2023-24 State Tournament: Class AA match-ups/prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight the Class AA State Tournament is at 6pm in both Williams Arena and the Target Center. Here are the games, the match-ups, and the top prospects for the AA games!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson County Central vs Albany</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben Gallagher vs Andrew Olson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2618399' first='Grant' last='Freking'] vs Zeke Austin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson Pohlman vs [player_tooltip player_id='1579919' first='Elliott' last='Burnett']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1601069' first='Roman' last='Voss'] vs Hunter Hamann</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560751' first='Weston' last='Rowe'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1286547' first='Sam' last='Hondl']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thoughts: Jackson County Central is led by three sophomores who play a lot of juniors and a few seniors are there too. They are a young, up and coming team that made state a year ahead of what people expected and how they have big expectations for this season, and into the future. But Albany is the defending champs and they are a veteran team with two of the best players in Class AA (Hondl and Austin) surrounded by seniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breck vs Waseca</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanif Muhammad vs [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1151197' first='Daniel' last='Freitag'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2103355' first='Damarius' last='Russell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeAngelo Dungey vs [player_tooltip player_id='2104457' first='Carson' last='Ohnstad']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574225' first='Miles' last='Newton'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2026186' first='Laird' last='Keeton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560864' first='JP' last='Musoke'] vs Jacob Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thoughts: Even without injured Kevin Armstrong, Breck is still the deepest and most talented (and explosive) team in Class AA basketball. Waseca will be more battled tested against deep teams than some others Breck will play in Class AA but the Jays do not have the horses to keep up with the Stangs. Breck has to be careful not to overlook Waseca though, this is a good program that went to state three times, rebuilt, and is back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake City vs Pelican Rapids</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126464' first='Gavyn' last='Lorenson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2495108' first='Miguel' last='Torres']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284140' first='Hunter' last='Lorenson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1284216' first='Timmy' last='Guler']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284149' first='Jaden' last='Shones'] vs Charlie Larson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley Fick vs Grady Larson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284166' first='Keegan' last='Ryan'] vs Luke Sjolie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thoughts: Lake City is one of the two teams that might have the experience and depth to beat Breck. Against Pelican Rapids, the Tigers will be bigger up front with a big edge from [player_tooltip player_id='1284166' first='Keegan' last='Ryan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1284140' first='Hunter' last='Lorenson'] is playing like the first team all stater he is. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Minnehaha Academy vs Pequot Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617707' first='Fitta' last='Jafar'] vs Blake Spiczka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1499627' first='Lorenzo' last='Levy'] vs Conner Quale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2104454' first='Kingston' last='Manning'] vs Clay Erickson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mateo Cortes Weiss vs Brayden Spiczka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2090661' first='George' last='Norsman'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2109875' first='Harrison' last='Kennen']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thoughts: I love the match-up of the junior 6'5 guys who have really emerged this year. Kennen more back to back, Norsman more the super active type that just battles all over. There are good guards and wings all over but [player_tooltip player_id='1499627' first='Lorenzo' last='Levy'] is a different level of talent, but Pequot Lakes has been playing outstanding team basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Senior Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1151197' first='Daniel' last='Freitag'] of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1284140' first='Hunter' last='Lorenson'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1284166' first='Keegan' last='Ryan'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hanif Muhammad of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1499627' first='Lorenzo' last='Levy'] vs Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1284216' first='Timmy' last='Guler'] of Pelican Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1284149' first='Jaden' last='Shones'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mateo Cortes Weiss of Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Clay Erickson of Pequot Lakes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brayden Spizka of Pequot Lakes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Junior Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1286547' first='Sam' last='Hondl'] of Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Zeke Austin of Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1574225' first='Miles' last='Newton'] of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2103355' first='Damarius' last='Russell'] of Waseca</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2090661' first='George' last='Norsman'] of Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2109875' first='Harrison' last='Kennen'] of Pequot Lakes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1617707' first='Fitta' last='Jafar'] of Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2104457' first='Carson' last='Ohnstad'] of Waseca</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2437337' first='Joshua' last='Wohlers'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1584902' first='Jack' last='Meincke'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Sophomore Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1601069' first='Roman' last='Voss'] of Jackson County Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1560864' first='JP' last='Musoke'] of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>DeAngelo Dungey of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2103364' first='Carter' last='Steinbeck'] of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1560751' first='Weston' last='Rowe'] of Jackson County Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] of Waseca</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ben Gallagher of Jackson County Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Migel Torres of Pelican Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Blake Spiczka of Pequot Lakes</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mu Muhammad of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Freshmen Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2126464' first='Gavyn' last='Lorenson'] of Lake City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2140707' first='Waleed' last='Muhammad'] of Breck</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Grady Larson of Pelican Rapids</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->