The Metro West Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 22-23 race was BSM and Orono out in front with Waconia and Chanhassen in chase. Those four teams should make for a fantastic race this winter in the Metro West!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten in State</strong>: Benilde-St. Margaret's, Orono</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BSM was hit by transfers, Orono was hit by graduation. BSM has a playmaking top guard and a top big, Orono has a playmaking top guard and a top big. Both teams have senior role playing guards and some other juniors ready for big roles. BSM has a bit more talent back, Orono has the edge of beating BSM for state last year. Both have strong junior classes, both will be top ten teams in Class AAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten in State Potential</strong>: Chanhassen, Waconia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chan and Waconia will close the gap between the Knights and [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last='']. Chan has three really good starters returning whereas Waconia has all of their starters back from a team that got better. [player_tooltip player_id='1287439' first='Max' last='Woods'] will compete with [player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] for league MVP while playing dual guard roles, Waconia might have the most depth of these four contenders, but the least previous success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>: Chaska, Bloomington Jefferson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chaska should be better, Jefferson should take a step back. The Hawks have good young talent led by [player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] while [player_tooltip player_id='1575345' first='Tray' last='Lenzen'] is a good frontcout player. Jefferson has some talent but it's inexperienced, that said, the Jags are always a tough team to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebuilding:</strong> St. Louis Park, New Prague</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between [player_tooltip player_id='1874916' first='Micah' last='Curtis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1437495' first='Evan' last='Weichert'] both teams have top players. Curtis is an explosive frontcourt player whereas Weichart is my pick to be the next guy scholarship schools fall in love with prospect wise. Both of their teams have a lot to fill and they were not good last year as a team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Metro West Conference Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Benilde-St. Margaret's</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Orono</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chanhassen</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Waconia</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bloomington Jefferson</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chaska</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>New Prague</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Louis Park</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason All Metro West Conference</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1287439' first='Max' last='Woods'] of Chanhassen (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] of Orono (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1572691' first='Jaleel' last='Donley'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437495' first='Evan' last='Weichert'] of New Prague (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560741' first='Will' last='Kirsch'] of Waconia (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284155' first='Jayden' last='Daisy'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1484016' first='Brady' last='Wooley'] of Orono (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575345' first='Tray' last='Lenzen'] of Chaska (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1760312' first='Riley' last='Johnson'] of Chanhassen (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1969343' first='Gavin' last='Olson'] of Waconia (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1874916' first='Micah' last='Curtis'] of St. Louis Park (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Third Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574215' first='Abu' last='Keita'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1434056' first='Jackson' last='Hayes'] of Waconia (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] Jr of Bloomington Jefferson (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1549741' first='Ronald' last='Lee'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] of Chaska (fr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1336696' first='Riley' last='Nelson'] of Orono (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288795' first='Evan' last='Murray'] of Chanhassen (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Fulford of Waconia (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1589407' first='Marley' last='Curtis'] of St. Louis Park (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henry Novak of New Prague (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->