Breakdown Fall League: Week 1 Team Notes

<p>What teams stood out in week one of the full Breakdown Fall League?  NHR drops our notes now! </p> <p>Park Center:  The Pirates are my easy preseason number one for Class AAAA.  That said, they are making a case as the best team overall in state as well.  What they did today dismantling Eastview and then going on a 35-0 run against Minneapolis South was outstanding.  It’s not just talent and athletic ability, it’s also confidence and toughness.  This team is full of physical players that understand the value of defense and ball movement.  Love their team make-up and [player_tooltip player_id="958659" first="James" last="Spencer"] inside (wasn’t there today) makes me like them even more. </p> <p>Minneapolis South: Despite two of their better sophomores not playing ([player_tooltip player_id="1284157" first="Jerome" last="Williams Jr"] and Camren Smith) South took Shakopee to the final play.  That’s an impressive performance for a young team that is up and coming.  Shakopee was a final four team last year that brings back most of their talent, and South took them to the final play. </p> <p>East Ridge:  The Raptors have looked pretty good in fall ball play this year including today at the full Breakdown fall league opener.  Love the way that [player_tooltip player_id="850708" first="Kendall" last="Blue"] is playing and I think they have a nice core group of wings and guards.  </p> <p>Cretin-Derham Hall: The Raiders looked really good against Eden Prairie today and once again they are quite talented.  I’d day they are more talented this year than last year’s state runner up team.  I was really impressed with how vocal [player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"] was in directing those around him.  Love the way he was getting everybody involved.  CDH is my Class AAAA number two coming in. </p> <p>Columbia Heights:  Seeing [player_tooltip player_id="850719" first="Spencer" last="Alvarez"] with the Hylanders gives me an even bigger confidence in having Columbia Heights as my Class AAA number two coming into the year.  At this point I think we are quite aware of what [player_tooltip player_id="850729" first="Muja" last="Burton"], [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"], and [player_tooltip player_id="958666" first="Donnavin" last="Hinsz"] are going to give.  When you add in the improvements of Terrance Brown at PG and then having a physical, aggressive big in Alvarez that will do whatever his team needs, I have high expectations for this team. They did a nice job in beating Maple Grove and then were in a one score game in the second half with CDH when I had to leave.</p> <p>Spring Lake Park:  The Panthers are extremely well coached year in and year out.  They almost always have talent but this year I think they have a really good mix of size, skill, and talent that could lead to a top ten team.  Somehow people are always surprised when they beat good teams.  Don’t be surprised this year.  They had a nice win over Prior Lake when I watched today. </p> <p>Duluth East:  The Greyhounds are going to be a very good team once again.  The addition of [player_tooltip player_id="1288674" first="Dillon" last="Bement"] to big man [player_tooltip player_id="1221112" first="Isaac" last="Nyakundi"], returning talented lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="958677" first="Will" last="Van Scoy"], shooter Jube Juenemann, and guard [player_tooltip player_id="962229" first="Michael" last="Kastelic"] makes the Hounds very talented.  They have some other size that is developing well too.  Looks like a deep, skilled team with size. </p> <p>Minneapolis Washburn:  I thought the Millers looked really good today when they faced Holy Family and won by double digits.  They are bigger and more talented than I thought they were. </p>