Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Eastview

<p>Eastview lost five starters to graduation.  How are they a title contender this winter?  NHR explains today. </p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (24-4):  </strong>Champlin Park, Chaska, Wayzata, East Ridge, Lakeville North, Prior Lake, Shakopee</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Shakopee, Eden Prairie, Lakeville South, Prior Lake</p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>:  The Lightning started five seniors on a top five level team in the state.  [player_tooltip player_id="721823" first="Steven" last="Crowl"] is at Wisconsin getting ready to play for the Badgers, [player_tooltip player_id="721878" first="Jaylen" last="James"] is at Minnesota-Crookston, [player_tooltip player_id="721842" first="Tate" last="Machacek"] is a student at Minnesota, [player_tooltip player_id="955661" first="Caden" last="Scales"] plays for Augsburg, and [player_tooltip player_id="721854" first="Ryan" last="Thissen"] is at St. John’s.  Five college basketball level players, four of them are playing college basketball and Machacek will likely dominate the rec league at the U.   Shoot, what better walk-on for the Gophers than Tate if he wanted to do that? Crowl left Eastview the all time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker, Machacek has played in more games than any other Lightning player ever, and James hit more threes than any other Eastview player ever.  </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  None.  </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  [player_tooltip player_id="774806" first="Zach" last="Spann"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774901" first="Jackson" last="Purcell"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958669" first="Kenji" last="Scales"]</strong> made up one of the more talented benches in the state of Minnesota last season.  Spann and Purcell (seniors) supported the Lightning at forward, Scales added to the guard depth.  Spann and Purcell played for Minnesota Select this summer and they were among the three or four most consistent players for the team.  Spann is one of the most explosive players at his position in the state while Purcell’s combination of skill, court IQ, and work ethic in a 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 wing frame make him the team’s top returning scorer (7.4 points a contest).  One thing that people should know about each is that Purcell is one of the better defenders you need to know about while Spann’s scholarship potential could be massive this winter if he takes another step forward (as he did this summer).  Then you have Scales (a junior) who was dynamic for the Minnesota Fury Narum 16u team earning 16U All State honors.  Each game I saw Scales he drew the opposing team’s best defender but managed to playmake as the team leader in scoring and assists.  He will step right into a big playmaking role for the Lightning.  </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>There are three key names that grab you from this JV: 6-foot-2 senior guard <strong>Grayson Stoelboerger</strong>, 6-foot-6 senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957196" first="Henry" last="Shannon III"]</strong>, and 6-foto-9 junior center <strong>Jamal Ambrose</strong>.   Ambrose will likely step into Crowl’s starting spot, Purcell and Spann into the spots of Thissen and Machacek, and Scales into the spot of his brother.  Then you have Stoelboerger who should fill the shoes of James, and Shannon who could either play Purcell’s 6th Man role from last year, or move into the starting role giving the team either great size in the first five, an active frontcourt with three forwards in the first group, or a situation where there’s a double figure scoring forward coming off the bench.  Any way the Eastview coaches choose, they come out ahead.  Ambrose has a huge frame but also a really nice touch, and is coming off a strong year with Gain Elite.  Shannon is a lefty with scoring ability from many angles, he can play both forward spots.  Stoelboerger could be the glue guy defensive worker, could be a three point specialist, could be that high IQ decision maker that wins games, or any combination of the three.  </p> <p>That’s six guys, but who else? The depth in the backcourt could come from one of two places: the seniors coming up from the JV or the young talents that Eastview has with high potential. <strong>Aryan Kohli</strong> (6-foot-0), <strong>Matt Plotnik</strong> (5-foot-9), and <strong>Brady Schmitz</strong> (6-foot-2) are the seniors that will get a chance to be back-up guards off the bench.  Then you have <strong>Myles Adams and Mario Adams</strong>, two sophomores that stand 6-foot-4 and had excellent 15u seasons.  They could either help the team off the bench or get a full slate of minutes on the JV.  The Adams brothers could play the wing as could 6-foto-3 senior <strong>Jack Pepin</strong>.   </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  Regardless if the main six are backed up by youth or seniors, Eastview has the depth of talent to make a run.  Last year they won 86 percent of their games and it’s possible they could do that one again with this line-up.  Eastview has size, depth at wing, and a ball handler to make the team go.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>