Class AAAA: Top Five Teams Most Likely to Improve

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What teams do we think will make a major step forward when it comes to games won and final results in 2024-25? Here is our list!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andover (11-17)</strong>. Andover was hurt by injuries a season ago and they lost their leading scorer but something tells me they will be turning last year's record around, at least. Senior-to-be [player_tooltip player_id='2423569' first='Luke' last='Fenton'] came up from the junior varsity and used his shooting touch to score nearly 14 points a game. [player_tooltip player_id='1450039' first='Cameron' last='Begalle'] is a do everything combo guard that averaged double figures, led the team in assists, was second on the team in boards, third on the team in steals and third on the team in blocks. And [player_tooltip player_id='1617679' first='Alex' last='Kopetzki'] is a ball handler and shooter that scored a dozen points a contest. All three are six foot guards ready for big senior seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='2381649' first='Eddie' last='Miles'], [player_tooltip player_id='2429692' first='Levi' last='Strenge'] and Quinn Stay will be the frontcourt. Miles is coming off of a nice sophomore year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bloomington Jefferson (5-22). </strong> The Jags only won five games, how do we think they can take a big step forward? For one we have seen this before. Coach Evans goes through a change, gets players experience, they come back playing outstanding team basketball when people don't expect it. Jefferson has four of their top five back led by second leading scorer and PG of the future [player_tooltip player_id='2126170' first='Isaac' last='Feller'] (scored 13 a game as a frosh), go to scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] Jr (scored 19 a game last year), and the 6'5 pair of Thomas Rowland and Luke Thoenen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eden Prairie (9-18). </strong>I watched the Eagles twice last year and they were not a very good defensive team nor did they seem to have much chemistry with one another. I remember thinking "if only they would all stop thinking it's somebody else's fault and focus on what they did wrong that possession" it would be better. Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] has transferred to Wayzata and top 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'] has transferred to CDH. Not ideal but maybe it will allow for pieces to fit better next year with more role guys and less top scoring options on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='1574221' first='Max' last='Lorenson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1288770' first='Jj' last='Sullivan'] are back (17 and 16 points per game respectively) as is [player_tooltip player_id='1560851' first='Hamze' last='Yusuf'] (11 a game). One of the can be the main handler, another the secondary handler, and the main PG can play with one to the right, one to the left and then the frontcourt players can be veteran role players like [player_tooltip player_id='2119596' first='Cooper' last='Fahning'], [player_tooltip player_id='1575344' first='Colin' last='Kirk'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1574217' first='Cam' last='Riggins']. With that type of talent they should double their win total. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rochester John Marshall (15-11)</strong>. I think the JM win total is about to really step forward for two reasons: 1) they have a really nice 2025 group that will be seniors, and 2) there is a lot of chances for wins in the twelve team Big Nine as many Big Nine teams will be taking a step back. [player_tooltip player_id='2422068' first='Brayson' last='Sawyer'] scored 17 plus a game last year and has the touch to score 20 plus. Eliah Ladu is a very good ball pressuring point guard that could be perfect to move the ball with this group and when it's not him, it will be young talent [player_tooltip player_id='2435137' first='Jackson' last='Daly'] doing it (an excellent shooter as well). Joe Lueth is the biggest player in the state and he has a chance to emerge, he did good things at the end of the year at 6'11. And at 6'7 Angok Kucka is long with potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STMA (14-15)</strong>. The Lake is a tough league so I don't know how much the win total will spike past 19-20 wins but STMA has the talent to push for 19 or 20 wins. [player_tooltip player_id='1586882' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1428994' first='Hudson' last='Hochstedler'] will be one of the top backcourt duos in the state next year as both are capable of regular 20 point games in smart shot taking ways. I also really like 6'6 worker [player_tooltip player_id='2103351' first='Jordan' last='Holm'] who does so much and should have an excellent final season. If they can get some JV players to step into role playing roles and [player_tooltip player_id='2126108' first='Jack' last='Thelen'] to take big steps forward as a sophomore they could have a great year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->