The South Suburban Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shakopee won the league by three games a year ago but graduation has pushed others into favorite status for 25-26, starting with Prior Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten in State</strong>: Prior Lake, Apple Valley, Eagan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior Lake certainly has the best combination of experience, talent, size, and quality of resulting returning for them. They are simply the deepest teams in this league. And we have talked deeply about the depth and talent of the top six in Class AAA, we have Prior Lake seventh and the Lakers are some juniors emerging away from stepping into the chatter with those top six. Size, skill, experience, it's there for this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then you have Apple Valley and Eagan. I have Eagan 11th but to me we have eleven top ten level AAAA teams so they fit in this category. We have spoke about this in great detail but it was Eagan two years ago with a lot of these players, Apple Valley going to state last year with a lot of these players. The Cats and Eagles have had a good recent rivalry brewing with Apple Valley getting the most recent, last laugh. But Eagan is going to be bigger and maybe deeper this year so we will have a size and skill battle against speed and skill. Fun games to watch for sure, maybe three times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten Potential</strong>: Lakeville South, Lakeville North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakeville schools. Change at North means a new head coach (new as in position, not new to the system or practice) and a lot of new players because of graduation, but still some key pieces that can make this a good team. At South it's some returning players and some seniors that we believe will take a huge step up. North and/or South can be top teams as we have them in the top 20 area coming into the year. South looks to be the deeper team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Compete with Most</strong>:  Shakopee, Rosemount, Farmington, Eastview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right here is a great representation of the depth of this league. I think Rosemount and Eastview have a great chance to be better teams this winter. Rosemount continues to show more and more talent and depth while Eastview has one of the best players in the league in [player_tooltip player_id='1560881' first='Ja'carion' last='Green'] and the Lightning have done quite well this summer and in fall league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for Shako and Farmington, they have some things to work through. Shako lost seven of their top nine from last year's champs so there is a ton to replace. Farmington has more to replace than they thought because of the unfortunate injury to [player_tooltip player_id='2126465' first='Tommy' last='Schabert'] that will force him to miss the season. [player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2126447' first='Briggs' last='Sheridan'] are very good junior prospects that will keep the teams good and competitive, but there is some talent that needs to be developed not just in the eight man rotation, but in about three spots in the starting five. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rebuilding</strong>: Burnsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blaze were 2-16 in the league last year, four wins total, and they lost their top three scoring options so it looks tough. That size, Burnsville does have some good forwards and a big that are solid so they shouldn't be a push over. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25-26 Conference Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>South Suburban Power Rankings</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) Prior Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Apple Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Eagan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Lakeville South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) Lakeville North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Shakopee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Rosemount</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(8) Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(9) Eastview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(10) Burnsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason All South Suburban Conference</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] of Lakeville North (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>[player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] of Shakopee (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560866' first='Camare'' last='Young'] of Apple Valley (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560747' first='Alex' last='Schroepfer'] of Eagan (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118833' first='Kevin' last='Kemp'] of Eagan (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kobby Sambew of Prior Lake (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560881' first='Ja'carion' last='Green'] of Eastview (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker'] of Apple Valley (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126455' first='Peyton' last='Gholson'] of Rosemount (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Third Team</em></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='1552751' first='Michael' last='McKenzie'] of Eagan (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2635710' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'] of Prior Lake (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2052332' first='Trey' last='Theis'] of Prior Lake (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><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton'] of Shakopee (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2845973' first='Jack' last='Burke'] of Rosemount (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560784' first='Woeser' last='Jenpa'] of Prior Lake (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='2433515' first='Kolby' last='Thompson'] of Prior Lake (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Fifth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Brezinkski of Lakeville North (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Berran of Eagan (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyresse Huton of Apple Valley (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397555' first='Brady' last='Molenaar'] of Rosemount (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2460586' first='Ryan' last='Christiansen'] of Apple Valley (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sixth Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121334' first='Ryker' last='Sanders'] of Lakeville South (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tylan Ward of Apple Valley (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381979' first='Tony' last='Johnson'] of Lakeville North (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor McDevitt of Burnsville (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560861' first='Mayon' last='Dixon'] of Rosemount (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560857' first='Zach' last='Christofferson'] of Prior Lake (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1628772' first='Ja'khi' last='Hollie'] of Rosemount (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Seventh Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2120489' first='Nic' last='Swanson'] of Lakeville South (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140646' first='Justice' last='Demarco'] of Easview (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Peterson of Eagan (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381974' first='Blake' last='Johnson'] of Farmington (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140633' first='Jaedin' last='Williams'] of Apple Valley (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417389' first='Jake' last='Courts'] of Shakopee (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->