Class AAAA – Top Ten Backcourts
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What Class AAAA teams have the best backcourts entering the winter season? What groups of guards rank with the best in AAAA? Here is our ten. One. Cretin-Derham Hall. The Raiders come in at number one in large part to…
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Continue ReadingWhat Class AAAA teams have the best backcourts entering the winter season? What groups of guards rank with the best in AAAA? Here is our ten.
One. Cretin-Derham Hall. The Raiders come in at number one in large part to having the best player in the state, Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN . Tre of course took a brand new team around him to the state title game last year. This year Tre has Donavhan Cain (a junior transfer from Wisconsin) as his two guard and Cain has a chance to have a massive season.
Two. Park Center. The division one pair of Braeden Carrington Braeden Carrington 6'4" | SG Park Center | 2022 State #141 Nation MN (committed to Minnesota) and Leo Torbor Leo Torbor 6'1" | PG Park Center | 2022 State MN (looking at NDSU, Wyoming, and San Jose State) is a big reason the Pirates will likely enter the season as the preseason number one. Carrington played lead guard last year plus led the team in scoring where as Torbor has grown as a PG and could take that spot over. Either way, the pair give the Pirates everything a team needs to make a state run.
Three. Mounds View. The Mustangs went 16-4 last year beating Cretin-Derham Hall, Park of Cottage Grove, Woodbury, and East Ridge led by their great backcourt play. Two of those guards return and that is leading scorers Dylan Wheeler Dylan Wheeler 6'3" | SG Mounds View | 2022 State MN and Kobe Kirk Kobe Kirk 6'2" | SG Mounds View | 2022 State MN . Kirk is a big time shooter where as Wheeler as a versatile hard worker that can do some of everything.
Four. Eastview. The transfer of Dylan Onwemo gives the Lightning a strong piece at every spot on the floor allowing Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN to be the scorer for the team that he can be AND allows him to be a ball handler at times. Scales is one of the more dangerous scorers in Class AAAA plus one of the better decision makers. The talent and Onwemo will make Eastview more versatile in many ways.
Five. Minnetonka. The reason many think Tonka can have a good 2021-22 season is this backcourt. Ibrahim El-Amin Ibrahim El-Amin 5'10" | PG Minnetonka | 2023 State MN will take the floor and make an instant impact. The Skippers return one of the best shooters in the conference in Vlad Ciubotaru Vlad Ciubotaru 6'0" | SG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN , one of the better underclassmen in Minnesota in Andy Stefanovic, and their top returning scorer in Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN . Cain is a wing scorer, Ciubotaru a wing shooter, Stefanovic the combo, and El-Amin will be in control. You will see at least three of them on the floor at almost all times.
Six. Osseo. Benard Omooria Benard Omooria 6'2" | CG Osseo | 2022 State MN had an incredible 17u season as a shooter and if he carries that touch in the winter look out. Tyirece Waits dealt with some injuries this summer but when he’s fully healthy he’s a tough on-ball defender as well as a very good attacking lead guard. When Waits needs a break Benard can handle. Then you have Owen Dukowitz Owen Dukowitz 6'2" | SG Osseo | 2022 State MN who is a hard working defender that can play either wing.
Seven. Shakopee. The Sabers come in at seven but they could quickly move up the list. Why? If Cade Mcgraw Cade Mcgraw 5'10" | PG Shakopee | 2022 State MN is healthy they instantly move up, he’s tough and productive. Yonis Mohamud Yonis Mohamud 6'2" | SG Shakopee | 2022 State MN had a great 17u season after a solid junior year, he will only get better. Isaac Snell will be better now that he’s a sophomore and Quinten Snell Quinten Snell 6'0" | SG Shakopee | 2022 State MN was a key piece last year as well. You could make an argument for top five here if McGraw is healthy and Isaac takes the expected steps.
Eight. Owatonna. Brayden Williams Brayden Williams 6'3" | PG Owatonna | 2022 State MN and Ty Creger Ty Creger 6'0" | PG Owatonna | 2022 State MN took the Huskies to the state tournament last year and both return even better. Creger has the potential to be an excellent MIAC point guard while Williams can be the 25 point per game scorer for the team and/or the ball handler making plays. These two had a great junior and will be even better.
Nine. Wayzata. Drew Berkland Drew Berkland 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2022 State MN is back as a defender, shooter, attacker, tough guy, whatever is needed. His ten points a game and clutch play will work well with Hayden Tibbits Hayden Tibbits 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN and Spencer Hall Spencer Hall 6'3" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN , a junior pair that came off the bench last year. Tibbits and Hall had strong seasons with the Fury and will now be key pieces as the Trojans try and repeat.
Ten. Edina. The Edina backcourt duo Sammy Presthus Sammy Presthus 6'2" | PG Edina | 2022 State MN and Gabe Jobe Gabe Jobe 5'10" | SG Edina | 2022 State MN are both experienced varsity players that played together all summer with the D1 Minnesota Prospects. Jobe was the Edina leading scorer last year at 20 a game while Presthus was the ball handler and the top defender who also averaged double digits.
Ten. Andover. The Huskies had a really good 2020-21 season led by Samuel Musungu Samuel Musungu 6'1" | PG Andover | 2023 State MN and Ben Kopetzki Ben Kopetzki 6'0" | PG Andover | 2023 State MN and should be even better this year. Both are juniors and both have multiple years of varsity years of experience.