Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Shakopee

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to depth of guards in a program Shakopee this season should rank with one of the deeper backcourts in recent years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Wins in 22-23 (16-11)</strong>: Chanhassen, Farmington, Lakeviille South, Lakeville North, Eastview, Rosemount (x2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oops</strong>: Edina, Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Lakeville South, Lakeville North, Eastview, Eagan, Minnetonka, Duluth East, Farmington, Chanhassen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: Termaine Fulton Jr was an all league player that averaged 13.5 points a game last season, he is now a football player at Iowa Central College. The Sabers also lost senior role players Dan Kasper, Vincenzo Miller, and Ryan Hackett who combined to score nine points a season ago. So four of the eleven guys that Shakopee used in the rotation throughout last season graduated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters (3)</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1288706' first='Jalen' last='Langsy'], Isaac Snell, and [player_tooltip player_id='1442578' first='Mason' last='Wood'] return as starters. Langsy averaged an impressive 19 points per game last season and is coming off an outstanding summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']. Jalen has become one of the better combo guards in the state. Snell scored a dozen a game as his toughness at the point position and on defense are greatly admired. [player_tooltip player_id='1442578' first='Mason' last='Wood'] was the junior big inside last year that scored six points a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:</strong>  Few teams have the players that Shakopee does moving from bench reserve roles to bigger spots on the court. [player_tooltip player_id='1575347' first='Luke' last='Wherley'] is a scholarship prospect in the junior class who I think should have a fantastic junior year as a 6'5 forward. [player_tooltip player_id='1575342' first='Isaac' last='Cordes'] is an excellent decision maker at point that will be hard to keep off the floor and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'] is one of the best shooters in the metro and he will likely have a chance to take more shots boosting his six points a contest. And [player_tooltip player_id='1454849' first='Kaden' last='Braxton'] had yet another fantastic season with the Crossfire earning 17u all state honors and he has to figure into this line-up as well. These are four players that would start at most schools and they will be battling for those two open starting spots next to Langsy, Snell, and Wood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV</strong>. We just went over seven good Sabers that will make up a quality line-up. Is there room for more? I would certainly think there is room for [player_tooltip player_id='1574229' first='Devin' last='Pass'] who had a fantastic season for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 16u team. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2359964' first='Jade' last='West'] and Devonte Butler are players that I thought did good things for 17u teams this year and they could certainly factor into that line-up as well. The junior class also has Marcus Bailey and John Kuchenbecker who were on the JV a year ago as sophomores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New to the Varsity program</strong>. There are some good young players at Shakopee but based on the numbers we just went through of a dozen names, and knowing how Shakopee really leans on the veterans, I would expect the varsity rotation to be made up of the names above. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>. The talent is there for Shakopee to be very, very good. They are deep, skilled, have okay size, and this is a group of players that mostly do a fantastic job of playing team basketball. A great number of these players were on spring/summer basketball teams that won a ton of games. I think the foundation is there for the Sabers to have a great season as they have a two deep that many schools don't have. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->