Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Wayzata
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The Wayzata Trojans have played in the Class AAAA state title game each of the past two seasons and they have the talent to make it back to Championship Saturday once again. Key Wins in 21-22 (27-5): Lakeville South, CDH,…
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Continue ReadingThe Wayzata Trojans have played in the Class AAAA state title game each of the past two seasons and they have the talent to make it back to Championship Saturday once again.
Key Wins in 21-22 (27-5): Lakeville South, CDH, Osseo, Lakeville North, Moorhead, White Bear Lake, Hopkins, Edina, Tonka, Hopkins, East Ridge, DeLaSalle, Mpls North, Mpls South, Armstrong
Oops: Park Center, Shakopee, LaCrosse Central, Eden Prairie
Moving On: The Trojans had three senior starters last season, a key senior reserve, and a couple deeper bench seniors that did play rotations minutes at times. Carter Bjerke was the biggest name and he will be at UST this season as a freshman big. Carter was Wayzata’s top scorer, top shooter, and top rebounder. Guard Drew Berkland scored just under double figures on average last year and he is now at Minnesota playing baseball. Ryan Harvey was also a starter who scored seven points a game, he is at Augsburg playing football. Erik Rottinghaus was a key player off the bench and he graduated as did Theo Smith and Davis Hay.
Returning Starters (2): Hayden Tibbits Hayden Tibbits 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN was the point guard for the Trojans last season and his play earned him Class AAAA All State honors. He was second in scoring for Wayzata and led the team in assists. Tibbits had a solid 17u season with the Minnesota Fury as did Spencer Hall Spencer Hall 6'3" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN , one of the best all around workers in the state. Hall scored 8.5 points a game as a junior but it’s his hustle, his defense, his decision making, and the way he leads as a competitor that makes Spencer so valuable.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: Jackson McAndrew is a top five talent in Minnesota’s 2024 class. McAndrew’s high level of skill has earned him offers from Wisconsin, Nebraska, UST, and Northern Iowa so far and he should jump right into Wayzata’s starting line-up as a key scoring option. McAndrew scored 5.5 points a game as a sophomore. Senior Myles Barnette Myles Barnette 6'2" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN was the Wayzata 6th Man last year and he will continue to be the backcourt mate of Tibbits, they will just have a lot more time together in the backcourt. Myles can play both guard spots. Keep an eye on Jake Schmitt Jake Schmitt 6'1" | SG Wayzata | 2023 State MN as well, a senior guard. Schmitt played more and more as the season went on last year and he should be a key player this season.
Potentials from the JV: Six-foot-6 forward/big Isaiah Habte Isaiah Habte 6'6" | PF Wayzata | 2023 State MN is a name to really keep an eye on. I like what Habte did with Wayzata this summer and he has the size that the Trojans need up front to go with McAndrew. Juniors Drew Nepsted and Ben Shaffer Ben Shaffer 6'0" | PG Wayzata | 2024 State MN are names I would watch to play a varsity role. Both played JV as sophomores last season as did Brayden Sandmann Brayden Sandmann 6'3" | SF Wayzata | 2024 State MN . There are three senior guards that will also work for time: Jake Berkland, Ian Norman, and Nic Beeninga. Jake Berkland did get rotational varsity minutes in a few games last season.
New to the Varsity program: 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.
Final Thoughts: Who replaces a lot of the numbers up front from Bjerke? That should be McAndrew. Versatile guard to step into the Berkland spot? Barnette is a different player than Drew but he is versatile and can play both guard spots. Fifth starter? It could be Habte giving them size or it could be one of several guards if they want to be a smaller but skilled guard squad (like Nepsted, Schmitt, or one of the others). Whatever the case, Wayzata will play some of the best team basketball in the state and be a key factor in the title race. And a massive favorite in Section 6AAAA.