Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Osseo
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The Orioles have the potential to be one of Minnesota’s best backcourts and one of Class AAAA’s deeper teams. The Orioles are next as discuss Class AAAA contenders! Key Wins in 21-22 (22-7): Edina, Moorhead, Minnetonka, Totino-Grace, Maple Grove, Armstrong,…
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Continue ReadingThe Orioles have the potential to be one of Minnesota’s best backcourts and one of Class AAAA’s deeper teams. The Orioles are next as discuss Class AAAA contenders!
Key Wins in 21-22 (22-7): Edina, Moorhead, Minnetonka, Totino-Grace, Maple Grove, Armstrong, Andover, Spring Lake Park
Oops: Park Center, Totino-Grace, Owatonna, Wayzata, Hopkins
Moving On: Osseo lost it’s top five scorers: Tyirece Waits is at Riverland Community College, Benard Omooria is at Iowa Lakes CC, Blessed Barhayiga is at Lake Region State (CC), Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN transferred to Totino-Grace for his final two years, and Lewis Cargoer – who got hurt last winter but came back to have a nice track & field season – is likely at a location athletically although we are not sure where. Reserve graduates Owen Dukowitz (playing football at Bemidji State) and Nate Vinson also graduated so the Orioles lost seven pieces from last year’s rotation (although Cargoer was injured after 12 games). Waits, Omooria, and Barhayiga started most or all of last season, Cargoer started the first 12, Johnson moved into the starting line-up after Lewis was hurt.
Returning Starters (1): Trey Smith Trey Smith 6'7" | SF Osseo | 2023 State MN started for the Orioles all of last season averaging seven points a contest and growing – physically and as a player – throughout the season. Smith then moved on to have an outstanding summer drawing interest from both the D1 and D2 levels. Smith has division one level ability at 6’7 as an explosive wing but after receiving several D2 offers he picked the growing program at UMD. Smith has a chance to be an all state player as a senior at Osseo.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: The other returning player from last year’s rotation is Ty Swanson Ty Swanson 5'10" | PG Osseo | 2024 State MN , a junior guard that competes with skill and toughness. Swanson is a tough defender, solid ball handler, good shooter, and he had a really good year with the Northstar Titans 16s. Swanson is one of the three guards who we think will torment teams.
Potentials from the JV: The next two names in that junior guard class are Temi Denedo and Beniam Makonnen. Both players were on the Osseo junior varsity as a sophomore. Temi was excellent for the Minnesota Rush handling the ball, setting up shooters, and most importantly, pressuring ball handlers with his defense. Denedo is the second guard that I think will torment teams plus Makonnen is a good player who might find his way into the rotation as well. There were also six juniors who only played JV last season. Six-foot-4 forwards Bryce Hawthorne and Emmanuel Olagbaju have the size that Osseo might be able to use this winter as seniors and I would expect at least one of the senior guards (from the JV) to find a role as well.
New Names to the Program: Osseo has three transfers with talent that could or should play a key role on the varsity. Two of those players are from Minneapolis South and we start with junior guard DeMari Larkins, the third junior guard who we believe will torment teams. Larkins averaged 16 points a game for South last season with Larkins shooting the ball at a strong level and being one of the quickest attacking guards in the state. The foot speed from Larkins both in sprint and laterally is at a very high level. Also from South is 6’3 sophomore Temi Omotoyibo, a forward who scored eight points a contest last year. Temi is a strong, physical athlete that already hhasmultiple years of varsity basketball experience. Temi and Larkins both started for a really good South team last year. Junior big Aaron Smith Aaron Smith 6'9" | C Osseo | 2024 State MN also transferred to Osseo. He was at STMA last year and played for one of the Grassroots Sizzle teams in the post this summer.
Final Thoughts: Osseo has a chance to be one of the most athletic, defensive teams out there. The Oriole staff can go with all of three of those talented guards we talked about with two of the forwards, they can put two of the three junior guards on the court with Smith and Temi, or they can go with two of those guards (Swanson, Temi D, Larkins), Smith, one of the transfer forwards, and one of the role players coming up from the JV. Whatever they choose to do, Osseo is going to be a deep team with toughness and talent.