Section 3AAA: Is Highland Park ready to Challenge Mpls South?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minneapolis South is the favorite, but Highland Park, SSP, STA and Roosevelt all have a chance to make a push. We talk 3AAA today! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Section Power Rankings</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Minneapolis South - South won 21 games a season ago led by [player_tooltip player_id='2435232' first='Jumair' last='Wright']'s 23 points a game and they went to state.  South has big dreams again as they have four of their top six players back from last year's state team.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Paul Highland Park - Highland Park won 15 games last year and I think a big jump could happen this year. They have their top two guys back, they have some reserves back, added a transfer with size, and overall have some pieces to have a great year.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South St Paul - The Packers are going through some changes.  They lost four key seniors from the team and they will have a new coach after an 18-win season.  SSP has underachieved when you compare results to talent, they have a chance to make a run here with Branch, Adonis and London. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Thomas Academy - The Cadets were 13-15 last year and they lost four of their top five scorers, but they have a new staff and STA does return four guys from the rotation so they have something to work with in the new era.  They just need the talent level to increase. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Minneapolis Roosevelt - The Teddies had a lot of seniors playing for their 11 win season and they graduated, but there are three key pieces that return and some up and comers ready to fill spots.  Roosevelt is a sleeper for me.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Simley - The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] won 11 games last season and bring back a couple key scorers from last season including long time veteran [player_tooltip player_id='2405556' first='Tre' last='Lovelace']. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Paul Como Park - Como Park had seven seniors that played last year for the 5-22 Como Park team and they have graduated but there are some up and coming young players that will have bigger roles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Preseason All Section 3AAA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2435232' first='Jumair' last='Wright'] of Minneapolis South (Jr).&nbsp; One of the elite juniors in the state, Wright did something special and that is taking South to state.&nbsp; He's his own brand in a unique way and has a chance to grow that 23 a game with 21 wins to something even bigger at South.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126460' first='Donte' last='Branch'] of South St. Paul (Sr).&nbsp; Branch was a 43 percent three point shooter last year scoring 21 points a game.&nbsp; He has a chance to be one of the top scorers in the metro this year for SSP.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2569253' first='Leo' last='Clifford'] of St. Paul Highland Park (Sr). Clifford scored 20 points a game last year as a versatile scorer and we look to him to be one of the top few players in the St. Paul City next and of course in this section.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2409303' first='Ramadan' last='Ibrahim'] of Minneapolis South (Sr).&nbsp; Ibrahim has become one of the best second options in Class AAA scoring nearly 19 points a game.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2405556' first='Tre' last='Lovelace'] of Simley (Sr).&nbsp; Tre finishes off a five year varsity career this year as one of the best players in the section and likely has to be approaching some school records (or close to it) at some point.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2421555' first='Max' last='Hayes'] of St. Thomas Academy (Sr).&nbsp; Scored 13 points a game last year and will be the main option this winter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126151' first='Marco' last='London'] of South St. Paul (Sr). A 5'10 attacking guard that scored 13 points a game and brings a totally different pace and type of guard that Branch making them a tough pair.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3510466' first='Laviance' last='Gales'] of Minneapolis South (Sr).&nbsp; Gales averaged 11 points and 8.4 rebounds a game last year as one of the strongest and toughest players in this class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2874892' first='Izaiah' last='Davis'] of St. Paul Highland Park (Sr). A 14 point per game scorer last year for the Scots, Davis is a really strong 6'4 forward that will help his team have threats inside and out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daevion Stampley of Minneapolis Roosevelt (Sr).&nbsp; Top returning scorer from last year's team, Stampley is a 5'11 guard that scored eight a contest last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2835388' first='Kenny' last='Brown'] of St. Paul Highland Park (Jr).&nbsp; Brown is a 6'7/6'8 forward with potential, and now it's time to show it.&nbsp; Brown will be next to Davis giving Highland a tough frontcourt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2630926' first='Jake' last='Dixon'] of Minneapolis Roosevelt (Sr). Dixon is a 6'6 post that averaged five points and 6.5 rebounds a game last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Wills of St. Thomas Academy (Sr).&nbsp; A frontcourt player that scored about five points a game as a key reserve.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2409306' first='Mohamed' last='Abib'] of Minneapolis Roosevelt (Sr).&nbsp; Abib is a 6'2 active player that scored six points a game with four boards a contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2461870' first='Landen' last='Knox'] of Minneapolis Roosevelt (jr).&nbsp; A scrappy guard that played a reserve role but will move into a bigger role as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fourth Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2893786' first='Adonis' last='Williams Jr'] of South St. Paul (Soph).&nbsp; A frosh that played part of the varsity season and scored four points a game on varsity.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3677797' first='Marcel' last='Bolden'] of St. Paul Como Park (jr).&nbsp; Marcel is the top returning Como Park scorer at seven a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3603743' first='Will' last='Walter'] of St. Paul Highland Park (Sr).&nbsp; Walter scored six a game and is a key returning Scots player.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3AAA Summary</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a couple programs that have been competitive that have new coaches, and that is St. Thomas and South St. Paul.&nbsp; There is an up and coming team in St. Paul Highland Park. And there is a pretty clear leader entering the season in Minneapolis South. South has more returning players and they have the best player in the section in [player_tooltip player_id='2435232' first='Jumair' last='Wright'].&nbsp; That said, [player_tooltip player_id='2126460' first='Donte' last='Branch'] or [player_tooltip player_id='2569253' first='Leo' last='Clifford'] could make a push as section MVPs with big seasons.&nbsp; And with that, their team could make a push with them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roosevelt and Como Park are dealing with losing about 6-7 seniors that played, but they have some up and coming talent that should make them competitive as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a section that can be won by a number of teams, but South won it last year and returns a lot from that state team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->