The Tri Metro Preview

DeLaSalle was one game better than Richfield last season. Will the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] turn it around and grab the title this season?   Conference Commentary   Top Ten in State: DeLaSalle, Richfield   This is our preseason number two (Islanders) and preseason number three ([program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last='']). De is one of those two incredibly deep teams in AAA while Richfield has a starting five that is as talented as just about anybodies, they just need to develop the depth.   Depth is needed but that doesn't mean Richfield can't take out a DeLaSalle or a TG. And keep in mind, De might be deep but that depth is young so there will be a learning curve. The match-ups of their games already has me ready to watch:   [player_tooltip player_id='1560817' first='Adin' last='Inda'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2533408' first='Deon' last='Wallace-Johnson']   [player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] vs Jaden Udean   [player_tooltip player_id='2126145' first='Waleed' last='Muhammad'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas']   [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1560744' first='Evan' last='Miller']   [player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko']   The Islanders can go to McCreary, Whitlock, and a few young guards while Richfield has 6'8 [player_tooltip player_id='2857135' first='Evan' last='Buhl'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140560' first='Ben' last='Heidgerken'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2835654' first='Nathaniel' last='Clifford'].   Top Ten in State Potential: Academy of Holy Angels, St. Anthony Village   AHA and St.Anthony Village can definitely get into the top ten with good seasons. The Class AAA top ten will change a lot as some of those back half teams will be vulnerable this year leaving things open for a good veteran team with chemistry to step in. Holy Angels and/or St. Anthony could be those teams. I have them in the top 20 area coming into the season as both were .500 or better in the league last year and 12-15 overall. Under .500 yes but with the key pieces returning so they should be better.   Compete with Most: Columbia Heights, Fridley   Heights and Fridley are teams that I think higher of than I think others will. I think the Hylander have some good seniors that should surely improve on that 6-win season. Coach Jenkins should help them take a step forward. As for Fridley, I feel like they are often left for dead and they play better than expected year after year. Last year they were 10-6 in league play and I don't think anybody expected to respond after they had lost so many seniors. They have two 20ppg guys to replace but there are senior guards ready.   Rebuilding: Brooklyn Center, Bloomington Kennedy, Robbinsdale Cooper   This league is tough for BC as they are the smallest school trying to compete with a lot of programs that have had some type of success. Kennedy was pry a titch better than expected last season but they had a senior class that they relied on pretty strong. I could see them winning five or six league games but more than that might be tough. Cooper lost their coach, lost players to transfer, and had a lot of guys graduate. They are really starting over from scratch.   25-26 Conference Predictions   Tri-Metro Power Ranking   (1) DeLaSalle   (2) Richfield   (3) Academy of Holy Angels   (4) St. Anthony Village   (5) Columbia Heights   (6) Fridley   (7) Bloomington Kennedy   (8) Robbinsdale Cooper   (9) Brooklyn Center     Preseason Tri Metro Conference   First Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'] of DeLaSalle (Jr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2126102' first='Jaeden' last='Udean'] of DeLaSalle (Jr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1560744' first='Evan' last='Miller'] of DeLaSalle (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] of Richfield (Jr)   Tyrece Hegler of Richfield (Jr)     Second Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko'] of DeLaSalle (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='2120490' first='Brett' last='Siroin'] of St. Anthony Village (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2126145' first='Waleed' last='Muhammad'] of Richfield (Jr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2533408' first='Deon' last='Wallace-Johnson'] of DeLaSalle (Jr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'] of Richfield (Jr)     Third Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2120498' first='Blake' last='Nixon'] of Academy of Holy Angels (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1560860' first='Kahlil' last='Mkali'] of Columbia Heights (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='1560817' first='Adin' last='Inda'] of Richfield (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2388674' first='Jonas' last='McCreary'] of DeLaSalle (Soph)   [player_tooltip player_id='2559428' first='Taaj' last='Whitlock'] of DeLaSalle (Soph)     Fourth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2381223' first='Judah' last='Caine'] of Columbia Heights (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2140555' first='Arjun' last='Jain'] of Academy of Holy Angels (Jr)   Isaan Kitila of St. Anthony Village (Sr)   Delannie Busch of Bloomington Kennedy (Sr)   Kenzo Lee of Academy of Holy Angels (Sr)     Fifth Team   [player_tooltip player_id='2779906' first='Tyrone' last='Washington'] of Fridley (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2810595' first='Galatan' last='Kitila'] of St. Anthony Village (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2379323' first='Brevon' last='Robinson'] of Fridley (Sr)   Tavoiran Thompson of Cooper (Sr)   [player_tooltip player_id='2140560' first='Ben' last='Heidgerken'] of Richfield (Jr)

DeLaSalle was one game better than Richfield last season. Will the Spartans turn it around and grab the title this season?