The 1AAAA Profile: Why Dane Danielson is the Key

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We give you our 1AAAA power rankings, The Section 15 (best players in the group), and our summary.  The Section 1AAAA Profile.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1AAAA Power Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) Rochester Mayo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Lakeville South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Lakeville North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Owatonna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Rochester Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Rochester JM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(8) New Prague</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Section 15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>First Team</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] of Lakeville North (Sr) - <strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417626' first='Will' last='Gyarmaty'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381759' first='Reggie' last='Parker'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2124278' first='Isaac' last='Peterson'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126447' first='Briggs' last='Sheridan'] of Farmington (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Second Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126465' first='Tommy' last='Schabert'] of Farmington (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560830' first='Casey' last='Fliehe'] of Lakeville South (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560811' first='Collin' last='Johnson'] of Lakeville South (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2385637' first='Nathan' last='Long'] of Rochester Century (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2124278' first='Isaac' last='Peterson'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Third Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2863682' first='Logan' last='Shimek'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560762' first='Danny' last='Myszkowski'] of Rochester Mayo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2400080' first='Nolan' last='Greene'] of Lakeville South (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140675' first='Owen' last='Brezinski'] of Lakeville North (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140710' first='Willie' last='Moore'] of Owatonna (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Thought Per Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmington: The Tigers have the frontcourt talent, now they need the guards to take a good step forward and they can take the section. The guard group of [player_tooltip player_id='2381974' first='Blake' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2401364' first='Benny' last='Fenske'], [player_tooltip player_id='2175464' first='Kale' last='Flees'], Max Blandin, [player_tooltip player_id='2140559' first='Ben' last='Goring'], [player_tooltip player_id='2854219' first='Kwamayne' last='Leinweber'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2857893' first='Brayden' last='Harris'], seven names that need to combine to give this team what they need in terms of balance and consistency to get back to the section final for a third time in recent history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakeville South: The Cougars are in a spot that I think they like. Other teams are being talked about with more depth and with more fanfare, and the Cougars are sitting in a spot with five returning contributors from a 15-win team. Names like [player_tooltip player_id='2400080' first='Nolan' last='Greene'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560811' first='Collin' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2120489' first='Nic' last='Swanson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2121334' first='Ryker' last='Sanders'] had outstanding spring/summer seasons, and then you have [player_tooltip player_id='1560830' first='Casey' last='Fliehe'] who is ready to lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakeville North: North has a "new" coach (new head coach but not a new coach) and a lot of seniors to replace. They are no longer being talked about as a top five team/program in Class AAAA. So what is next? It's time for last year's JV to fill spots, the Panthers will need [player_tooltip player_id='2381979' first='Tony' last='Johnson'] to take a step forward, and [player_tooltip player_id='2140675' first='Owen' last='Brezinski'] has a chance to step right in and make an impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the biggest thing? [player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] was solid as a junior but he showed that potential that so many saw early when he shined with [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select']. With his skill set, size, and experience, Dane is going to be the best player in this section and a guy that I think can carry a team through spots that are tough. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rochester JM: Jim Daly is a really good coach but replacing seven guys from last year's state tournament qualifying rotation is a very tough ask. [player_tooltip player_id='2435137' first='Jackson' last='Daly'] is a good start when it comes to a good player to build around but there are so many holes to fill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rochester Century: Century fell to seven wins last season and they lost [player_tooltip player_id='1874818' first='Dane' last='Skime'] to a move to the west metro. They are going to need to rebuild but they have a really good player in [player_tooltip player_id='2385637' first='Nathan' last='Long'] to lead them into the next two years. The Century junior class is very good led by Long (a 6'5 fast rising prospect) and [player_tooltip player_id='2818709' first='Landon' last='Moore']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owatonna: Owatonna will be one of the more interesting teams in the section. They lost all their starters and EIGHT rotation seniors overall. That said, [player_tooltip player_id='2140710' first='Willie' last='Moore'] had a great off-season and the young talent of Lucas Ginsky, [player_tooltip player_id='2924844' first='Goy' last='Lamdak'], [player_tooltip player_id='2873196' first='Jackson' last='Holder'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2384018' first='Cooper' last='Routh'] makes for a promising future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rochester Mayo: One of my biggest predicting blunders in the last ten years was not seeing that Rochester Mayo's group of 2026 players coming up had a chance to be special. But they have a chance to do some special things. Mayo won 18 games last year and they bring back ALL of their key pieces. Mayo will be a top ten team entering the season with big expectations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Prague: Evan Weichert missed part of the year and it hurt this team leading to a three win year. But... it did give the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] a chance to give some players experience which could pay off this winter. [player_tooltip player_id='2381981' first='Andrew' last='King'] had a really good junior year and he returns with [player_tooltip player_id='2381978' first='Alex' last='Meyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2853091' first='Myles' last='Tietz']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2853091' first='Myles' last='Tietz'] is a talent we really think could blossom. He scored nearly nine points a game last season and there is some versatility and agility to his game. Does good work in the paint, has a face-up game, and at his size and agility Myles can move with guards on the ball screen and fight in the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->