Class AAA – Top Ten Backcourts

What teams will have the best backcourts in Class AAA basketball this year? Prep Hoops dives in now! South St. Paul (1). The depth of guards the Packers is arguably the best in the state. I’m not saying it’s the state’s best backcourt - although some may say that - what I am saying is the depth of guards is impressive. Division one offered [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] is a do everything talent that leads the way. Sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="1143864" first="Devin" last="Newsome"] is back after scoring 17 a game as a junior and he will improve. [player_tooltip player_id="958644" first="Shawn" last="West-Zimpel"] had a great year with the Minnesota Heat after scoring 15 a game last winter. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id="1198946" first="Kaiden" last="Moua"] comes to the Packers from St. Cloud Tech after running the Tigers offense. And then you have twins Ramontay and [player_tooltip player_id="958806" first="Ramontre" last="Harmon"] who played their role very well as juniors. This is a deep and talented group. Totino-Grace (2). [player_tooltip player_id="962198" first="Taison" last="Chatman"] is one of the elite junior guards in the nation so that alone gives the TG Eagles a massive boost into the top guard group. The Eagles have the ability to play huge meaning [player_tooltip player_id="958638" first="Demarion" last="Watson"] will play some two (likely starting as a 6’8 two) but we also have have him in the forwards group so that’s kind of a partial when it comes to this series of stories. The other guards with Chatman will be [player_tooltip player_id="796954" first="RJ" last="Spencer"] - who had another excellent spring/summer season - and up coming sophomore Zi’Yerre Stewart who is going to be very tough. DeLaSalle (3). Also very deep in the backcourt is the traditionally tough Islander program that always has tough guards. Right behind the Packers, or maybe right with them as that argument can certainly be made - is the returning starting group of [player_tooltip player_id="962218" first="Nasir" last="Whitlock"], Casmir Chavis, and [player_tooltip player_id="958672" first="Amir" last="Everett"]. Whitlock scored 13 a game last year and is a top ten junior. Chavis is entering his sophomore year and he already has two seasons of varsity experience plus he is a top five area sophomore. Everett was a defensive monster last winter but also showed everyone what he can do offensively this 17u season. Everett and [player_tooltip player_id="958777" first="Kyle" last="Johnson"] both had quality spring/summers and will make the Islanders tough. Throw in sophomore Randy McClendon Jr and Aiden Higgins and this is also a deep, versatile guard group. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (4). The teams at the top of this list have depth and the Red Knights certainly qualify. Daniel Ijadimbola proved he was a division two level player this summer having a great year with Minnesota Select. [player_tooltip player_id="850737" first="Maddox" last="Alipate"] is tough and knows how to run a team as he has shown consistently with the Fury and last winter running with Ijadimbola. When you add in transfer [player_tooltip player_id="796949" first="Ryan" last="Warren"] who played well this summer and the defense of [player_tooltip player_id="850707" first="Chase" last="Carter"], this is a really good group of guards. [player_tooltip player_id="1268462" first="Sam" last="Best"] will likely play the three but he may qualify here adding to the depth. Mankato East (5). The Cougars will be a top ten team in Class AAA and a state title contender. A big reason for that will be their backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id="1221142" first="Jalen" last="Hayes"] is excellent with the ball in his hands and [player_tooltip player_id="1140603" first="Sean" last="Clement"] will be a dependable senior shooter. The question here is does [player_tooltip player_id="850715" first="BJ" last="Omot"] count? Omot will certainly handle and/or push the ball a lot so I have to say yes. That said, Omot is a huge part of why the Cougar forward group will be ranked high as he will be guarding bigger players so we have to give it about partial credit in the backcourt group. Columbia Heights (6). The Hylanders will send two returning starters and because they have the ability to play huge if [player_tooltip player_id="850719" first="Spencer" last="Alvarez"] is back after the injury, they could put [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"] as a two guard with [player_tooltip player_id="958742" first="Terrence" last="Brown"] back at the one. Kamara had an excellent junior year showing everybody he is a better shooter than they know and of course he defends and scores. Brown handles the ball and distributes but can score himself. The wild card is what the young guards are ready to do as they will need to be the reserve depth (unless the Hylanders go with Kamara and Burton as the three and the four in which case one of the young guards would start). Those young guards are [player_tooltip player_id="962307" first="Leavale" last="Hicks"] and Jency Davis. Mahtomedi (7). It’s tough to know what the Zephyrs have for depth in the backcourt so they may not have as many guards as some of these others, but they may not need too many with [player_tooltip player_id="962216" first="Will" last="Underwood"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1221176" first="Owen" last="Carlson"] on the court. These 6’2/6’3 explosive players led the team in scoring last year and are getting better every day. Carlson had an awesome summer with Minnesota Chill while Underwood was among the metro big school scoring leaders at 24 a game last winter. Alexandria (8). One of the better point guards in the state is Kris Hoskins but because he is a football commit I think he gets look past a bit. This speedster led his team to the title game and is back as a senior. Also returning is Myles Sansted, the fourth leading scorer for Alex. Add in experienced depth in Wyatt Odland and Carter Steffensmeier and this is a team with a backcourt that can make noise once again. Austin (9). The Packers have this cycle that few teams do. They have up and comers that start to shine, they have guys that move from up and comers to solid regulars, and they have regulars that become some of the best players in the Big Nine and often times in all of Class AAA basketball. The star is Emanuel Manyuon who scored 20 a game last year. The next up talent is [player_tooltip player_id="1221144" first="Cham" last="Okey"] who is coming off a great summer with the Lightning. The veteran is Gage Manahan. Mound-Westonka (10). The White Hawks win games with toughness and great team basketball. Their guards usually lead the way and that won’t change this winter. [player_tooltip player_id="796950" first="Jason" last="Spaeth"] should have an excellent senior season while [player_tooltip player_id="1144111" first="Jack" last="Eberhart"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1144113" first="Jake" last="Dallman"] are both capable of being double figure producers and all around intelligent players. More Orono. Another team that is well equipped for a four guard attack is the Orono Spartans. [player_tooltip player_id="1189958" first="Isaiah" last="Hagen"] is skilled and growing to the point that he can be the big ball handler or the slashing wing. [player_tooltip player_id="962230" first="Kyle" last="Kallenbach"] is a versatile ball handler, [player_tooltip player_id="958716" first="Sebastian" last="Loder"] can shoot with the best of them, and [player_tooltip player_id="850734" first="Cohen" last="Kellogg"] is a quality playmaker that transferred over from Minnetonka. There are a lot of different things Orono can do with these four guards plus there is [player_tooltip player_id="958656" first="Jacob" last="Farrell"] who often plays wing but at 6’2 is certainly in that guard category as well. Excellent group of five right there. Hibbing. [player_tooltip player_id="850731" first="Ayden" last="McDonald"] is an all state player that pushes his team on this list immediately. There is little back from Hibbing experience wise but keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id="958735" first="Hayden" last="Verhel"] who came off the bench last season. McDonald could have a massive number of triple doubles this year. Richfield. The Spartans lost some good players to graduation but don’t start looking past them. I think Mitchel January is going to have a big time senior season as a scorer plus [player_tooltip player_id="1221159" first="Jaylen" last="Hollins"] and Jaedyn Patterson seem primed to move from reserves to key components as the Spartans go for a third straight section title. Byron. [player_tooltip player_id="962258" first="Isaac" last="Dearborn"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958753" first="Trent" last="DeCook"] are now two of the three featured players at Byron and both will get much bigger roles for a Bears team that will contend in 1AAA. Dearborn and DeCook are skilled and experienced, now they will be the main options/playmakers.