Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Duluth East

<p>Duluth East may have lost their point guard but they have a senior class that can still contend for championships of many kinds.</p> <p><strong>Key Wins in 19-20 (24-5):  </strong>Osseo, Hastings, Esko, Orono, Forest Lake, Hibbing, St. Paul Central, Andover</p> <p><strong>Oops: </strong> Cambridge-Isanti, Hermantown, Buffalo</p> <p><strong>Moving On: </strong> The Greyhounds lost one starter ([player_tooltip player_id="846236" first="Noah" last="Winesett"]) and one deep reserve (Andrew Twomey). Winesett, now playing at St. Scholastic, was a double figure scoring senior guard meaning Duluth East won’t have two of their double figure scoring guards from a season ago (junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958677" first="Will" last="Van Scoy"]</strong> is out for the season).  There is a lot of experience returning but Duluth East will have new players this winter playing guard. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  Take out Van Scoy and Duluth East has three returning starters: 6’1 senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774891" first="Giovani" last="Saldivar"]</strong>, 6’9 UMD signed center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"]</strong>, and 6’8 UMD signed forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774801" first="Mattie" last="Thompson"]</strong>.  Paulson and Thompson will form one of the elite front lines in Minnesota high school basketball this season.  Paulson can play with his back to the basket, or facing up in the post with any big in all of Class AAAA basketball.  Thompson has great agility at his size allowing him to slash with the best, he boards, and Thompson is a better shooter than given credit for.  Speaking of shooting, Saldivar is the one guard and he’s the most dangerous Greyhounds shooter.  Saldivar scored a dozen a game last season making 50 plus percent of his threes. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: </strong>A big positive for East is that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1071195" first="Zaa" last="Buffalo"]</strong>, a 6’4 senior wing, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962229" first="Michael" last="Kastelic"]</strong>, a 6’0 sophomore guard, are both experienced.  Buffalo had a great summer with the Playmakers.  Zaa is willing to do whatever he’s asked including slashing with the ball, defending, rebounding, playing in the post, shooting the ball, and passing the basketball.  Buffalo averaged 5-6 assists a game last year.  Kastelic was a smart freshman role player last year that shoots it when he gets the chance, rebounds, and is a smart passer.  Michael scored six points a game last season and will improve that total this year as he blossoms into an older player.  Buffalo and Kastelic will likely do their share of handling the ball with Van Scoy out (Buffalo could handle, and then will at times go play the four spot when one of the bigs sits). Also watch out for <strong>Joe Voss</strong>, a 6-foot-2 senior that was the team’s 8th man a season ago.  Voss is another experienced guard giving East four of them despite the Van Scoy loss. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>Another big to watch is 6-foot-4 junior <strong>Luke Lieberz</strong>, a post that was used as the 9th/10th man last season.  Luke played off the bench in some key games last year and will be a part of the big man rotation with Thompson, Paulson, and Buffalo.  With Buffalo and Thompson being so versatile, East will always have a chance to keep size on the floor as Lieberz figures into the equation as well.  They also have 6-foot-4 senior post <strong>Simon Randorf</strong> too.  The Hounds also have junior guards in <strong>Drew Larkin, Cam Oliphant, </strong>and <strong>Sam Winesett</strong> that could step into a key reserve guard role as well. </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts:</strong> When you take a step back and digest all of the players Duluth East has in their program, you realize that with Van Scoy this is a team that could of seen time at number one in the state this winter.  And, you also realize that they have the type of size, depth, and versatility to be a state contender as well as a constant in the top ten.  If some of the players stepping into bigger roles (Saldivar, Buffalo, and/or Kastelic) take massive steps forward as players, this is a team that could play in the state title game.</p>