Section 6AAAA: 26-27 First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can somebody stop Wazyata from getting to state for the 7th straight year? Seems like Hopkins is up for the challenge as we start the James Ware era of Royal Hoops and Buffalo now only returns everything, they added a top transfer! </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>Hopkins - the Royals have brought in three very good transfers to go with [player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore'] star power wise plus they return five of their top ten from last season AND they have some excellent players coming up from the JV.&nbsp; They will have no problem going ten deep with talent.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Buffalo - The 22 win team that brings back just about everything and was a top five team in state last year. They won't get all the highlight reel attention but they sure have the respect of those in the Lake.&nbsp; Not only do the Bison bring back all their good players, [player_tooltip player_id='2397555' first='Brady' last='Molenaar'] moved to Buffalo from Rosemount.&nbsp; They will be in the top five in the state.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wayzata - Nine of the top eleven in terms of minutes played last year are gone and for the first time in a long time the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] don't have D1 star power in the line-up.&nbsp; That said, NO PROGRAM is in as good of a position to replenish from the younger levels like the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''].&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Edina - The Hornets have the best senior in the league (Cronin), a true up and comer (Miller) and a good young guard (Christian) but do they have the depth that the top of the league does?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Robbinsdale Armstrong - Armstrong earned a lot of respect last year as they went .500 with a team of scrappy players after being picked dead last for everything. Most of those scrappy players have graduated but the Olsons are around to shoot the lights out.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Minneapolis Washburn - I like this team.&nbsp; I'm not saying they will be playing for state, but I am saying they will be battling for the City title with a few others.&nbsp; Amir is worker, Finn is a shooter, and Knighten is a good young talent.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Louis Park - The Orioles will have one of the best players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='2362161' first='Matthew' last='Johnson'].&nbsp; Unfortunately they graduated most of last year's production outside of Johnson.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Preseason All Section 6AAAA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126115' first='Vincent' last='Cronin'] of Edina (Sr).&nbsp; The player that is getting the most D1 scholarship attention in the senior class right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Jr).&nbsp; Tre has been outstanding this past month, making his case to be top all around guard in the junior class, and overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2362161' first='Matthew' last='Johnson'] of St. Louis Park (Sr). Was offered by D1 school Wyoming, Johnson has been incredible this 17u year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397563' first='Thomas' last='Jordan'] of Buffalo (Jr).&nbsp; Jordan scored 19 a game last year and has been excellent playing up at 17u.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2433532' first='Max' last='Beeninga'] of Wayzata (Sr).&nbsp; Put in a main playmaking role for the Fury, Max has been outstanding.&nbsp; Future MSUM Dragon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126145' first='Waleed' last='Muhammad'] of Hopkins (Sr).&nbsp; Point guard of Richfield this past season, now in a packed backcourt for the Royals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2400077' first='Eli' last='Hegle'] of Buffalo (Jr).&nbsp; All State last year, a top post up guard, did recently hurt his knee unfortunately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xaviahn Ivey of Wayzata (Sr).  The ball pressure defender that can shoot it as well, top returning Trojan scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2524650' first='Kwatamah' last='Silikpoh'] of Hopkins (Sr).&nbsp; Fourth school in three years, Kwat is one of the toughest to stop attacking the rim.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2435240' first='Zeke' last='Gilbert'] of Hopkins (Jr).&nbsp; One of the state's most explosive players.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397555' first='Brady' last='Molenaar'] of Buffalo (Jr).&nbsp; Scored 14 a game for Rosemount last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126866' first='Matthew' last='Jordan'] of Buffalo (Sr).&nbsp; Scored 14 a game for Buffalo last year and was third on team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luke MIller of Edina (Sr).  One of the most impressive paint players I have seen in 17u.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amir Bobmanuel of Minneapolis Washburn (Sr).  Look for Amir to be one of the state's elite defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140604' first='Eddie' last='Walker'] of Hopkins (Sr).&nbsp; Walker has been really good for the Heat and was good for the Royals off the bench last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2836953' first='Weston' last='Moeller'] of Wayzata (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2833354' first='Gregory' last='Carter'] of Hopkins (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3599705' first='Tony' last='Jordan'] of Buffalo (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417419' first='Finn' last='Carlson'] of Minneapolis Washburn (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2385813' first='Isaiah' last='Olson'] of Robbinsdale Armstrong (Jr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fourth Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2813485' first='Alex' last='Olson'] of Robbinsdale Armstrong (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamarr Knighten of Minneapolis Washburn (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2910369' first='Quianny' last='Christian'] of Edina (Soph)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JoJo Smith of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140686' first='Quinn' last='Bjerketvedt'] of Hopkins (Sr)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6AAAA Summary</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopkins, that is a top team in the state talent wise.&nbsp; James Ware has turned teams exactly like this into top teams in the state and title contenders.&nbsp; We think he could do it again.&nbsp; But…..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buffalo was a top five team in the state from last year, they return all their key pieces, they have good young players coming up AND they added one of the best transfers out there.&nbsp; They could win this section, But…..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayzata has gone to state the last six seasons.&nbsp; They always have huge up and coming numbers.&nbsp; They can replenish. However, they have a ton of spots to fill and do they really have enough talent coming up to fill all those spots?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Edina.&nbsp; The Hornets have a really good five, if they can get the depth they can compete with the rest as I think Cronin is the best player in this section (he or [player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore']).&nbsp; Washburn and Armstrong, don't be followed by the rank here, these are going to be good teams, they are just in a really good section.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->