4A State Championship Match-up Preview and Prospects

We are here, State Tournament time. These eight teams and four games are the start of the Minnesota Boys 4A State Tournament. Below we preview the match-ups and prospects who'll be playing.   #1 Cretin-Derham Hall vs #8 Rochester John Marshall   The Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders went 27-1 while overcoming short-term injury absences from two of their top 3 players, [player_tooltip player_id='1310206' first='Tommy' last='Ahneman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel']. Schlagel the #1 prospect in the 2027 class has been out since February 18th and is supposed to be back for State. Ahneman, the six-foot-eleven-inch center going to Notre Dame was out for a month in January and February had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Raiders section championship win over Tartan.   Schlagel led the Raiders in points per game at 19.3 and grabbed 7 rebounds per game. The six-foot-five-inch sophomore could see a combination of defenders like six-foot-eight-inch [player_tooltip player_id='2422069' first='Angok' last='Kucha']. Kucha showed me his potential versus Rochester Mayo at the end of February from a size and length standpoint and ability to make jump shots.   2026 guard Joseph Mitcell III versus Rochester John Marshall senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1450098' first='Eli' last='Ladu'] will be an interesting match-up. Ladu is a strong quick athlete with long arms that can put pressure on a ball handler like Mitchell, and also JM's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. The Raiders run some good sets with Mitchell off the ball using Iverson cuts to free him. How Ladu navigates those screens and stays out of foul trouble will be key.   The Rockets also have a big man to match-up with Ahneman in size and quickness with [player_tooltip player_id='2381222' first='Deng' last='Lueth']. Lueth at six-foot-eleven-inches is a long and tall shot blocking center. In half-court situations Lueth can be a real botherer inside. The Raiders will push on defensive rebounds and I expect them to play at a fast pace which Lueth will have to keep up and beat Ahneman down the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='2422068' first='Brayson' last='Sawyer'] is the Rockets second leading scorer at 15.7 points per game and he helps them spread the floor and give Ladu room to operate off the dribble while Monteff Dixon gives the Raiders a six-foot-five-inch athletic and strong forward. Dixon, not much of a shooter, does a lot of the dirty work for the Raiders.   For CDH I think their match-up out of the lower 4 seeds is one of the toughest for them as Rochester JM has a guard, a wing, and big man, which the Raiders Big 3 are. They all have size, length, athleticism, and strength. John Marshall went 25-4 but ended up with the 8th seed for not playing any high level 4A teams and losing to their only 4A out of area game versus Anoka. The Raiders should win and move on however this game could be very competitive.   #2 Wayzata vs #7 Moorhead   In the most anticipated Minnesota boys high school basketball match-up of the season 2026 junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] proved why he's on cusp of getting those high Division One offers. Versus Hopkins in the section final the six-foot-four-inch Wiggins scored 31 points and when Hopkins tied the game late at 69 Wiggins coolly came down and drained a triple.   After Wiggins the most important player in that Hopkins match-up was 2025 six-foot-six-inch senior [player_tooltip player_id='1454976' first='Wyatt' last='McBeth']. McBeth's 11 points scored doesn't scream fantastic performance he did do all the little stuff like blocking 3 shots at the rim and grabbing 5 rebounds. Four of his previous six games he scored more than 20 points so you know when called upon he can put up points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'], a six-foot-six-inch 2026 wing gives Wayzata another high-end talent with size and ability to spread the floor. Anderson was hurt in the February match-up versus Hopkins returned for sections. Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1560807' first='Isaac' last='Olmstead'] runs the show for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] getting things inline from the point guard position, and adds deep outside shooting ability.   Others that add to the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] bottomline, junior Tommy Shunmugavelu, 2027 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140716' first='Xaviahn' last='Ivey'], and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2429912' first='Ryan' last='Mann'] who stepped up for an 18 point performance versus East Ridge without Anderson.    The Moorhead Spuds are one the bigger surprises to make state and follow in the footsteps of girls and boys hockey are led by 2027 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2451500' first='David' last='Mack'], and seniors Brian Zarazua Jr, and [player_tooltip player_id='2423573' first='Reign' last='Battle'].   Battle is the lead scorer at 20.7 points per game and offers the Spuds an athletic and strong frontcourt presence from a wing. Mack is a technical sound guard who shoots it well from the outside and is a good athlete. Zarazua is the Spuds lead guard who's averaging 17 points per game and offers the Spuds strong play from the outside and at six-foot-three-inches has above average size for a guard in high school.   2027 sophomore Jett Feeney and 2028 freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2417305' first='Romeo' last='Kromah'] are players to watch for the Spuds that can add to their bottomline. Kromah is a good athlete and can play on the perimeter and inside.   #3 Shakopee vs #6 Anoka   The Sabres started slowly this year at 7-5 but they've won 16 straight games since then with a large collection of seniors and the right time returning underclassman. Senior leaders include [player_tooltip player_id='1575347' first='Luke' last='Wherley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'], [player_tooltip player_id='1574229' first='Devin' last='Pass'], [player_tooltip player_id='1575342' first='Isaac' last='Cordes'], Marcus Bailey, and [player_tooltip player_id='2405212' first='Tommy' last='Auge']. Injured in football and returned late in the season [player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton'] has really helped Shakopee defend.   The Tornadoes are led by their big 3, [player_tooltip player_id='1574226' first='Peyton' last='Podany'], [player_tooltip player_id='1288713' first='Trey' last='Borchers'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2121367' first='Dre' last='Ellis']. Podany, a 2025 senior committed to St. John's Johnnies, sets the table for the Tornadoes and gets everything going. Six-foot-three-inch Podany has good size and moves well on the perimeter while Borchers can shoot it from distance and uses speed and strength to defend and finish. Ellis you need to stay with as it doesn't take him long to release deep range shots.   Wherley, a six-foot-five-inch 2025 senior who's committed to Jamestown, led the Sabres in scoring at 16.8 points per game. With Cordes running point and setting him up, defending Wherley can be difficult as he can score inside and outside. He's very technically sound, and skilled.    [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'] versus Borchers match-up should be fun to watch. Similar scoring per game, similar sized players. Both make plays slashing to the basket, Schroeder much more off the dribble while Borchers makes plays without the ball. You can't leave either open on the perimeter.   Betton offers Shakopee something Anoka doesn't have, a real 3&D threat. Betton shot very from the perimeter for [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley'] Hoops/PJ Hoops EYBL team last year and versus Prior Lake in the section final he was causing so many problems for Lakers on the perimeter. The six-foot-three-inch lefty could give the Sabres a nice add off the bench.   #4 Maple Grove vs #5 Apple Valley   4/5 Match-ups always seem to offer the most excitement and anything can happen before the game even takes place. The Crimson upset Champlin Park in their Section Final 90-81 behind a big game from 2025 six-foot-three-inch senior [player_tooltip player_id='1617766' first='Keegan' last='Harney'] and 2027 six-foot-four-inch sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann']. Harney scored 29 points while Ann scored 24 points.   Apple Valley had an equally tough Section Final versus Eagan that they won 62-54 behind 45 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] Jr., Camere' Young, and [player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker']. The Eagles, probably the biggest surprise team in their section, got a good year from 2026 six-foot-two-inch guard Parker as he averaged 17.9 points per game while fellow junior Young scored 18.7 points per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2760107' first='Justin' last='Cowan'] has been a key player for the Eagles all year averaging 17.5 points but even more so in February when he had games of 36, 29, and 29 in three straight games. The 2025 six-foot-two-inch Cowan you really need to be ready to guard off the dribble, and if he gets by the primary defender he's a strong finisher around the rim.   Harney, a six-foot-three-inch 2025 senior guard proved to be a big time outside shooter for the Crimson making 137 3-pointers this season. He averaged 20.7 points leading the way and was massive in sections scoring 24, 21, and 29 points versus Osseo, Park Center, and Champlin Park, three teams with generally good perimeter defenders.   [player_tooltip player_id='2104490' first='Nathan' last='Hromadka'], a six-foot-six-inch 2025 senior Tight End on the football field will have the responsibility of guarding 2026 six-foot-five-inch wing Young I assume. Hromadka is committed to North Dakota and offers great size and strength. Young's combination of quickness and size makes for a fun match-up between the two.   Look for [player_tooltip player_id='1960892' first='Henry' last='Knutson']'s passing as the 2026 six-foot-five-inch wing really can move the ball to shooters, Harney and also Ann. Ann, already offered by the Gophers, has improved his ball handling and is a good shooter.   Apple Valley's x-factor is transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] Jr. Horton started the year at Bloomington Jefferson but moved over to Apple Valley in January and started playing in February coming off the bench. His added shooting and ball handling give them a secondary player.

We are here, State Tournament time. These eight teams and four games are the start of the Minnesota Boys 4A State Tournament. Below we preview the match-ups and prospects who'll be playing.