The Tri-Metro Preview

The Tri-Metro has been Islander conquered for years. Teams in the league are greatly improving though which could tighten the race. Here’s our look at the Tri-Metro. Conference Commentary Top Ten in State – DeLaSalle, Richfield, Columbia Heights Richfield enters the season as a top five Class AAA team coming off a 23-5 season, with nearly all of their key players returning. Columbia Heights was a .500 squad a season ago, but their returning 2022 group of talent is very good and it’s been upgraded by a pair of transfers. The Hylanders have top five potential in Class AAA. What does this mean? The constant favorite DeLaSalle Islanders have a bit more of a challenge this season than they’ve had in past years. Keep in mind, the Islanders haven’t lost a league game since January of 2016 so it’s been almost five years. They are the heavy favorite coming into the year, but the challenge from Richfield and Columbia Heights will be stiffer. Potential Top Ten in State – Holy Angels, St. Croix Lutheran Holy Angels isn’t far from the top ten, but they lost three starters and don’t have the same amount of talent coming up in numbers that the other three do. But there is talent at Holy Angles don’t get me wrong, that’s why they will enter the season just outside of the top ten. The trio if [player_tooltip player_id="850716" first="Emmett" last="Johnson"], [player_tooltip player_id="957198" first="Bryce" last="Boyd"], and [player_tooltip player_id="958645" first="Camden" last="Holter"] is very good and has the ability to make the Stars a top ten team and a league contender. They just need some inexperienced players to step up as well. St. Croix Lutheran has been building to his season led by this current senior group. [player_tooltip player_id="774770" first="Owen" last="Bushaw"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774760" first="Zach" last="Longueville"] will lead the way plus they have some experienced forwards. The loss of [player_tooltip player_id="532566" first="Xavier" last="Garcia"] is a certain blow, but they will still be very good. Compete with Most – Fridley, St. Anthony Village Fridley always seems to play a bit tougher, a bit better together, when expectations aren’t that high. Last year, a .500 team when expectations weren’t that high. This year, they have a nice backcourt that will keep them tough and competitive. Don’t forget about St. Anthony Village. [player_tooltip player_id="721860" first="Tait" last="Nelson"] is gone and there aren’t headliners, but there is experienced talent that can shoot the ball. Rebuilding - Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center had one of the greatest collections of young talent we’ve seen, but all five of those 8th graders transferred. There is some talent there still but so much of the rotation is gone.   20-21 Tri-Metro Conference Predictions <ol> <li>DeLaSalle</li> <li>Richfield</li> <li>Columbia Heights</li> <li>Holy Angels</li> <li>St. Croix Lutheran</li> <li>Fridley</li> <li>St. Anthony Village</li> <li>Brooklyn Center</li> </ol>   Preseason All Tri-Metro Conference First Team [player_tooltip player_id="850729" first="Muja" last="Burton"] of Columbia Heights (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"] of Richfield (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"] of DeLaSalle (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="774779" first="Ryan" last="Miles"] of Richfield (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="774737" first="Keijuan" last="White"] of DeLaSalle (Sr)   Second Team [player_tooltip player_id="958666" first="Donnavin" last="Hinsz"] of Columbia Heights (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="958645" first="Camden" last="Holter"] or Holy Angels (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="958679" first="Mitchell" last="January"] of Richfield (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="850716" first="Emmett" last="Johnson"] of Holy Angels (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="774760" first="Zach" last="Longueville"] of St. Croix Lutheran (Sr)   Third Team [player_tooltip player_id="957198" first="Bryce" last="Boyd"] of Holy Angels (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="774807" first="Evan" last="Boyd"] of DeLaSalle (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="774770" first="Owen" last="Bushaw"] of St. Croix Lutheran (Sr) Isaiah Casey-Hammond of Richfield (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"] of Columbia Heights (Jr)   Fourth Team [player_tooltip player_id="850719" first="Spencer" last="Alvarez"] of Columbia Heights (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="962210" first="Quyavant" last="Douglas"] of Brooklyn Center (Soph) [player_tooltip player_id="958672" first="Amir" last="Everett"] of DeLaSalle (Jr) [player_tooltip player_id="962218" first="Nasir" last="Whitlock"] of DeLaSalle (Soph) [player_tooltip player_id="957232" first="Elijah" last="Williams"] of Columbia Heights (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="958660" first="Jaden" last="Wollmuth"] of Richfield (Jr)   Fifth Team Casmir Chavis of DeLaSalle (Fr) [player_tooltip player_id="957228" first="Christian" last="Crockett"] of Fridley (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="958722" first="Jamez" last="Garner"] of Columbia Heights (Jr) Connor Mielke of St. Croix Lutheran (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="957610" first="Micah" last="Niewald"] of Fridley (Sr) [player_tooltip player_id="957644" first="Luke" last="Omodt"] of St. Anthony Village (Sr)