The 2022-23 Season: The Run for the Gold
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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! Class AAAA…
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Continue ReadingWho 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!
Class AAAA
The Favorite: Park Center. The Pirates are winning games by an average of a running time score, look like Minnesota’s best. Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN is making a case for state MVP.
The Top Contender: Lakeville North. Gave the Pirates a push, clearly look like the second best team in the state. Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN is a frontrunner for Mr. Basketball.
The Surprise: Hopkins. Looks like the Royals are a classic case of addition by subtraction, sophomore guard duo of Jayden Moore Jayden Moore 6'0" | PG Hopkins | 2026 State MN & Anthony Smith has been outstanding.
They Will Be Back: Wayzata. The loss of Myles Barnette Myles Barnette 6'2" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN was really tough but as they fill that gap I think the Trojans can get back in the race.
Class AAA
The Favorite: Totino-Grace. Even with Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN not playing and Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN hobbled I think they are the favorie as the talent still looks to be the best in class.
The Top Contender: BSM or Orono. Both are unbeaten in the state with a nice list of wins. Jalen Wilson Jalen Wilson 6'8" | PF Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State #230 Nation MN has been All State worthy for BSM while Orono’s wins over Hopkins and Minnehaha spoke volumes.
The Surprise: Hermantown. 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!
They Will Be Back: DeLaSalle. Three losses in eight games is a little bit of a surprise but it’s a deep roster led by another Mr. Basketball frontrunner Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN .
Class AA
The Favorite: Lake City. The Tigers look to have the deepest team of talent right now and Ryan Heise Ryan Heise 6'8" | SF Lake City | 2023 State MN has played at such a high level.
The Top Contender: Holy Family. 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.
The Surprise: Maranatha Christian. Keep in mind they have only played five games and they lost one to Princeton but that win over Maple River spoke volumes.
They Will Be Back: Minnehaha Academy. The Redhawks are a massive, massive favorite in their section led by Jerome Williams Jr Jerome Williams Jr 6'0" | PG Rock Creek Christian Academy | 2024 State MD and Rolyns Aligbe Rolyns Aligbe 6'9" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2023 State MN .
Class A
The Favorite: New Life Academy. Right now you have to look at NLA with their top PG in Max Briggs Max Briggs 6'0" | PG New Life Academy | 2023 State MN , size in Erick Reader Erick Reader 6'8" | C New Life Academy | 2023 State MN and Colton Hendricks Colton Hendricks 6'7" | PF New Life Academy | 2023 MN , and solid depth.
The Top Contender: Cherry. They have lost three games (one to NLA, one to Deer River when Isaac Asuma Isaac Asuma 6'3" | PG Cherry | 2024 State #102 Nation MN 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.
The Surprise: Cass Lake-Bena. The Panthers are undefeated and they put together a massive schedule early and they have passed all tests led by Dominic Fairbanks Dominic Fairbanks 5'10" | PG Cass Lake-Bena | 2024 State MN and Kaydin Lee Kaydin Lee 5'10" | SG Cass Lake-Bena | 2024 State MN .
They Will Be Back: Martin County West and Goodhue. Both teams have stars ( Zach Anderson Zach Anderson 6'6" | SF Martin County West | 2023 State MN and Will Opsahl Will Opsahl 6'8" | SF Goodhue | 2023 State MN headed to the NSIC) and both are playing tough teams that will get them ready for the post-season.