarion Hanspard 6'0" | PG Bloomington Kennedy | 2021 State MN is one of the best players in the league, but there is a ton around him that needs to be replaced. Chanhassen doesn’t have the rebuilding project you may think. Sure they lost their top scorer and have a new coach, but the Storm has four of their top six guys back and they have a coach in Corey Christopherson that will bring passion and energy to this team. BSM has another new coach and this time it’s Damian Johnson, the former Gopher who did a wonderful job at North St. Paul. Johnson has a task in front of him considering that BSM was 5-22 last year and lost their three top scorers, but there are some workers on this team in Charlie Hansen Charlie Hansen 6'2" | SF Benilde St Margaret's | 2021 State MN and Dan Ijadimbola Dan Ijadimbola 6'3" | SG Benilde St Margaret's | 2022 State MN plus a good point guard in transfer Maddox Alipate Maddox Alipate 6'1" | PG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2022 State MN .