Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Hopkins

<p>The Hopkins Royals.  A traditional top team in Class AAAA and that’s not changing any time soon. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 20-21 (12-5)</strong><strong>: </strong>Wayzata, Edina, Chaska, Buffalo, Eden Prairie, Orono</p> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis North</p> <p><strong>Moving On: </strong>Five of the top seven Hopkins players from last season have graduated.  [player_tooltip player_id="957132" first="Xavier" last="White"] and [player_tooltip player_id="774738" first="Jaelen" last="Treml"] were the two key versatile pieces.  [player_tooltip player_id="774778" first="Tristan" last="Lee"] had a great season at guard plus Jarrett Brenlynd came off the bench and was a key shooter.  Throw in [player_tooltip player_id="774852" first="Jack" last="Hernandez"] up front and that’s five seniors plus [player_tooltip player_id="957153" first="Andrew" last="Chisley"] who wasn’t able to play much last year all moved on. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters (1):  </strong>The lone returning starter from last year is [player_tooltip player_id="850704" first="Elvis" last="Nnaji"], the 6’8 center.  Elvis averaged 11 and 10 a season ago plus he was a top low post defender and one of the team’s most active players.  Nnaji rebounds, he finishes physically, and gives a team the needed energy on both ends.  D1 schools have offered Elvis a number of scholarships. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>Hopkins has two guards back from last year’s bench:  junior Max Wilson and senior [player_tooltip player_id="958658" first="Tyrell" last="Sappington"]. Max is a top 15/20 level prospect in the junior class.  He’s physically ahead of the curve and has solid potential after scoring eight a came last year.  Sappington could be the latest guard at Hopkins that impresses as a senior. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>Hopkins has a number of key pieces coming up from their junior varsity.  Jacob Rothman is a 5’9 guard that had a great 17u season and is a potential legit playmaker and surprise senior standout.  Six-foot-4 junior [player_tooltip player_id="962247" first="Gavin" last="Pierce"] is a senior and smart player that could have a role on the wing.  Now 8th grader Jayden Moore is one of the top up and coming names in the state.  Moore is an explosive guard that played a bit at the end of games on varsity last year and played junior varsity.  Jayden is likely to step into a key role this year. </p> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>:    Hopkins has three seniors that should make an impact on varsity.  The first is one of the state’s elite seniors, [player_tooltip player_id="962199" first="CJ" last="O’Hara"].  O’Hara transferred from Totino-Grace and is likely to lead Hopkins in scoring as well as be the top defender.  He’s an all state level player.  [player_tooltip player_id="1268455" first="Josh" last="Hoffman"] is a 6’4 senior that had a great year with the Minnesota Heat and is now ready to offer a key role for the Royals (was with the North Metro Blazers last year, a home school team). Jaleel Donely is the last piece.  He played varsity last year at Bloomington Kennedy and is an excellent freshman guard. </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>: This is a group of guys coming from all over.  A varsity starter, a couple varsity reserves, a couple junior varsity kids, a couple young players, and three transfers, it’s a totally new mix of 10-11 guys that have the talent to have a great year.  But the chemistry has to be there as this is a completely new group.  </p>