Class AAAA – Top Ten Backcourts

<p>What Class AAAA teams have the best backcourts entering the winter season?  What groups of guards rank with the best in AAAA?  Here is our ten. </p> <p><strong>One. Cretin-Derham Hall</strong>. The Raiders come in at number one in large part to having the best player in the state, [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"].  Tre of course took a brand new team around him to the state title game last year.  This year Tre has <span style="font-weight: 400;">Donavhan Cain (a junior transfer from Wisconsin) as his two guard and Cain has a chance to have a massive season. </span></p> <p><strong>Two. Park Center</strong>. The division one pair of [player_tooltip player_id="850710" first="Braeden" last="Carrington"] (committed to Minnesota) and [player_tooltip player_id="1143878" first="Leo" last="Torbor"] (looking at NDSU, Wyoming, and San Jose State) is a big reason the Pirates will likely enter the season as the preseason number one.  Carrington played lead guard last year plus led the team in scoring where as Torbor has grown as a PG and could take that spot over.  Either way, the pair give the Pirates everything a team needs to make a state run. </p> <p><strong>Three. Mounds View</strong>. The Mustangs went 16-4 last year beating Cretin-Derham Hall, Park of Cottage Grove, Woodbury, and East Ridge led by their great backcourt play.  Two of those guards return and that is leading scorers [player_tooltip player_id="850723" first="Dylan" last="Wheeler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1143865" first="Kobe" last="Kirk"].  Kirk is a big time shooter where as Wheeler as a versatile hard worker that can do some of everything. </p> <p><strong>Four. Eastview.  </strong>The transfer of Dylan Onwemo gives the Lightning a strong piece at every spot on the floor allowing [player_tooltip player_id="958669" first="Kenji" last="Scales"] to be the scorer for the team that he can be AND allows him to be a ball handler at times.  Scales is one of the more dangerous scorers in Class AAAA plus one of the better decision makers.  The talent and Onwemo will make Eastview more versatile in many ways. </p> <p><strong>Five. Minnetonka</strong>. The reason many think Tonka can have a good 2021-22 season is this backcourt.  [player_tooltip player_id="962207" first="Ibrahim" last="El-Amin"] will take the floor and make an instant impact.  The Skippers return one of the best shooters in the conference in [player_tooltip player_id="958768" first="Vlad" last="Ciubotaru"], one of the better underclassmen in Minnesota in Andy Stefanovic, and their top returning scorer in [player_tooltip player_id="962205" first="Jalen" last="Cain"].  Cain is a wing scorer, Ciubotaru a wing shooter, Stefanovic the combo, and El-Amin will be in control.  You will see at least three of them on the floor at almost all times. </p> <p><strong>Six. Osseo</strong>.  [player_tooltip player_id="850721" first="Benard" last="Omooria"] had an incredible 17u season as a shooter and if he carries that touch in the winter look out.  Tyirece Waits dealt with some injuries this summer but when he’s fully healthy he’s a tough on-ball defender as well as a very good attacking lead guard. When Waits needs a break Benard can handle. Then you have [player_tooltip player_id="796952" first="Owen" last="Dukowitz"] who is a hard working defender that can play either wing.</p> <p><strong>Seven</strong>.  Shakopee.  The Sabers come in at seven but they could quickly move up the list.  Why?  If [player_tooltip player_id="850717" first="Cade" last="McGraw"] is healthy they instantly move up, he’s tough and productive.  [player_tooltip player_id="1144100" first="Yonis" last="Mohamud"] had a great 17u season after a solid junior year, he will only get better.  Isaac Snell will be better now that he’s a sophomore and [player_tooltip player_id="958711" first="Quinten" last="Snell"] was a key piece last year as well.  You could make an argument for top five here if McGraw is healthy and Isaac takes the expected steps. </p> <p><strong>Eight. Owatonna</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id="958681" first="Brayden" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958725" first="Ty" last="Creger"] took the Huskies to the state tournament last year and both return even better.  Creger has the potential to be an excellent MIAC point guard while Williams can be the 25 point per game scorer for the team and/or the ball handler making plays.  These two had a great junior and will be even better. </p> <p><strong>Nine. Wayzata</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id="958661" first="Drew" last="Berkland"] is back as a defender, shooter, attacker, tough guy, whatever is needed.  His ten points a game and clutch play will work well with [player_tooltip player_id="1167554" first="Hayden" last="Tibbits"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1201757" first="Spencer" last="Hall"], a junior pair that came off the bench last year.  Tibbits and Hall had strong seasons with the Fury and will now be key pieces as the Trojans try and repeat. </p> <p><strong>Ten. Edina</strong>. The Edina backcourt duo [player_tooltip player_id="850726" first="Sammy" last="Presthus"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1143875" first="Gabe" last="Jobe"] are both experienced varsity players that played together all summer with the D1 Minnesota Prospects.  Jobe was the Edina leading scorer last year at 20 a game while Presthus was the ball handler and the top defender who also averaged double digits.  </p> <p><strong>Ten. Andover</strong>. The Huskies had a really good 2020-21 season led by [player_tooltip player_id="962227" first="Samuel" last="Musungu"] and [player_tooltip player_id="962246" first="Ben" last="Kopetzki"] and should be even better this year.  Both are juniors and both have multiple years of varsity years of experience. </p>