The Top Ten Backcourts in Minnesota

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What teams have the best ten backcourts coming into the season? We give you our thoughts on that today as we get closer to the start of the 2024-25 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before we move into this, it's important to note we are breaking this into three groups: backcourts, wing groups, frontcourt players. There will be some crossover obviously, but as far as backcourts, we are talking about guys that are handling the ball and playing the two. We are not including guys who we think will be playing the three exclusively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) <strong>Hopkins</strong>. The starting guard group of [player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] is a pair of top playmakers in the state with Moore doing more of the creating and Smith doing more of the scoring, and they were well together. In support, they have [player_tooltip player_id='2449186' first='Tyson' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore'], and Tre looked outstanding at the recent Freshman Showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) <strong>Totino-Grace</strong>. The Eagles are going to smaller which likely takes a guy like [player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman'] and moves him more to the wing to get the best players on the floor but their backcourt is still so strong. That includes Wofford committed [player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'], that includes the top sophomore PG prospect in the state [player_tooltip player_id='2126117' first='Malachi' last='Hill'], and it will include Jalyan Hynes who is a very good sophomore. Throw in [player_tooltip player_id='2405321' first='Vince' last='Jacob'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2434730' first='Josiah' last='Young'] who were depth pieces last year plus other sophomores and its a deep group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) <strong>Wayzata</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560807' first='Isaac' last='Olmstead'] comprise the best junior backcourt in the state as they started for the state runners-up in AAAA and they will be even better this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1454840' first='Nicklaus' last='Hein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2429912' first='Ryan' last='Mann'] appear to be very good senior reserves as both had strong 17u seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4)<strong> Mankato East</strong>. The Cougars return their starting point guard in USF committed [player_tooltip player_id='1437303' first='Brogan' last='Madson'] who has been an All State player the last two seasons. The graduation of Manaow Omot and Dwayne Bryant mean more time in that backcourt and key reserves [player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2424013' first='Dwuan' last='Reliford'] have the talent to play more and contribute more. [player_tooltip player_id='1886972' first='Amari' last='Nobles'] can play a guard spot too but they will likely have him more at the wing to get the best players on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5)<strong> Cretin-Derham Hall</strong>. This group is junior dominated and it's good. [player_tooltip player_id='1560868' first='Joseph' last='Mitchell III'] is a big time high major scoring threat that scored 19 a game last year. Then you have [player_tooltip player_id='1560840' first='Jason' last='Johnson'] and Keihsion Jarmon who are both quick, both can attack and I love Johnson in ball pressure. Both played last year and will get more time this year. Also watch for [player_tooltip player_id='2569249' first='Julian' last='Smith'], a freshman who I think will be very good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) <strong>Benilde-St. Margaret's</strong>. The Red Knights added TJ Stuttley to their backcourt to go with [player_tooltip player_id='1572691' first='Jaleel' last='Donley']. That is going to be one of the toughest attacking duos in the state. Stuttley had previously earned a D1 offer so trying to stop he and Donley will be tough. BSM will likely have to go three guard looks I am guessing, and they have a new pair of sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='2569261' first='Milton' last='Nuahn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2126475' first='Conner' last='Watts']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) <strong>Shakopee</strong>. The Sabers go more guard heavy than anybody so we are going to throw all those names in here and just know that when it comes to wings, those names are here are they used guard sized guys in the wing roles often last year. And won a ton. [player_tooltip player_id='1575342' first='Isaac' last='Cordes'] is one of the best league guards in the state and he has sharp shooters in [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1574229' first='Devin' last='Pass'] around him, with [player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2440059' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] on the come up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(8)<strong> East Ridge</strong>. East Ridge has a heck of a two guard shooter in [player_tooltip player_id='1950404' first='Bennett' last='Skinner'], a very solid two way guard in [player_tooltip player_id='1428992' first='James' last='Martin'] that can handle, and then one of the state's most skilled players in [player_tooltip player_id='1560882' first='Cedric' last='Tomes'] that can do both things. They can play all three together, or rotate them as well, and it will work well. Keep an eye on Ben Koch, a quality freshman. Tomes scored 19 a game last year while Skinner averaged 11. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(9) <strong>DeLaSalle</strong>. The Islanders are like Shakopee in that they will play more guards at once than most. [player_tooltip player_id='2103258' first='De'von' last='Irvin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1288747' first='Andrew' last='Apiagyei'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2175468' first='Marcus' last='Anderson'] are the seniors and they are joined in the backcourt by leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2569245' first='Jaeden' last='Udean']. Irvin is the best two way guy, Udean the explosive shooter, and the others are more defensive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(10T) <strong>Eden Prairie</strong>. So many people are focused on what the Eagles lost but forget that [player_tooltip player_id='1560851' first='Hamze' last='Yusuf'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1574221' first='Max' last='Lorenson'] are still there and the duo does not need to worry about feeding other mouths so to speak this year. They can focus on what they do more in bulk than before. There is not quite as much depth that we know of though. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(10T) <strong>Cherry</strong>. The Tigers lost Isaac Asuma but [player_tooltip player_id='2126128' first='Isaiah' last='Asuma'] should move right into that point guard role and they will keep winning a ton. [player_tooltip player_id='1579911' first='Carson' last='Brown'] is a do everything player that can play both guard spots and I think he will have a big year. [player_tooltip player_id='1601068' first='Noah' last='Asuma'] would be a two if this was big school hoops but he is a three man at Class A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->