Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Eastview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lightning will once again be one of the biggest, longest, most agile, and most talented Class AAAA teams in the state. Eastview has become one of the state's best programs and now they are hoping to take the biggest step!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Wins in 21-22 (23-8)</strong>: Chaska, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Minnehaha Academy, Cretin-Derham Hall, Rosemount, Lakeville South, Farmington, Park of CG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oops: </strong>Cretin-Derham Hall, Park Center, Farmington, Shakopee, Lakeville North, Minnetonka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: Jamal Ambrose was a big that improved every game last season and became an all state honored player. Jamal is now at Omaha. Kenji Scales was so good that he found himself in Mr. Basketball finalist consideration, he's now at Sioux Falls. Kayser Hassan was the latest "who is this guy" that turned into an all around player for Eastview and even got a D2 offer (Crookston). Eastview will also have to replace Sam Bolger who scored seven points a game and was very dependable. And 6'6 Jacob Scheuring also graduated, a reserve player in the frontcourt. Also, Kadyn Mestas - a very good junior - has moved to Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters (1):</strong> The only returning starter is multi-scholarship offered [player_tooltip player_id='1140498' first='Chet' last='Kloss']. The 6'6 hard working big has some of the best low post moves around and he always plays hard, he always plays with energy. Kloss averaged seven points and six rebounds a game last season. He will once again be a hard working big forward for the Lightning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1139192' first='Dylan' last='Omweno'] came off the bench but he was a combo guard reserve that was one of four Eastview players averaging ten or more points per game. Dylan is a strong shooter and so quick attacking off the basketball. He can handle but there is a scoring mentality there that is often good off the ball. Six-foot-six athletic [player_tooltip player_id='1140493' first='Mario' last='Adams'] has really become a consistent player as opposed to being an explosive player. Mario plays explosively in finishing, rebounding, and at times shot contesting/blocking, but he's also become a better defender and a more consistent decision maker. He scored 6.5 points a game last year as a 7th man. Steady guard [player_tooltip player_id='1178256' first='Elias' last='Batala'] (who is now a senior just like Adams, Kloss, and Omweno) was the 8th man last season and he's another steady backcourt player that should allow Omweno to play both guard spots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV</strong>: With some schools the "JV potentials" usually isn't a big deal but the Lightning brings stars, scholarship players, and varsity starters right up from their JV. And this year will be no different. [player_tooltip player_id='1287440' first='Jonathan' last='Mekonnen'] had a brilliant summer for the Minnesota Heat and at a hard working 6'7 Mekonnen is one of the top five prospects in the 2024 class. He will go from JV star to one of the top varsity players. [player_tooltip player_id='1140495' first='Myles' last='Adams'] was really good this summer for Minnesota Select before getting injured. Myles is the twin of Mario and they share some of the same explosive qualities at 6'6, but Myles really stood out shooting the ball this summer. [player_tooltip player_id='1194000' first='Ruhan' last='Jordan'] is a senior guard that should play and 6'4 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1288666' first='Henry' last='Eliason'] is also solid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>: At the moment I don't have any names to offer coming up from the B squad or freshman team and no there are no transfers to discuss here. But believe me, there will be sophomores and juniors that are talented. Eastview always has them. We mentioned all seniors in this article besides Mekonnen and I promise you there are more good players in those grades than just Mekonnen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:&nbsp; Eastview can put out a frontline of [player_tooltip player_id='1140493' first='Mario' last='Adams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1140498' first='Chet' last='Kloss'], and Johnathan Mekonnen and then back it up with [player_tooltip player_id='1140495' first='Myles' last='Adams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1288666' first='Henry' last='Eliason'] for example. That's a heck of a group. The Jordan/Batala guard combo along with Omweno as seniors is also very strong. We expect big things from this team as the senior class looks very strong. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->