Class AAA Title Contender Series: DeLaSalle

<p>The Islanders earned yet another section title last winter but didn’t get a chance to defend their state title.  They are once again state contenders and section favorites. </p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (24-5)</strong>: Waseca, Mankato East, Wayzata, Columbia Heights, Hopkins, Holy Angles, Waconia, Richfield</p> <p><strong>Oops: </strong>Minneapolis North, Cretin-Derham Hall, Minnehaha Acadmey, Eden Prairie</p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="846139" first="Jalen" last="Travis"] is playing football at Princeton and has left a big hole in the paint that will need to be filled in some way.  [player_tooltip player_id="721869" first="Amir" last="Whitlock"] was the 6th Man and a playmaker, he’s at a prep school.  Also, [player_tooltip player_id="846247" first="Andrew" last="Irvin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="846190" first="Semaj" last="Hart"] have graduated and both played important roles for the Islanders.  DeLaSalle will miss Irvin’s fantastic defensive abilities for sure but they have guards ready to step in and fill the production of the graduated backcourt members.</p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: Three starters return and all three of those players are now seniors.  That starts with top returning scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"]</strong> who is a Dartmouth commit and also the top small forward prospect in the senior class.  Haskins earned several D1 offers but the call of the Ivy League was too much to turn down.  Also returning is guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774737" first="Keijuan" last="White"]</strong>, one of the most athletic players in the senior class and a guy that has looked really good this fall.  White scored four-five buckets a game last year as a junior.  The other returning starter is wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774807" first="Evan" last="Boyd"]</strong>, a shooter that averaged seven a contest as a junior.  The door is now open for all three to have a big year. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>The main player stepping up from last year’s bench is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958672" first="Amir" last="Everett"].  </strong>Amir is a six foot junior guard that defends aggressively and is an attack minded player that will fit perfectly in one of the spots that Whitlock or Irvin left open.  </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV: </strong>Here is where the team gets deep.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962218" first="Nasir" last="Whitlock"]</strong> is a sophomore and ready for big contributions at the varsity level.  Whitlock was excellent for the Gain Elite 16u squad often as the main playmaker.  Whitlock is looking like a top ten sophomore in his class overall.  Another sophomore to watch is <strong>Aidan Higgins</strong>, a wing that played JV a season ago and could have a role. Keep an eye on <strong>Malik Eason</strong> as well, a hard working senior. </p> <p><strong>Transfers Moving In</strong>:  One of the state’s best 8th grade producers last year was <strong>Cash Chavis</strong>, a guard that had a really nice year for Brooklyn Center.  Chavis was the most consistent Centaur scorer last year which is why he had the highest season point total for his team.  Chavis will be ready on day one.  Also moving to the Islanders is <strong>Tarik Iyob</strong>, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Osseo that willingly competes around the basket.  He’s not a center but the Islanders need a guy that will play active in the paint and if what we saw for the Lockdown this summer is any indication, Iyob can help. </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  The Islanders have what it takes to win the section yet again, and play in the state title game again.  There is veteran talent, young talent, an all state level player to lead them (Haskins), and they should be deep.  Of course the Islanders always defend and work hard.  My one concern is their deep paint production but that won’t keep them from being a top team in Class AAA.  </p>