The 2021-22 Basketball Season – Class A First Glance

We continue looking at next season with a First Glance at Class A for the 2021-22 year. Today we will run through the 2020-21 final top ten rankings and look at each squad’s returning talent. This is NOT and I REPEAT, this IS NOT A PRESEASON RANKING. This is the final ranking we used for LAST YEAR. NOT NEXT YEAR. The rankings below are what we finished up for LAST YEAR. The only reason I used it below was to talk about the final top ten and then next week we will go through another top ten. I REPEAT. This is NOT a preseason ranking for next year. I’m pretty sure I have no made that even clearer but I am sure there will be more DMs and emails wondering why a team isn’t higher. Yes I know it’s amazing but it keeps happening.   (1) Hayfield Starters Returning: Easton Fritcher, [player_tooltip player_id="962284" first="Isaac" last="Matti"], Ethan Pack, Kobe Foster (4) Reserves Returning: Karver Heydt Up and Coming Name: 2024 guard Zander Jacobson Final Say: The Vikings lost their star but they return much of their starting five. They will enter next year a contender to their title.   (2) Hancock Starters Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="958732" first="Matt" last="Thompson"] (1) Reserves Returning: Sebastian Felix, Luke Joos, Jackson Koehl Up and Coming Name: 2025 Chase Evink Final Say: Hancock will likely be a top ten squad again next season with their best player returning (Thompson) and a number of good reserves. With four starters gone it’s tough to call them a contender but if the chemistry is there maybe. Thompson will be one of the most unstoppable forces in Class A.   (3) Nevis Starters Returning: Mathias Warrington, [player_tooltip player_id="958734" first="Eddie" last="Kramer"], Cain Mitchell (3) Reserves Returning: Joe Houchin, John Paul Benson, Tyler Lindow Up and Coming Name: 2024 wing Austin Ahrendt Final Say: Nevis will be a top ten squad and a contender for a long time to come. Kramer will be a top Class A player next year, there are a few other starters returning, and three of the seven names mentioned above are freshmen.   (4) Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s Starters Returning: Kaleb Wait, Trennt Steffensmeier, [player_tooltip player_id="1144112" first="Carson" last="Domeier"] (3) Reserves Returning: Will Walter, Owen Weiss Up and Coming Name: 2024 Mark Anderson Final Say: The Knights have their best three players back from a final four team in state. They will certainly be a contender next season. Likely a top three team and they have a quality coach leading the way.   (5) Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Starters Returning: Zach Blawat, Kobey Dallager (2) Reserves Returning: Aven Augustson, Jaden Kostrzewski Up and Coming Name: 2026 Averil Augustson Final Say: With two of the top three scorers returning a program that is usually strong BGMR will be in the thick of things again. There are a few holes to replace but Blawat and Dallager have the talent to step into a bigger producing role.   (6) Deer River Starters Returning: [player_tooltip player_id="962318" first="Sam" last="Rahier"], [player_tooltip player_id="958851" first="Mikhail" last="Wakonabo"], [player_tooltip player_id="958848" first="Ty" last="Morrison"], Tait Kongsjord (4) Reserves Returning: Ethan Williams, Rhett Mundy, Colton Hemphill Up and Coming Name: 2024 Thomas White Final Say: Deer River only losses one player from their program and the starters returning are very talented. I have high expectations for this team next year, title contending expectations for sure. Morrison is a Class A All State level player.   (7) Mahnomen/Waubun Starters Returning: Loden Clark, Rolando Ellis, Tanner Pazdernik, Dennis Ashley (4) Reserves Returning: Sam Zima, Neegonee Burnett Up and Coming Name: Houston Short Final Say: Only two players graduate from a balanced team. The Thunderbirds have been a top Class A team since the merger and that will continue into next season. They will certainly remain a state contender next year.   (8) Ashby Starters Returning: Jacob Cook, Torin Olson, [player_tooltip player_id="958842" first="Hunter" last="Norby"] (3) Reserves Returning: Carson Spangler Up and Coming Name: Not Sure Final Say: Three starters back. [player_tooltip player_id="774821" first="Jaden" last="Norby"] is a blow but Cook, Olson, and [player_tooltip player_id="958842" first="Hunter" last="Norby"] are very good players themselves that are versatile and have been producing at a high level for two years already. . Likely a top ten squad again.   (9) Legacy Christian Starters Returning: None. Reserves Returning: Micah Strand, Charlie Bovee Up and Coming Name: 2025 Evan Bovee Final Say: Not only does Legacy Christian lost their five starters, they lose eight of their top ten guys. Some good young players are coming up but the seniors left an impact on the program. The Lions also had several players in their rotation competing with a mask exemption so whatever the health condition is I wish them the best of luck with their health.   (10) Nashwauk-Keewatin Starters Returning: Gaige Waldvogel (1) Reserves Returning: Not sure Up and Coming Name: Not sure Final Say: This was a senior dominated team with a really good frontline (Lorenz brothers) and I believe four of the five starters were seniors. There is no roster that I could find anyplace to check on these guys (not with numbers anyway) so I had to go off memory. They will likely take a small dip with the four starters gone and little size coming back.