Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Osseo

Next up, Osseo. A deep team with a talented junior class that had a lot of injury set-backs last season but should be a serious threat this winter. Key Wins in 19-20 (10-17): Owatonna, Moorhead, Rogers, Elk River, JM Oops: Edina, Park Center, Blaine, Lake City, Spring Lake Park Moving On: Osseo used a dozen different players on a regular or semi-regular basis last season as they dealt with injuries leading to some different rotations. Three of those players have moved on (two to graduation, one to transfer). Guard [player_tooltip player_id="721866" first="Tariq" last="Henry"] was a team leader and unfortunately dealt with injury so he didn’t get to play as much as he wanted, he’s now at NDSCS. Worker Connor Nygard came off the bench and he’s graduated while [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"] transferred to Columbia Heights. Returning Starter: Osseo had so many starters last year we are just going to pick the top scorers back from last year and count them as starters. Three of the five top scorers from a year ago are back and they are three of the most talented players in the junior class. [player_tooltip player_id="850711" first="Joshua" last="Ola-Joseph"] is a 6-foot-6 long armed jumping jack that has some of the best lift in the state of Minnesota. Ola-Joseph was Osseo’s top player a year ago and he’s a top 10-12 level prospect in one of the deepest classes of Minnesota talent in years. Ola-Joseph averaged 14 points a game last season and could explode for even more this winter. [player_tooltip player_id="850721" first="Benard" last="Omooria"] is Osseo’s returning All Conference player, and their returning point guard. Benard averaged a dozen points and four assists a game. Intelligent player that also has a strong basketball IQ. What stood out for me this summer was that Benard had a 16u experience that didn’t quite work out so he joined the D1 Minnesota Prospects 17u squad, and provided consistent production. That Prospects team had ball handlers so Benard played some off the ball and shot really well helping the team as one of it’s better players. What really stood out to me though was how Benard changed something that didn’t work into a positive outcome for the summer. Loved the way [player_tooltip player_id="958640" first="Tyriece" last="Waits"] played last winter scoring eight a game. Waits is a 6-foot-2 guard that puts the ball down to attack the rim as well as anybody. When I saw Osseo play, Waits was one of the most aggressive and physical guards on the court. Loved his approach as he seems to be the lightning rod that guys will follow energy wise. Osseo of course started a frontcourt player or two each game so I will throw one in here as well. The top returning frontcourt player (numbers wise) is 6-foot-9 junior big [player_tooltip player_id="850705" first="Blessed" last="Barhayiga"]. Blessed is a center that gave Osseo six points and four rebounds a game. Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: The other returning bigs are power forwards. Six-foot-4 senior [player_tooltip player_id="957630" first="Michael" last="McIntyre"] is one and he is coming off a strong summer with the D1 Prospects. McIntyre earned a lot of respect from teams with his rebounding, defensive effort, and physical battle. Another four man that we think has good potential is 6-foot-5 junior [player_tooltip player_id="958659" first="James" last="Spencer"]. Spencer played more early in the season than he did later. Finally, 6-foot-4 [player_tooltip player_id="958667" first="Lewis" last="Cargeor"], a combo forward that was asked to battle in the paint and gave his team all he had. Lewis is a good defender. McIntyre, Spencer, and Cargeor may not get the big headlines but all of them are vital pieces because they are active workers that compete hard. As far as the backcourt, there is more talent that will make Osseo one of the deeper teams in Class AAAA. Six-foot-1 junior [player_tooltip player_id="850720" first="Don" last="Ferguson"] is one of the best shooters in the junior class. His natural stroke is a weapon that the Osseo staff will have fun running plays for. Ferguson was hurt most of last winter but make no mistake, he is a starting caliber player that can change games in a few possessions. Six-foot-2 wing [player_tooltip player_id="796952" first="Owen" last="Dukowitz"] is another junior that stepped into the line-up last year and took advantage of injuries earning time. Owen is yet another aggressive, hard working defensive player in the Osseo rotation. Potentials from the JV: I just gave you nine names that will be a part of the Osseo rotation so assuming there isn’t yet another massive surge of injuries, Osseo shouldn’t have to move several JV players up to varsity again this year. A few of the players named above - Cargeor and Dukowitz are two I believe - played JV last year. With nine players returning, there may be room for another name. Who could that be? Maybe it’s a senior! Who could join McIntyre from the senior class? It could be guard KK Totten and/or forward Finnes Whitley. Senior Michael Henderson has some good size at 6-foot-4 that could be used as well. Final Thoughts: Thinking about this team, my mind goes to all the things they can do with the line-up. Osseo can go with an excellent three guard group of Benard, Waits, and Feguson, and then use Ola-Joseph as the four and either Blessed as the five or a hard working four man in McIntyre or Cargeor. Osseo could also put Ola-Joseph as a three, use one of those worker fours in the front court, and then start them with Blessed and two guards. That would then allow a shooter in Ferguson or an attacker in Waits be an excellent 6th Man. Think Lou Williams! Or you go with two workers (say Spencer and Cargeor) and start them with Ola-Joseph and two guards, or use Ola-Joseph as the five and play four guards in a blitzing up and down group! My point is, there is so much that Osseo can do with these experienced, hard working returning players. And they will be able to do it for the next two seasons.