The Tri-Metro Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper and St. Anthony Village were on the heels of the Islanders last year. Who will try and make a push for DeLaSalle this season? DeLaSalle was a perfect 16-0 last year. </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>: DeLaSalle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Islanders lost Mr. Basketball but they have enough back from last year bolstered by the JV and some young transfers to win this league, to win the section, and make it to state. The section is not gonna be easy as Columbia Heights is going to be really tough, plus Edison and Johnson should be strong. But there is no reason to think struggle is coming to the Island especially with Todd Anderson leading the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willie Braziel has the type of group that I think can make a push. He's got talented guys that push the pace, and guys that are tough, and guys that likely have a chip on their shoulder for this and that. There is a depth of talent at Columbia Heights that I think is in for a season in the top ten, and they have a chance to push De.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten in State Potential</strong>:  Cooper, Richfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You know why I think Cooper could find its way into the top ten at some point? Because I feel like Bo Powell has taken whatever line-up he's had and constantly added more wins to the total than expected. He's like that neighborhood Mr Fix it that, no matter what you hand him he can take it and make it better. This year he is a bit short on older talent (compared to years past) but he's got some nice players coming up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richfield is pretty much "next up" when it comes to the top ten. Yes I know they were six games under .500 last season but a team with CJ Armstrong and Zavier Hayes has the talent to easily flip around that 11-17 record and have an outstanding season. We expect a good year for the Spartans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>: St. Anthony Village, Bloomington Kennedy, Fridley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Anthony Village lost three all league players and a number of others so they have spots to replace, but Josh Pratt still has three good player back which should make them solid. Kenji Asai will lead the way. Kennedy was about 3-4 more wins above what I thought they would be last year so surely a tip of the cap to the players and staff there. Now, they lost four of their top six from a season ago so can they hit ten wins again when people don't think they can? I think Fridley can compete, but they had the worst record in the league a year ago and lost four of their top five guys, so while I think they can battle with teams I don't know how many battles they have the players to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebuilding</strong>: Brooklyn Center, Holy Angels</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooklyn Center won only seven games last year and they lost their three best players including one - Q Douglas - who scored 30 points a game. It will be a tough year. The Academy of Holy Angels. They won only seven games last season, they lost their best three players, and they replaced a big name alum who was a star with the program (Andy Hannan) with a bigger name alum who was a big star with the program ([player_tooltip player_id='2897741' first='Troy' last='Bell']). Will it matter? The Stars may have lost their top three guys but they do have their next best four returning so they could be a bit better. Maybe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Tri Metro Conference Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) DeLaSalle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Columbia Heights</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Richfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Robbinsdale Cooper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) St. Anthony Village</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Holy Angels</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Bloomington Kennedy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(8) Fridley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(9) Brooklyn Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason All Tri Metro Conference</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaden Morgan of DeLaSalle (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CJ Armstrong of Richfield (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zy'lerre Stewart of Columbia Heights (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De'von Irvin of DeLaSalle (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jency Davis of Columbia Heights (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zavier Hayes of Richfield (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Randy McClendon of Columbia Heights (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaeden Udean of DeLaSalle (fr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Antwan Smith of Fridley (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kenji Asai of St. Anthony Village (sr)</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='2367918' first='Chance' last='Wicks'] of Robbinsdale Cooper (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ray James Jr of DeLaSalle (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamarrius Starr of Bloomington Kennedy (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Justin Johnson of DeLaSalle (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Damian Devine of Holy Angels (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David Lee Jr of Richfield (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evan Miller of DeLaSalle (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamison Rowe of Holy Angles (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397868' first='Emmaureon' last='Rulford'] of Columbia Heights (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Igherighe of St. Anthony Village (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fifth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abel Nason of Robbinsdale Cooper (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rylan McPipe of Robbinsdale Cooper (soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryson Buggs of Fridley (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood of Bloomington Kennedy (jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adam Akerson of Holy Angels (sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->