The 2022-23 Season: The Run for the Gold

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are the current favorites to win the title in March? The top contender? The biggest surprise? And the team we think that can get back into it? We run it down for you now at Prep Hoops!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AAAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Favorite: <strong>Park Center</strong>. The Pirates are winning games by an average of a running time score, look like Minnesota's best. [player_tooltip player_id='1172835' first='Casmir' last='Chavis'] is making a case for state MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Top Contender: <strong>Lakeville North</strong>. Gave the Pirates a push, clearly look like the second best team in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='962214' first='Nolan' last='Winter'] is a frontrunner for Mr. Basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Surprise: <strong>Hopkins</strong>. Looks like the Royals are a classic case of addition by subtraction, sophomore guard duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] &amp; Anthony Smith has been outstanding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They Will Be Back: <strong>Wayzata</strong>. The loss of [player_tooltip player_id='1220414' first='Myles' last='Barnette'] was really tough but as they fill that gap I think the Trojans can get back in the race. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Favorite: <strong>Totino-Grace.</strong> Even with [player_tooltip player_id='962198' first='Taison' last='Chatman'] not playing and [player_tooltip player_id='962203' first='Tommy' last='Humphries'] hobbled I think they are the favorie as the talent still looks to be the best in class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Top Contender: <strong>BSM or Orono</strong>. Both are unbeaten in the state with a nice list of wins. [player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] has been All State worthy for BSM while Orono's wins over Hopkins and Minnehaha spoke volumes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Surprise: <strong>Hermantown</strong>. Always expected them to be the 7AAA rep and a maybe top ten team but the wins over Big Lake, Delano, and Edison have us taking notice!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They Will Be Back: <strong>DeLaSalle</strong>. Three losses in eight games is a little bit of a surprise but it's a deep roster led by another Mr. Basketball frontrunner [player_tooltip player_id='962218' first='Nasir' last='Whitlock']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Favorite: <strong>Lake City</strong>. The Tigers look to have the deepest team of talent right now and [player_tooltip player_id='1225623' first='Ryan' last='Heise'] has played at such a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Top Contender: <strong>Holy Family</strong>. A loss to Alexandria isn't a bad thing but the Fire still has to find the right mix with that giant and talented frontcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Surprise: <strong>Maranatha Christian</strong>. Keep in mind they have only played five games and they lost one to Princeton but that win over Maple River spoke volumes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They Will Be Back: <strong>Minnehaha Academy</strong>. The Redhawks are a massive, massive favorite in their section led by [player_tooltip player_id='1284157' first='Jerome' last='Williams Jr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1221177' first='Rolyns' last='Aligbe']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Favorite: <strong>New Life Academy</strong>. Right now you have to look at NLA with their top PG in [player_tooltip player_id='1225656' first='Max' last='Briggs'], size in [player_tooltip player_id='1225651' first='Erick' last='Reader'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1727584' first='Colton' last='Hendricks'], and solid depth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Top Contender: <strong>Cherry</strong>. They have lost three games (one to NLA, one to Deer River when [player_tooltip player_id='1288733' first='Isaac' last='Asuma'] was out, one to Minnehaha) but I still feel they will be right there when things are done. Remember this team plays an 8th grader, a freshman, and two sophomores, they will get so much better. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Surprise:<strong> Cass Lake-Bena</strong>. The Panthers are undefeated and they put together a massive schedule early and they have passed all tests led by [player_tooltip player_id='1284127' first='Dominic' last='Fairbanks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1284165' first='Kaydin' last='Lee']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They Will Be Back: <strong>Martin County West and Goodhue</strong>. Both teams have stars ([player_tooltip player_id='962279' first='Zach' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='962224' first='Will' last='Opsahl'] headed to the NSIC) and both are playing tough teams that will get them ready for the post-season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->