The 2021-22 Basketball Season – Class AA First Glance

We continue looking at next season with a First Glance at Class AA for the 2021-22 year. Today we will run through the 2020-21 final top ten rankings and look at each squad’s returning talent. This is NOT and I REPEAT, this IS NOT A PRESEASON RANKING. This is the final ranking we used for LAST YEAR. NOT NEXT YEAR. The rankings below are what we finished up for LAST YEAR. The only reason I used it below was to talk about the final top ten and then next week we will go through another top ten. I REPEAT. This is NOT a preseason ranking for next year. I’m pretty sure I have no made that even clearer but I am sure there will be more DMs and emails wondering why a team isn’t higher. Yes I know it’s amazing but it keeps happening.   (1) Waseca Starters Returning: None Reserves Returning: None Up and Coming Name: Juniors Elijah Beck and Parker Link Final Say: This group of Waseca seniors has been the base of this team for 3-4 years. The Jays won their state title and all the experience from Waseca paid dividends. Now comes the hard part, a totally new team. The seniors-to-be have been waiting for this.   (2) Caledonia Starters Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"] (1) Reserves Returning: Ja’Shon Simpson, Thane Meiners, and [player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"] who was injured this year, had started the two previous seasons. Up and Coming Name: 2024 guard Lewis Doyle Final Say: Caledonia will be a favorite again next year. With one of the state’s best players (King), a returning double figure scoring starter (Koepke), a 6th Man (Simpson), and an up and comer (Doyle), the Warriors will be right there. That said they will be a small team.   (3) Minneapolis North Starters Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"], [player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"] (2) Reserves Returning: Meiko Anderson, Mario Sanders Up and Coming Name: 2023 6’2 guard Auvon Sager Final Say: North will be a Class AA contender once again. With an outstanding guard group of Wilson, Anderson, and Sanders plus Butler on the wing (I think Butler could have a breakout year), the talent is there. They could be a smaller group than this year but remember 6-foot-6 [player_tooltip player_id="958696" first="Tim" last="Ryan"] transferred from Hopkins and will be a senior next year.   (4) Blake Starters Returning: Grayson Okoronkwo, [player_tooltip player_id="958671" first="Theo" last="Liu"] (2) Reserves Returning: Max Hubler Up and Coming Name: 2024 Forward Dane Borene Final Say: The Bears didn’t get their chance to play in the sections and maybe state tournament which stinks. They were likely the best team that had to sit out the playoffs this year. While they had a great senior class, don’t expect Blake to slip much. Theo and Grayson were their leading scorers last year and both return.   (5) Fergus Falls Starters Returning: Kaden Conklin, Luke Newman (2) Reserves Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="962304" first="Elliot" last="Pribbenow"] Up and Coming Name: 2024s Hayden Knick and Abe Hylden Final Say: Fergus Falls loses their point guard, their D2 wing, and their D2 center. They have some good players back that will mix with a nice young core of players but it may take a year to develop the chemistry for a run.   (6) Annandale Starters Returning: Hawkin Miller, [player_tooltip player_id="958689" first="Brady" last="Spaulding"], [player_tooltip player_id="958762" first="Carson" last="Gagnon"] Reserves Returning: Bryce Fobbe Up and Coming Name: Junior Size Zach Nuetz and Robert Olson Final Say: The Cards have three starters back that will combine with some up and comers giving them great size plus backcourt skill. Annandale is always a contender and that won’t change. Spaulding is a major breakthrough candidate this summer.   (7) Melrose Starters Returning: Tyler Rademacher (1) Reserves Returning: None Up and Coming Name: Tough to tell, no roster online and most information is on Tyler and the graduating seniors Final Say: Eight of the top nine for Melrose were seniors. That is going to look like a completely new team.   (8) Stewartville Starters Returning: Miles Hettinger (1) Reserves Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="1173255" first="Bode" last="Mayer"], Alex Larson, Eli Klavetter, Max Barnes Up and Coming Name: 2025 Parker Wangen and 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1139594" first="Henry" last="Tschetter"] Final Say: There is another wave of Tigers coming. Hettinger is an improved post, all the bench is coming back, and there is a bunch of young talent ready to make a move. There will be a bridge year but Stewartville won’t fade just because Willis at Michigan.   (9) St Croix Prep Starters Returning: Peyton Gremmels (1) Reserves Returning: Erich Schultz, Bjorn Benson, Cade Hanson Up and Coming Name: 2024 Brady Nelson Final Say: Four starters graduate but everything else returns. The full bench and a lot of young players. Expect a bridge year but this program will not fade.   (10) Morris Area Starters Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="958740" first="Durgin" last="Decker"], Brandon Jergenson, [player_tooltip player_id="958758" first="Thomas" last="Tiernan"], [player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"], Toby Gonnerman (5) Reserves Returning: Cole Wente, Sam Kleinwolterink Up and Coming Name: 2023 guard Tyler Berlinger Final Say: Morris Area has more back than any team on this list. They are certainly a contender for the title coming into next year. A preseason top five team, likely preseason top three or four.