Class AA Preseason Top Ten in Detail

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crazy wide open. I would guess that about 17 different teams have a legit chance to dream of a state title. That's how wide open this is. Here is our top ten, and this top ten will change because there are another seven to ten teams just as talented and ready to take their place. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[table id=193 /]<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) Goodhue. I changed my number one to Goodhue for several reasons: 1) they have their top four scorers back, 2) they went to state last year, 3) they play against AA and AAA teams all year and have success so they are always state prepared, 4) they have five guys back from their rotation that won 22 games, and 5) they have two stars in [player_tooltip player_id='2394170' first='Alex' last='Loos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1951088' first='Luke' last='Roschen']. Loos is a top ten sophomore in the state regardless of class and Luke is D2 signed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Montevideo. I originally had Montevideo at number one but switched them to two. Like Goodhue, Montevideo has five of their top seven back but Montevideo does lose their second leading scorer. That said, they certainly have the size, skill and talent to make a title push. They have the size that most others don;t have with two 6'7 guys. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Jackson County Central. I said size that "most" class AA teams don't have in referring to Montevideo. JCC is the exception as they have more size than any Class AA team. They are about to start a line-up that goes 6'0-6'4'-6'4'-6'7-6'10 and one of those 6'4 guys is 235 pounds and more athletic than just about anybody he will go up against ([player_tooltip player_id='1601069' first='Roman' last='Voss']). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Minnehaha Academy. The Redhawks are lucky that they are a top five team entering the season, and this year is kind of like the warm-up for next year which is their biggest year. They will likely start an 8th grader, a freshman, two juniors and a senior. With plenty of youth in reserve. And I am not saying they can't win it this year, they surely can. They have size, skill and talent to do so. They will just be better next year, and that is kind of scary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) Holy Family. With at least three starters back and the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1560786' first='Lexyn' last='Grof'], the Fire is right back in the conversation. They will have skill in the backcourt and size in the frontcout that plays actively. The Fire are contenders once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(6) Breck. The Mustangs were on the other end of the transfer wire this off-season losing three key pieces to other schools. That said, they have two quality starters back, there is good youth ready to help, and they got a solid transfer big in [player_tooltip player_id='2857125' first='Oliver' last='Flick']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(7) Pequot Lakes. The Patriots go for a 5th straight trip to state and with 7AA being down, we think Pequot Lakes will be on track to get that fifth straight spot. They have a couple key players back from a 23 win team and this team always finds a good chemistry to win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(8) Lake City. Three starters return including the best player on the team (Lorenson) and two other players that scored in double figures last season. The Tigers are always a contender and they are right there again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(9) Maranatha Christian. People know Al Harris and that surely helps the program. People know [player_tooltip player_id='2569257' first='Marcus' last='Marshall'] Jr and that surely helps the program. But also keep in mind that MCA has most of their rotation back from last year as well so they are also a title contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(10) Waseca. The Jays have Deron who is the clear favorite for Class AA Player of the year to me. They also return one other starter and a key bench player from last year. They do have to find more point production but this is a good program that will be in it to the end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->