Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Mounds View

<p>Mounds View was a 20-win team a season ago and they return their best two players plus others from the rotation.  The Mustangs are a contender. </p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (20-8):  </strong>Woodbury, Rosemount, Irondale, White Bear Lake</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: East Ridge, CDH, Park Center, Forest Lakes, WBL</p> <p><strong>Moving On:  </strong>Mounds View graduated two starters [player_tooltip player_id="846237" first="Thomas" last="Gebhardt"] and John Montgomery.  Both scored about five times a game for the Mustangs and both were all league honored caliber players on a good team.  In addition, all of the Mounds View depth (the reserves) were seniors last season.  The Mustangs not only have to get two new starters from the younger programs, they will need a full compliment of bench players to step up from the younger levels. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters:  </strong>All league player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774870" first="Evan" last="Kim"]</strong> is one of the most under the radar players in the state.  Kim is a 6-foot-4 returning all league player that averaged 16 points and six boards a contest.  Kim is a wing but he’s a strong wing at 205 pounds so wings have a hard time dealing with him near the rim.  He’s one of the top players in the SEC.</p> <p>Another top player in the SEC, and in all of the junior class in Minnesota, is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"]</strong>.  Dylan is a 6-foot-3 guard that has already been offered opportunity by division two college programs.  Wheeler can get to the rim, score off the ball, and knock down jumpers.  Dylan also plays as hard as anybody around. </p> <p>The third starter is 6-foot-1 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774923" first="Cole" last="Sorenson"]</strong>, a now senior.  Sorenson scored four times a game last season and his ball handling, steady play will be needed more than ever considering all the players that must be replaced.  </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>None.</p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>The top scorer for the junior varsity last season was <strong>Kobe Kirk</strong>, a now 6-foot-3 junior who has the ability to step right into a starting role.  Kirk has an excellent scoring touch and he will pair nicely with [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] the next two seasons.  Another junior to watch is <strong>Ryan Edelman</strong>, a frontcourt player that will give the squad the competitive fight they need.  Also, a good shooter and defender that we saw this summer was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1071206" first="Joey" last="Bruggers"]</strong>, a 6-foot-5 wing who had a very good summer with the Minnesota Crossfire.  He could be another competing for an open starting spot. </p> <p>There are a load of seniors coming up from the junior varsity that will play a varsity role.  Senior guard <strong>Lucas Sopcinski</strong> is a potential ball handler with the right verbal skills and defensive activity this team will need. Six-foot-2 guard <strong>Ethan Farm</strong> and 6-foot-3 forward <strong>Drew Lindgren</strong> are two others with the agility to play an important role. </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  If the inexperienced players move into the varsity roles without too much of an adjustment period the Mustangs will contest for the 5AAAA crown with Champin Park and Osseo.  Wheeler and Kim are as good of a 1-2 punch as most teams in Class AAAA will have so you will likely see Mounds View in the top ten at one point. </p>