Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Lakeville North

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers won a very strong 28 games last season on their way to a third place finish. The Panthers have enough talent to make the final four once again!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Wins in 22-23 (28-4)</strong>: East Ridge, Wayzata, Totino-Grace, Farmington (x2), Lakeville South (x3), Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Shakopee, Eastview (x2), Owatonna, Buffalo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Park Center, Eastview, Wayzata, Shakopee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: Nolan Winter was a Mr. Basketball Finalist and the top scorer, he is now at Wisconsin. Second leading scorer Hudson Vaith had a great senior season leading to him now playing for Concordia-St. Paul. Will Kutzler really developed his last twelve months, he's at Princeton going to school. Reserves Ali Axmed and Jace Hernandez are at Augsburg and North Central respectively. Austin Winship is not at Rutgers playing lacrosse and Sam Nolen is at St. John's playing football. Erik Ryan also graduated. Overall, Lakeville North used 11 different guys last year in fairly decent roles, and eight of them have graduated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters (2)</strong>. Even though EIGHT guys from the rotation have moved on, the Panthers still have two returning starters (keep in mind, [player_tooltip player_id='1269166' first='Matt' last='Drake'] missed ten games last season). The two returning starters are [player_tooltip player_id='1269166' first='Matt' last='Drake'], one of the best point guards in the state and a top 25 player in his class, and [player_tooltip player_id='1284147' first='Jack' last='Robison'], a Wisconsin committed versatile wing. Robison is that rare player that I could honestly see John Oxton use at every single spot on the floor at different times and in different areas of need. Jack is that versatile and coming off a strong 17u season. Robison averaged 15 points, five rebounds and three assists a game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:</strong> That would be [player_tooltip player_id='1436479' first='Andrew' last='Quam'] and I think he can play a major role. Quam has an outstanding back to the basket game complimented with an excellent face-up shooting touch with range. He can be used in three different spots offensively and I think Quam will have a Vaith like senior impact albeit very different players. Quam gives the Panthers three very good seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV</strong>.  The Panther JV last year had seven different juniors that played only JV and did not get varsity minutes. Six-foot-4 shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1846064' first='Tyler' last='Christianson'], 6-6 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1287616' first='Grant' last='Ryan'] and guard Charlie DiRico are three from the senior class that I think could step into key roles this winter and with the Panthers it could be more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>.  From the rosters I have the Panther varsity/junior varsity was just seniors and juniors. That doesn't mean that some sophomores didn't help the JV or play all JV by the end of the year. I would go with 6-2 guard James Fager, six foot guard [player_tooltip player_id='1575343' first='Riley' last='Grossman'] and 6'6 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2360199' first='Drew' last='Kolander'] as players that could have been in that group. Those three could potentially play some varsity time as well. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] is a top ten forward in the sophomore class that should also have a chance at getting time. In fact, Danielson might be the best low post true big they may have from what I have seen. And Danielson, Kolander and Ryan can join Quam and Robison to keep that Panther frontcourt long and tall like it has been. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>. The ingredients are there for another Panther run: outstanding lead guard (Drake), a high major big name talent (Robison), an emerging top standout in the grade (Quam), seniors and juniors coming up, a young talent coming up (Danielson), size, depth, and great coaching. The Panthers will be a very good team once again. They have about five or six spots that will need to be filled in the rotation by non varsity experienced players but they will still be very good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->