The Metro West Preview

BSM bouncing back from an early season six game losing streak to winning this league with only one loss was one of the stories of last year. Can the Knights take the crown again?   Also, there is a ton of talent in this league. This was as hard of a first team-second team I have had to do. Everything is very close.   Conference Commentary   Top Ten in State: BSM, Orono   BSM has the headline talent with Wilson, Stuttley, and Donley, what they need is the depth to be developed. They are a top five area team in Class AAA, and if the chemistry comes together they are a title contender. BSM had won 13 of 15 heading into that section title game with Orono and it took an all time game for the Knights to get knocked out.   Orono is right there as a state title contender as well. Remember, last year they lost six league games before making their state run. They dealt with some injury issues - and they have some injury issues again this year with [player_tooltip player_id='2300011' first='Nate' last='Chavez'] hurting his knee - but the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] turned things around and made a run. And they will make another run.   Top Ten Potential: Chanhassen, St. Louis Park, Chaska   Chan lost six seniors that played important roles last year, but they do have three very good players including a 30 point per game potential guy in [player_tooltip player_id='1760312' first='Riley' last='Johnson'], an up and comer in [player_tooltip player_id='2140561' first='Benett' last='Barger'], and a breakout senior in [player_tooltip player_id='1617724' first='John' last='Schmidt']. They have the core scoring trio, now they need a ball handler and a group of role players to develop so they can be as good as they hope to be.   St. Louis Park is the crew throwing a wrench into things! They have talent, confidence, experience, and my favorite part, they aren't supposed to be here! Nobody expected this outside their school. This is a program that has been struggling and now, all of a sudden, they have two D1 kids, a good transfer coming in and returning veterans. Sit back and watch StLP blow up the dreams of opposing teams!   Chaska is about to take the next step. They have a lead guard in Forrest, a big in Tray, and two wings that are good players. It's a team that I think can turn around that 10-17 record at least. Look out for the Hawks, this could be a special year for them if it clicks.   Compete with Most: Waconia, Jefferson   Waconia has their best player back but just about everything from their rotation graduated so they have a ton of spots to fill. That said, Kirsch is a very good player and Waconia has done a good job developing up through the system. Jefferson only won five games last year but they could make a nice jump. League play will be tough but the Jags will be better.   Rebuilding: New Prague   New Prague won only five games last year, they lost a ton of seniors, and now their best player [player_tooltip player_id='1437495' first='Evan' last='Weichert'] is going to start the year injured. They are in a rough spot.     24-25 Conference Prediction   (1) Orono   (2) Benidle-St. Margaret's   (3) Chanhassen   (4) St. Louis Park   (5) Chaska   (6) Waconia   (7) Bloomington Jefferson   (8) New Prague     Preseason Metro West   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='1579885' first='Nolan' last='Groves'] of Orono (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1572689' first='Jalen' last='Wilson'] of BSM (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1484016' first='Brady' last='Wooley'] of Orono (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1760312' first='Riley' last='Johnson'] of Chanhassen (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1874916' first='Micah' last='Curtis'] of St. Louis Park (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1589407' first='Marley' last='Curtis'] of St. Louis Park (Sr)     Second Team   TJ Stuttley of BSM (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1560741' first='Will' last='Kirsch'] of Waconia (Jr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1572691' first='Jaleel' last='Donley'] of BSM (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1575345' first='Tray' last='Lenzen'] of Chaska (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1437495' first='Evan' last='Weichert'] of New Prague (Sr)     Third Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] of Chaska (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='1617724' first='John' last='Schmidt'] of Chanhassen (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] of Bloomington Jefferson (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1391203' first='Mitchell' last='Kauch'] of Orono (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2300011' first='Nate' last='Chavez'] of Orono (Sr)     Fourth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2126170' first='Isaac' last='Feller'] of Bloomingon Jefferson (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='2104517' first='Jimmy' last='Coddington'] of Chaska (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2140561' first='Benett' last='Barger'] of Chanhassen (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='2423568' first='Rashaad' last='Kimber'] of St. Louis Park (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2126143' first='Kalin' last='Jochum'] of Chaska (Soph)     Fifth Team   Tommy Rowland of Bloomington Jefferson (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2569261' first='Milton' last='Nuahn'] of BSM (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='2408187' first='Lucas' last='Knudson'] of Orono (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1874883' first='Javaris' last='Ellis'] of St. Louis Park (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2121351' first='Tanner' last='Rose'] of St. Louis Park (Jr)

BSM bouncing back from an early season six game losing streak to winning this league with only one loss was one of the stories of last year. Can the Knights take the crown again?