Class AA: Minnehaha Academy Defense Wins Title

Ryan James March 28, 2026 @ 07:32 PM

We've seen Minnehaha Academy raise title trophies before… five previous times actually. But this one was different. I don't want to take away from what Kellen Troup Kellen Troup 6'8" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN , Carter Cupito Carter Cupito 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2030 MN and Ayden Green Ayden Green 6'0" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN do offensively but it was defense that brought the Hawks home a championship.

Ayden Green Ayden Green 6'0" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN 's relentless deep stance harassment of teams really showed what type of heart he has as a player. Malachi Snell belongs on an all defensive team someplace because his willingness to be the only senior on a team and still being willing to do all the hard working things is impressive. Mekhi Abner Mekhi Abner 6'6" | PF/SF Minnehaha Academy | 2029 State MN did a great job defending ball screens, defending the post and getting to help, and he is just a freshman. Kamar Sandifer-Howze Kamar Sandifer-Howze 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2028 State MN did a strong job defending off the bench and Kellen Troup Kellen Troup 6'8" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN is a 6'7 forward that did a great job of both getting length on the ball and pulling down defensive rebounds.

To me what they did on defense, limiting everything on Waseca outside of Russell, slowing down the entire Pequot Lakes attack, and making everything tough on Alex Loos Alex Loos 6'3" | SG/PG Goodhue | 2028 State MN and Luke Roschen Luke Roschen 6'3" | SG/CG Goodhue | 2026 State MN , that is what brought home the latest trophy. Also keep in mind the Redhawk guards, they watched Owen Roschen Owen Roschen 5'11" | PG Goodhue | 2027 State MN make his first six shots on them, and in the second half he missed all his attempts as the Hawks were able to locate him with success.

The basket attack of Cupito and Masen Thao was also crucial. And down the stretch Green got going as well. The initial Goodhue defenders could not move with the attack and it broke the defense down allowing Troup and Abner several rim finishes.

The Hawks started the season slow but built an excellent team basketball system that was better than everybody else in the end.

MVP. Kellen Troup Kellen Troup 6'8" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN . Kellen was the all around difference maker and the ex-factor in so many different ways. At about 6'7 and agile there was nothing on the Goodhue roster that could do much with him. Kellen was strong on the defensive glass with nine boards, he hit back to back threes that broke the game wide open, and Goodhue couldn't contest him at the rim or at the arc. His agility led to quickness in cuts and floor run and his above the rim finishing was explosive. A 24 point game on 10 of 15 shooting in the championship.

Three More Standouts

Ayden Green Ayden Green 6'0" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2027 State MN of Minnehaha Academy. For a time it wasn't Ayden's day. He was having a poor shooting afternoon and others were getting to the cup with more ease. But down the stretch things changed. Green has a ball pressuring determination that led to two steals and lack of Goodhue comfort. He also dished out four assists and made 13 of 16 free throws with most of them coming down the stretch for a 21 point game.

Alex Loos Alex Loos 6'3" | SG/PG Goodhue | 2028 State MN of Goodhue. Loos was out here defending guards five-six inches smaller than him at times and he was forcing the ball to other directions. Offensively there were early game shots made for his 9 of 18 shooting day and had the three not been a struggle for him his 25 point game would have been in the 30s. He is the next star up at Goodhue with Luke Roschen Luke Roschen 6'3" | SG/CG Goodhue | 2026 State MN graduating.

Mekhi Abner Mekhi Abner 6'6" | PF/SF Minnehaha Academy | 2029 State MN of Minnehaha Academy. There are a lot to pick from but I'm going with Abner as the 6'5 or 6'6 freshman big putting in a monster effort work day. He grabbed 14 rebounds in 24 minutes which is an incredible rate plus his ball screen defense, his help defense and his defensive talk are quite matured for a player his age. Also scored four times behind the place finishing off guard attacking assists.