Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Cretin-Derham Hall

<p>The Raiders lost eight of their top ten from the 2019-20 squad and made it to the state title game.  Can they do the exact same thing in 2021-22? And maybe win it this time?</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 20-21 (18-6):  </strong>Mounds View, East Ridge, Park of CG, Woodbury, Rosemount, Maple Grove</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Wayzata, Mounds View, East Ridge</p> <p><strong>Moving On:  </strong>CDH graduated eight players that were in the rotation last year.  Peter Howard, [player_tooltip player_id="532602" first="Jack" last="Tauer"], Jack Plum, Marselio Mendez, Daniel Montalbano, and others all moved on.  Each of these players improved throughout the season playing their role and doing it within the way the team needed.  Individually these are players that can be replaced in terms of potential, but will the players stepping into their roles play within their roles as a unit like last year’s seniors?  That’s the key. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters (1): </strong>If you are going to return just one senior it may as well be the preseason player of the year and likely the best player in the state of Minnesota. The name is [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"].  Tre has done a lot of impressive things in his basketball career but I’m not sure anything can match what he did last season as a leader.  Holloman led nearly a full new team of players to the state title game with his toughness, playmaking, and all around play. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: </strong>The one returning talent is [player_tooltip player_id="958746" first="Charlie" last="Plum"], a 6’5 forward that came off the bench and played hard.   Plum should be able to move from the reserve role right into the working frontcourt player at the four spot.  Plum is a quality football prospect but will be useful as a worker on the court too. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>The lone underclassmen on the CDH Varsity/JV roster last year was [player_tooltip player_id="1220383" first="Adam" last="Tauer"], a 6’4 guard that has the potential to step into a starting role or be a 6th Man for this year’s team.  Up front 6’7 senior David Oturu will get time as a back-up big inside.  Then you have Durelle Hall, a 6’2 guard who is now a senior. </p> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>:  The Raiders have three transfers that will play big roles.  The name to know is Donavhan Cain, a shooting guard that moved to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin (Beloit).  Cain, a junior, averaged double figures last season and then had a great spring/summer playing with Team 815 North and then Howard Pulley.  Cain will fit perfectly with Holloman as the second scoring option.  On the inside, 6’9 center [player_tooltip player_id="796948" first="Brandon" last="Melchior"] gives the Raiders a center that averaged double digirs last year and is a top 50 prospect in the senior class.  Irondale athletic underclassmen Mekai Edwards also transferred to CDH.</p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  The pieces are there for another really good team.  Up front Melchior, Oturu, and Plum will be the size, Tauer, Cain, and Edwards will be on the wing, and then you have Hall as a guard along with Holloman manning the point.  It’s a quality eight man group that will likely include some players from the CDH younger level ready to step forward. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>