Class AAA Title Contender Series: South St. Paul

<p>The Packers return most of their key parts from an 18-win team that improved the programs by ten wins.  It was the first Packers season over .500 in longer than anybody can remember.  So what’s next?</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (18-10):   </strong>Richfield, St. Paul Central, Mahtomedi, Simley</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Winona, Red Wing, Minneapolis North, North St. Paul, Tartan, AHA</p> <p><strong>Moving On: </strong>SSP lost a pair of starters in all conference honorable mentioned players [player_tooltip player_id="721953" first="Marcus" last="Brown"] (graduation) and Max Wilson (transfer to Hopkins) but they gained a starter through transfer ([player_tooltip player_id="958644" first="Shawn" last="West-Zimpel"]).  In addition, reserve guard Jermell Dean also graduated.  Replacing two starters is tough but it’s not as tough when you add a starter from a top conference foe (NSP) and the majority of your returning experience is sophomores turning into juniors.  Brown and Wilson were double figure averaging players and Brown is the biggest lost team wise because he was 6-foot-7 and the only size the team had.  There is no little returning size with experience to replace him in the post.</p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  The Packers have three returning starters:  Class AAA All State 6-foot-2 junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"]</strong>, 6-foot-2 senior all conference forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"]</strong>, and junior defensive pest <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958773" first="Ramontay" last="Harmon"]</strong> (a 5-foot-11 guard).  Dodd averaged 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists a game last year as a do it all hard nosed competitor.  Dodd performs big in the clutch, he competes at a high level on both ends, and is coming off of a great summer with the Grassroots Sizzle 16s.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"] put together a 14 point, five rebound, 3-4 assist a game season as a junior earning all league honors.  Gleb’s effort as a defender and worker has led to his coach calling him the "heart of the program" for the way he has led by example.  Gleb is a very good shooter who rebounds well at his 6-foot-2 size.  Another player to watch likely take a big step is [player_tooltip player_id="958773" first="Ramontay" last="Harmon"].  Harmon started as a sophomore in large part because he could pressure the ball and make others uncomfortable.  He’s also a strong three point shooter. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: </strong>The fifth starter job could go a number of ways.  Looking at the returning players off last year’s bench the first name that pops up is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958806" first="Ramontre" last="Harmon"].  </strong>Harmon is 5-foot-10 and had an every game role last year.  If SSP goes smaller with their first five it could be Ramontre or 6-foot-0 senior wing <strong>Jaylin Nieman-Burnett</strong> that looks to earn that fifth starter spot. A lot of eyes will be on junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958744" first="Anthony" last="Faulk"]</strong>, a 6-foot-5 frontcourt player with the most returning size on the team.  Faulk backed up Brown a season ago and now could step in as the 5th starter making this a bigger team. </p> <p><strong>Transferring In</strong>: A big piece that SSP added for the next two seasons was North St Paul’s sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958644" first="Shawn" last="West-Zimpel"]</strong>.  Shawn is a six foot junior that scored ten a game for NSP a season ago and earned all conference honors.  West-Zimpel is a jack-of-all-trades type of player that will fit very well with Dodd and Gleb, two other guys that are willing to do whatever it takes to win, while also being a main scoring option.  Shawn impressed as an underclassmen defending, handling, moving the ball, and taking the right shots. Adding West-Zimpel to the starting line-up will keep the ball moving and it will upgrade the defense. An unknown that transferred in is <strong>Devin Newsome</strong>.  The 6-foot-1 junior guard was at <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/team/v2/106953">San Joaquin Memorial High School </a>in Fresno, California last season.  All we know at this point was that he was on their varsity roster last year.  We’ve been told he’s a talented player that will impact the team. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: </strong>This was a sophomore heavy junior varsity last season. Of the seven returning players we’ve already discussed, five are juniors.  But the SSP junior class has more to come. <strong>Keon Moore</strong> was often in that 9th/10th man varsity role where he also played JV. He’s a 6-foto-2 forward that should factor in.   <strong>Hafit Hussein</strong> is the next player to discuss.  He was a top JV guy who played a bit of varsity at times last year and was the first one off the bench in blowout situations.  I would expect Hussein to be one of the key guys off the bench. Guard <strong>Brandon Gagnon</strong> may also have a role. </p> <p>Final Thoughts:  We love the mix of the three returning starters and West-Zimpel.  These are four guys that are experienced and willing to defend.  What the team losses with a lack of size, they will often make up for with work ethic, activity, team defense, and ball movement.  Moore, [player_tooltip player_id="958806" first="Ramontre" last="Harmon"], Nieman-Burnett, and Faulk all played off the bench last season so this team has eight guys returning with good to solid experience.  The wild cards are Faulk and Newsome because if they are good enough to be a starter and/or 6th Man for this team on day one, that takes this squad’s depth to a whole different level. </p>