The Lake Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year ago Wayzata won the league by two games over Hopkins but the 7-5 middle of the conference team (Minnetonka) won the state title! What's next in the state's most talented conference year to 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>: Wayzata, Hopkins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayzata has the state's best combination of talent, depth, size, experience and coaching. And now they are angry. You combine all of that and you get what I think is the state's top ranked teams entering the season. Remember, they had beaten Minnetonka 19 straight times and then lost to them in the state final. Now that's motivation for a top team entering the next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have Hopkins in the top three and if the chemistry is right, they could be one. Last year they didn't have seniors to rely on, now they do. Last year they didn't have the depth as some of the others, I think this year they could. Last year they really didn't have much for size options, this season they could possibly have that if three guys with size have developed. The core for of Moore, Semanko, Smith and Hart are there, and if they get depth they could win it all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten Potential</strong>: Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, STMA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending champs had a hell of a team run putting together the right defensive work and team chemistry to take the title. It was a great job by the staff and a great job by the players buying in and realizing what they have to do to be at their best. This year, El-Amin returns to run the point, Richardson is the shooter, they have a couple role player workers back and a few guys that impressed this off-season from the JV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think people are so caught up with what left EP they forget that it was the chemistry that didn't mix right, not a lack of talent. And there is still talent that I think has a better chance to gel. It doesn't mean it will gel, but it has a better chance to. The backcourt of Yusuf and Lorenson will be one of the league's best, they have size in Kirk and Fahning (had a great off-season), and toughness in Riggins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>STMA won only two Lake Conference games last year but this is a talented league where teams can make a quick jump, and we think STMA could make a quick jump. And keep in mind, playing a solid schedule the Knights were 12-5 outside of the league last season. They have their top three scorers back, their top prospect back, size, and six of the ten players that were at times in the rotation return. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>: Edina, Buffalo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hornets I think surprised people by finishing third instead of fifth or sixth last year as the coaching staff did a great job there and the players gelled nicely. This year? It will help that high potential sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2126115' first='Vincent' last='Cronin'] is healthy after almost a year injured and he's added a lot of strength. Edina won't have much for senior though outside of [player_tooltip player_id='1594744' first='Billy' last='DeMars'] and last year's ninth man/top JV guy [player_tooltip player_id='2109925' first='Kyle' last='Hustrulid']. Cronin and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1961315' first='Gus' last='Carpenter'] are the other experienced varsity players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Picking Buffalo last seems ridiculous, and it is ridiculous, because this league is ridiculously talented. Buffalo was in last in this league and lost their two top scorers and four valuable Senior starters. That said, they have a very good senior group of guards that was outstanding in 17u play last year making the final four in the finals. Buffalo will contend for their section title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Conference Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) Wayzata</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Hopkins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Eden Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Minnetonka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) STMA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Edina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Buffalo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason All Lake</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] of Wayzata (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] of Wayzata (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin'] of Minnetonka (Sr)</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='1560807' first='Isaac' last='Olmstead'] of Wayzata (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574221' first='Max' last='Lorenson'] of Eden Prairie (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1595734' first='JJ' last='Semanko'] of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560851' first='Hamze' last='Yusuf'] of Eden Prairie (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1586882' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'] of STMA (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='1454976' first='Wyatt' last='McBeth'] of Wayzata (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1428994' first='Hudson' last='Hochstedler'] of STMA (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126115' first='Vincent' last='Cronin'] of Edina (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2175446' first='Daveion' last='Hart'] of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1594744' first='Billy' last='DeMars'] of Edina (Sr)</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='2126108' first='Jack' last='Thelen'] of STMA (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2119596' first='Cooper' last='Fahning'] of Eden Prairie (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2103351' first='Jordan' last='Holm'] of STMA (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560847' first='Thomas' last='Shunmugavelu'] of Wayzata (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423571' first='Mitchell' last='Friesz'] of Buffalo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fifth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574218' first='Duke' last='Richardson'] of Minnetonka (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Fr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2104439' first='Ty' last='Torgrimson'] of Buffalo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423572' first='Jordy' last='Sorenson'] of Buffalo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2436413' first='Nick' last='Norduane'] of Wayzata (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sixth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2456058' first='Julius' last='Ellis'] of Hopkins (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575344' first='Colin' last='Kirk'] of Eden Prairie (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560801' first='Brady' last='Lam'] of Wazyata (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2760056' first='Malachi' last='Boadi']-Aboagye of Minnetonka (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2449186' first='Tyson' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Seventh Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574217' first='Cam' last='Riggins'] of Eden Prairie (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2436860' first='Jacob' last='Hudson'] of Minnetonka (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1961315' first='Gus' last='Carpenter'] of Edina (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1454840' first='Nicklaus' last='Hein'] of Wayzata (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trevor Kotlinek of Buffalo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->