Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Lakeville North

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to size, depth, talent, and experience, the Lakeville North Panthers might have an edge on everybody. The Panthers are a top contender for the Class AAAA title and this is why we think so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Wins in 21-22 (19-9):</strong> Minneapolis South, Lakeville South, Austin, Eastview, Prior Lake, Eden Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: East Ridge, Wayzata, Shakopee, Rosemount, Farmington, Owatonna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moving On:</strong> The Panthers only had three seniors on last year's team: Will Drake, Brayden Manning, Gavin Boe. Manning was the one starter that graduated and he was a worker that averaged 7-8 points a game playing with toughness. Drake and Boe played off of the bench. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters (4):</strong> The Panthers return four of their top five scorers and these are all solid prospects with skill and good size. The big name is of course [player_tooltip player_id='962214' first='Nolan' last='Winter'], the team's leading returning scorer and rebounder. Winter is the state's second ranked prospect and [player_tooltip player_id='1284147' first='Jack' last='Robison'], another returning starter who was a jack of all trades producer, is a nationally ranked junior talent. Robison was the team's second leading scorer at 17 points a game and Jack did a lot of the ball handling as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1226375' first='JT' last='Thornton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1139350' first='Hudson' last='Vaith'] are 6'4/6'5 big guards/wings that are both top 50 prospects in the state. Vaith is a shooter/scorer while Thornton is a versatile defender and an active scorer. They both scored three/four baskets a game last season on average.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: </strong> The two reserves from last year that return are [player_tooltip player_id='1492610' first='Sam' last='Nolan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='962208' first='Jace' last='Hernandez'], both seniors. Jace had a really nice summer playing with the Minnesota Fury defending the paint, rebounding in good numbers, and finishing around the cup. That role would work really well with this year's Panther team allowing Winter some space to do other things. Nolan is a shooter that must be located, he scored five points a contest last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV</strong>: There is a lot of potential here. [player_tooltip player_id='1269166' first='Matt' last='Drake'] is a junior that had a fantastic summer with Minnesota Select and looks like he has a chance to be a key ball handler for the team this year. And the Panthers could use another ball handler, or even a main ball handler allowing Robison to do the many things he does. The Panthers had 14 juniors on the varsity/junior varsity roster last season so this senior class could be huge. Four names that I think could help the varsity as role players/reserves are wing [player_tooltip player_id='1288820' first='Ali' last='Axmed'] and three 6'6/6'7 frontcourt players [player_tooltip player_id='1248324' first='Erik' last='Ryan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1226397' first='Vito' last='Marchese'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1214457' first='Will' last='Kutzler']. Kutzler was fantastic this 17u season playing with a great face-up touch. He could be a scorer that the Panthers rely on based on what we've seen. Axmed, Ryan, and Marchese all have the talent to make this team one of the state's deepest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1436479' first='Andrew' last='Quam'] is the name that has caught my attention this off-season. Quam is a good shooter and he played well for the Panthers in summer events. He will give the team wing depth. Outside of Quam there are certain to be a number of juniors and sophomores with talent, but with so many talented upperclassmen the young names may not emerge for some time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>: The Panthers will likely be the biggest team in the state but also one of the most skilled teams in Minnesota. The talent on this team can win a state title assuming ball handling is locked in against some of the state's other top teams. And of course there is John Oxton. Oxton is one of the elite coaches in the state of Minnesota and with this level of talent Lakeville North will be very tough to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->