Class AAA Title Contender Series: Totino-Grace

<p>The favorite for the Class AAA state title and likely the favorite for the most talented line-up in Minnesota this year is Totino-Grace.</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 20-21 (16-5)</strong><strong>: </strong>Maple Grove, Armstrong, Park Center, Osseo, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Minnehaha Academy, Park Center, Champlin Park, Spring Lake Park</p> <p><strong>Moving On:</strong>  Whenever I saw the Eagles playing [player_tooltip player_id="532558" first="Devin" last="Burger"] was starting and this 6’6 senior had an excellent year, especially late in the season.  He and [player_tooltip player_id="532550" first="DJ" last="Akpati"] will be missed more than people know.  Akpati was the starter in the backcourt later in the year and he was a strong two way player.  [player_tooltip player_id="962199" first="CJ" last="O’Hara"] was perhaps the best all around two way contributor and also the leader in total points scored for the season.  O’Hara is now at Hopkins.  [player_tooltip player_id="774802" first="Joe" last="Alt"] didn’t play last year (college football player at Notre Dame) so he’s not a loss but he was a good player as a junior and it’s worth noting that he is no longer in the program.  The other player no longer at TG is [player_tooltip player_id="532607" first="Carter" last="Weierke"] who was a shooter and excellent defender.   With DJ, CJ, Burger, and Carter done that means four of the top eight players from last season have to be replaced.</p> <p><strong>Returning Starters (3):  </strong>Iowa State committed and nationally ranked [player_tooltip player_id="958638" first="Demarion" last="Watson"] (6’8 wing), top 25 national talent [player_tooltip player_id="962198" first="Taison" last="Chatman"] (6’4 guard), and D1 offered [player_tooltip player_id="962203" first="Tommy" last="Humphries"] (6’5 wing) all return with starting experience.  Watson and Chatman each averaged 12.8 points a game last season while Humphries scored just under ten a game.  Watson has as much potential as just about any senior in the state and now he’s committed and free to have a strong senior year.  Chatman had a solid year playing with the D1 Minnesota 17s and is the top prospect in the 2023 class.  Humphries helped the Sizzle 16s to a solid summer.  All three are key pieces for TG.</p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1223070" first="Patrick" last="Bath"] came off the bench last season averaging 7.4 points and 6/7 boards a contest.  The 6’9 junior D1 offered big is one of the best frontcourt players in his class and one of the harder working upperclassmen frontcourt players.  He will move right into a starting role and have high expectations. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>The three names we have our eyes on from the junior varsity that could play a quality role off the bench this year are 6’3 senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="796954" first="RJ" last="Spencer"], 6’9 senior big [player_tooltip player_id="1288655" first="PJ" last="Ebeling"], and 6’2 sophomore guard Zi’Yerre Stewart.  Spencer and Stewart make the Eagles backcourt quite deep with both of them being capable playmaking options, one as a combo, one as a wing.  Ebeling pairing with the two starting bigs makes the Eagles frontcourt line one of the biggest and best in the state especially when they move Watson to the four.  Spencer could be one of the top scoring 6th men in the state. </p> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>:  Nationally ranked top 150 talent [player_tooltip player_id="891901" first="Ahjany" last="Lee"], committed to UST, moved from Byron to the north metro.  The Eagles lost O’Hara in the backcourt but they added Lee who is one of the elite defending bigs in the state.  He blocks shots, Ahjany contests shots in and out of his area, and he moves his feet well on ball screens.  He also has the potential to be a dominant rebounder and a dominant low post scorer. </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  When you look at this list of names, Totino-Grace has the most talent in the state.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise as last year they were one of two teams in Minnesota that gave Minnehaha Academy a legit run before letting the game slip away late.  The Eagles should win Class AAA and they are a top candidate to be the best team in the state. </p>