Class AAA Title Contender Series: Orono
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Orono’s 21-8 season in 2021-22 was viewed as a bit of a surprise. Despite the loss of three starters and a strong senior class, the talent level at Orono is high so expectations this year are high. Key Wins in…
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Continue ReadingOrono’s 21-8 season in 2021-22 was viewed as a bit of a surprise. Despite the loss of three starters and a strong senior class, the talent level at Orono is high so expectations this year are high.
Key Wins in 21-22 (21-8): Mound-Westonka, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Princeton, Hibbing, Bloomington Jefferson, Cooper, Hutch
Oops: Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Cooper, Chanhassen, Chaska, Mound-Westonka, Jefferson
Moving On: Orono’s Sebastian Loder was certainly one of the top surprises of last season. His 16 points per game will be missed as will the all around tough guy contributions of Jake Farrell who averaged 11 points a contest. Jack Kopesky and Cohen Kellogg were key pieces of the Orono line-up as well and both played roles that need to be replaced. Loder is now at St. Olaf while Kellogg is a walk-on at Wofford.
Returning Starters (3): The Orono backcourt of Isaiah Hagen Isaiah Hagen 6'3" | PG Orono | 2023 State MN and Kyle Kallenbach Kyle Kallenbach 6'0" | CG Orono | 2023 State MN were a combined 30 point duo last year and will likely be a 40 point duo this winter. Hagen had a brilliant 17u summer with the Minnesota Select and he’s one of the best available players in the senior class right now. He’s one of the toughest players to guard in the state . Kallenbach is a legit three point threat as well as an all around tough competitor that is a reliable scorer each night. Between the two, Orono knows they have steady every night producers. Also, I thought Grant Gunderson Grant Gunderson 6'4" | CG Orono | 2023 State MN was a senior but he’s a junior which gives the Spartans three starters returning. Gunderson was a hard working role piece for the Spartans that will have a bigger role this winter.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: Last year’s Orono 8th and 9th men were Zach Close Zach Close 6'7" | PF Orono | 2023 State MN and Riley Nelson Riley Nelson 6'2" | SG Orono | 2024 State MN , and both have the ability to be starters or at least strong contributors this winter. Close is 6’7, he moves well, and has the potential to be a solid D3 prospect if he continues to develop as expected. Nelson is a 6’2 guard that can play a few spots as he enters his junior year. If the Spartans want Hagen to play off the ball some, Nelson can handle. If Orono wants to rely on Nelson on the wing he can do that too.
Potentials from the JV: The next names to talk about are sophomores Brady Wooley Brady Wooley 6'9" | C Orono | 2025 State #187 Nation MN and Nolan Groves Nolan Groves 6'4" | CG Orono | 2025 State #259 Nation MN . Both players have the talent to start as sophomores. Wooley is a 6’7 skilled forward with a lot of potential. This young man looks like he could grow into the modern day highly ranked 6’9 face-up forward and be a high major talent. Wooley and Close up front would give Orono one of their biggest and most talented front lines in a long time. Groves is a guard that is at least a top 20 level sophomore and he will fit nicely with Hagen, Kallenbach, and Nelson in the backcourt. Will he start? Be 6th Man? Whatever the case Groves is very talented and we expect him to make a big impact.
The junior class should supply the Orono bench guard reserves. In addition to Nelson the Spartans also have Logan Chappell and Zach Nyquist who both played well on JV last season. Need some reserves up front? Seniors Owen Fries, Ryan Nelson, and/or Will Fritz should supply the support as forwards.
Final Thoughts: I think Orono will be one of the three most talented teams in Class AAA and I would not be surprised if the Spartans are a top two team at some point. We start the season with Orono at number three simply because DeLaSalle also brings back experienced players and they went to the state title game where as Orono was knocked out in the section final last season. But make no mistake, the Hagen, Gunderson, Kallenbach, Nelson, Groves, Close, and Wooley core group will be among the better groups in the state.