Minnesota’s League Pass Rankings – Class AAAA

<p>The condensed NBA offseason has my head spinning — trades everywhere, rookies added to depth charts and lucrative free agent contracts will surely make for some under-the-radar rosters to watch on NBA League Pass this season. So that got me thinking... which teams in the Minnesota high school scene would be League Pass darlings? Today we run through some squads in Class AAAA that fit the bill for your hopeful live stream viewing priorities.</p> <p><strong>5. Duluth East - </strong>The Greyhounds have been gearing up for this season with their elite senior frontcourt pair. [player_tooltip player_id="774801" first="Mattie" last="Thompson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"] are Minnesota-Duluth commits and pose a big threat to interior defenses everywhere. Thompson is an athletic wing slasher and rebounder who could keep rising our 2021 rankings with some offensive explosions. Paulson has been a mainstay in the paint for East and makes winning plays. Losing point guard [player_tooltip player_id="958677" first="Will" last="Van Scoy"] for the season due to injury hurts their depth and their ranking here, but with an experienced rotation, the Greyhounds are very worthy of the fifth spot in Class AAAA’s LP list.</p> <p><strong>4. Osseo - </strong>I was one of many who expected Osseo to come out last season blazing hot with their spectacular sophomore class. The lack of experience showed and it was a bumpier ride en route to a 10-17 finish. But the core returns save for [player_tooltip player_id="721866" first="Tariq" last="Henry"] graduating and [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"] transferring; [player_tooltip player_id="850721" first="Benard" last="Omooria"] and Josh Ola-Joseph were two of the more consistent Orioles last year and both have big-time athleticism and ball skills. Ola-Joseph’s explosiveness to the rim makes him a Blake Griffin-esque lob threat and Omooria has been torching perimeter defenses from beyond the arc since his freshman season. Add in [player_tooltip player_id="850720" first="Don" last="Ferguson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958640" first="Tyriece" last="Waits"] to catalyze the fast break and another year of seasoning for raw big man [player_tooltip player_id="850705" first="Blessed" last="Barhayiga"] in the middle and this team has pieces to be one of the more exciting metro squads around. They also have a coach in Tim Theisen that has been around the block enough where you forget to appreciate how good he is at adjusting his players to his style.</p> <p><strong>3. Robbinsdale Cooper - </strong>The Hawks reached the section 6AAAA final a year ago with a cast of sophomores and juniors that play with lots of pace. [player_tooltip player_id="567080" first="Broderick" last="Powell Jr"]. is the focus of the offensive creation and he gets to the free throw line with ease. [player_tooltip player_id="958641" first="Davion" last="Evans"], [player_tooltip player_id="774788" first="Majay" last="Murphy"] and Jeffrey Cooper are a trio of guards that have physical advantages against most every opponent and with another year of experience will be even more gelled as a unit. Cooper’s always scrappy, never very big and definitely an exciting watch because it seems they’re never really out of a game until the buzzer sounds.</p> <p><strong>2. Eastview - </strong>Losing four high-level starters will hurt, but the Lightning are in as good a position to reload as any for the next three years. Ultra-athletic forward [player_tooltip player_id="774806" first="Zach" last="Spann"] will step into a bigger role offensively. [player_tooltip player_id="957196" first="Henry" last="Shannon III"], Grayson Stahlboerger and [player_tooltip player_id="774901" first="Jackson" last="Purcell"] were experienced juniors that add depth and versatile skills. Then the 2022 and 2023 classes are dynamic in their own right - big man Jamal Ambrose, guard [player_tooltip player_id="958669" first="Kenji" last="Scales"] and twin forwards Mario Adams and Myles Adams had strong offseasons boosting stock as well. I see this team not only as a potential-filled group in the next few years, but as a current competitor and very good defensive threat.</p> <p><strong>1. Lakeville South - </strong>The preseason number one team returns almost the entire rotation and plenty of experience. [player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"] running the show at the point, [player_tooltip player_id="774732" first="Riley" last="Mahlman"] protecting the rim and a bevy of very mature junior wings make up this state contender. Patterson is a one-man wrecking crew on his own - add in [player_tooltip player_id="850730" first="Sam" last="Fliehe"], [player_tooltip player_id="774771" first="Avery" last="Mast"] and [player_tooltip player_id="567123" first="Trystan" last="Ressler"], that’s a deep, experienced team that plays great team ball. They’ve been building for this and hopefully watching it play out will be a treat for all.</p>