Breakdown Tip Off Classic: Top Ten Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Breakdown Tip Off Classic is at Edina this year and recently the 18 games were announced. What are the best ten games? We have a look!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1AAA Totino-Grace vs #2AAAA Hopkins.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would have to say we have two main events this year and we start with TG and Hopkins. [player_tooltip player_id='2126117' first='Malachi' last='Hill'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] is an outstanding match-up at lead guard, you have [player_tooltip player_id='2420169' first='Ahmed' last='Nur'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560740' first='Dothan' last='Ijadimbola'] going at it and mix in [player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1874906' first='Kyree' last='Nelson'] in there. [player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560839' first='Xavier' last='Frelix'] head to head. James Ware over at Hopkins with Ken Novak Jr facing off with Nick Carroll again. Exciting game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1AAAA Wayzata vs #4AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A rematch of the state title game with so many familiar faces. Wayzata new guys will mostly be up and coming, CDH has a mix of up and comers and some really good transfers. [player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1560868' first='Joseph' last='Mitchell III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'] are excellent match-ups plus a number of good guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5AAAA Tartan vs #6AAAA Alexandria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What do you need to deal with Alex early in the season? Ball handlers. Guard. Tartan has them led by [player_tooltip player_id='2119645' first='Tyrel' last='Pride'] and Kevin Wilson Jr and they will go against [player_tooltip player_id='2118449' first='Mason' last='Witt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2118495' first='Talan' last='Witt']. A Klingsporn vs Witt coaching match-up is fantastic but there are very good player match-ups too. [player_tooltip player_id='2465512' first='Duke' last='King'] vs Galen Roderick is surely one to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3AAAA Maple Grove vs #8AAAA East Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the fans that Gopher fans likely put on their list as must see. [player_tooltip player_id='1560882' first='Cedric' last='Tomes'] is Gopher committed and will sign while [player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'] is Minnesota's top target in the 2027 class. As for the game, the Raptors have the size to throw at Maple Grove up front and Tomes and [player_tooltip player_id='1560739' first='Max' last='Iversen'] are Mr. Basketball type contenders for each of their teams, this game pry comes down to Ann, [player_tooltip player_id='1960892' first='Henry' last='Knutson'], etc and what East Ridge can do to limit them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3AA Jackson County Central vs #4AA Minnehaha Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A huge game at the Class AA level, you have a JCC team that will likely be only a few weeks removed from a football run taking on a Hawks squad that has some serious up and coming young players. JCC is going to start 6'1-6'4-6'4-6'7-6'10 and that is going to be a heavy, heavy 6'4'-6'7'6'10 as we are talking 235 pounds (Voss), 280 pounds (Rowe) and whatever [player_tooltip player_id='2519956' first='Sullivan' last='Hall'], the 6'10 transfer is. Minnehaha will counter with three speedy and talented guards led by [player_tooltip player_id='2416947' first='Ayden' last='Green']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4AAA Mankato East vs #6AAA St. Paul Johnson.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A key match-up for AAA teams to see where they match-up with the best. We saw both teams play today and both looked good. East was without two starters but were still good led by [player_tooltip player_id='1886972' first='Amari' last='Nobles'] while Johnson had athletes all over the place with size too. [player_tooltip player_id='1560859' first='Kenneth' last='Turner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1597670' first='Braden' last='Petzel'] will be heavyweight 550 pound fight and the Colin Moore vs [player_tooltip player_id='1560798' first='Lucas' last='Gustafson'] battle should be good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3A Hills-Beaver Creek vs #7A Braham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class A. I think Cherry quickly gets a nod near the top and Pelican Rapids returning so much from an AA team deserves a nod too. But really, Class A is wide open and two of the teams that won a lot last year and return a bunch of talent are Hills-Beaver Creek and Braham. Both teams have multiple college football guys that are really good hoopers too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9AAAA Apple Valley vs #10AAAA Rochester Mayo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is my sleeper game of the event. Apple Valley returns their top two guys and reserves, Mayo has everything important back from an 18 win team. The [player_tooltip player_id='1560866' first='Camare'' last='Young'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2381759' first='Reggie' last='Parker'] clash will be outstanding and while both players have another big of similar size that can step in, Young vs Parker should be great. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7AAA Orono vs #10AAA Faribault</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] lost their D1 pair and their D3 pair that played with them all these years. The Falcons lost all of their guards. Orono will be deeper, both teams have experience issues in spots, both are top ten level teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#11AAAA Eagan vs #12AAAA Minnetonka. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I like Eagan with [player_tooltip player_id='1560747' first='Alex' last='Schroepfer'] going at Caleb Francois, and [player_tooltip player_id='1552751' first='Michael' last='McKenzie'] shooting against [player_tooltip player_id='2121339' first='Anthony' last='Ortiz']. Good match-ups, [player_tooltip player_id='2118833' first='Kevin' last='Kemp'] and the Eagan size could be the different maker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->