First Look: Class AAA
Class AAA basketball. Lately it’s been known as DeLaSalle’s play land. The Islanders have been so stacked with talent in the past several years that the public schools they are beating are taking to calling themselves The Class AAA public…
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Continue ReadingClass AAA basketball. Lately it’s been known as DeLaSalle’s play land. The Islanders have been so stacked with talent in the past several years that the public schools they are beating are taking to calling themselves The Class AAA public school champions.
Austin has two recent public school Class AAA championships, Washburn one, and St. Paul Johnson has one. Who is going to win the public school title this year? Will a public program or for that matter, any Class AAA programs beat the Islanders this year?
That is kind of a trick question. The Islanders will be once again the heavy favorite to win and they have the most talent. They also have the top coach. When you add in that Class AAA lost a lot of star power from the 14-15 senior graduate group, the Islanders seem like a heavy favorite again, and rightfully so.
That said, it’s a new group on the island and on any given day the group could be beat. However, there aren’t very many contenders that look like they can step up and knock the Islanders off.
Favorites
DeLaSalle. The Islanders have far and away the most natural talent on their team in D2 offered senior Samm Jones, D1 offered junior Goanar Mar, and D1 offered sophomore Gabe Kalscheur. The Islander talent pool doesn’t run out either. Already 6-foot-8/6-foo-9 freshman big Malik Williams is getting strong reviews for his ability. They have young guards like Tyrell Terry, Sy Chatman, Christian Dickson, and Sage Booker ready to fight for time plus older guards that know how De plays on both ends. The talent for the fifth title is there.
Contenders
Marshall. Marshall has the feel of what Austin was when they played DeLaSalle in the title game in back to back years. The junior class of Weston Baker Magrath, Mitchell Sueker, Reece Winkelman, and Zach Bloemaker has the right to think championship in their future. That is four really good pieces throughout the line-up and the sophomore class is strong too. Where they could hit a setback is that the senior class needs to step forward and provide some leadership and stability.
Rocori. This high? Well, yeah. They lost just five games a year ago and bring back four of their top five scorers including Jon Olson (16.7), Austin Overman (13.4), and Derek Thompson (12.6) who were the top overall producers. They have size, solid PG play, and tough wings. They don’t have the athletes that Marshall and DeLaSalle so that leaves them behind but a lot is back after winning 24 games.
Potential Contenders
St. Paul Johnson. The Governors will be good but it’s tough to just call them top contenders when they lost so much senior production. Andre Smith is solid and they return Carlin Clarke and Derek Siedschlag in the senior class plus Savion Benton and Saivon Parker have potential. That’s a strong returning five.
Waconia. The beloved Cats won the Bracket Buster this summer and they earned third in state a year ago after going .500 in the regular season. They have good backcourt play in Joey Kortuem and Josh Rands plus Charlie Gove should step in. We really like Derek Feltmann too but the Cats have a lot of production to replace from the forward and center spots.
Mankato East. This is a team we are excited about. The biggest reason is the addition of Krisean Coffee who from Illinois. Coffee has a chance to be a top 30 player in this state so he will take the lead. Also, CJ Ayers scored 13 a game a year and he sophomores Damani Hayes and Uhana Ochan have a ton of potential. Sam Ahrens is another solid returning talent.
Fridley. The Tigers have length, they have some talent, the have some explosiveness to them. Tessy Pal, Anthony Zarr, and Shyheem Murray are a quality trio returning and Coach McDonald knows how to put the pieces together.
Delano. Matt Kreklow is a healthy, D2 coveted guy. He will do a lot for this squad. Also, Calvin Wishart can handle a lot as the lead guard plus young talent Derek Techman, Nick Cayler, and Keegan O’Neil were put into bigger roles last year. This is a definite sleeper.
Northfield. Another real sleeper. They have a D1 offered leader, a couple sophomores with bright futures in Mason Otterdahl and Alex Rassmusen, Hunter Koep is solid as well. That makes for an excellent frontcourt. Will they have the guards? That will tell the tale. And is the mystery foreign exchange student Mitar Petrovic still around? Nobody seems to know.
Mahtomedi. The Zephyrs drop down from Class AAA and right into top ten talk. Shayne Frost gives them one of the top east metro lead guards, Parker Fox has a ton of potential at 6-foot-5 on the wing, and there are other junior shooters to come off the bench. Lucas Buller is the shooter though and another reason we like this team.
BSM. Sam Baker and Eli Cave are the inside/outside combo but don’t forget about Derek Drees. BSM didn’t have the year they wanted last year but they could have a strong season this year.
Top Ten Potential
Red Wing. They won 22 games a year ago, are well coached, and bring back Ben Munson, big man Joe Sevlie, and of course Travis Toivonen. The talent is still there for another 20 win type season.
Orono. The Spartans return a top ten guy in Sam Sustacek and they have a fantastic coach in Barry Wohler. That said, we have to see what Sam has around him as the Spartans lost a lot of seniors. Alex and Evan Kill will have bigger roles, Coboy Stoe is solid, and young Colton Codute should be ready.
Mankato West. They won 20 a year ago and with Jake Dale back (along with Jake Makela and Hunter Frericks) we think they can win 20 again. But, this team lost a lot of seniors and isn’t very big outside of Dale. Not sure they can hit state with what they have, but 20 wins again is definitely possible.
Minneapolis Henry. This was a .500 team a year ago but I like how they responded. The Patriots ditched other teams and formed their own Grassroots team and they did well. Demetrius Edwards-Brown will be the backcourt scorer and Henry has a really nice frontcourt with Julian Jackson and Illinois transfer Lamar Wood stands a long 6-foot-9 and wasted no time getting some dunks in this weekend in the Hardwood League.
Totino-Grace. New Coach Robert Ware. Beefy and skilled front line in Rocky Kreuser and James Streeter. PG of the future in Charlie Jacob. They were six games under .500 a a year ago but they have the talent to flip that.
Simley. Love Jack Stensgard. Love young Jake Binley. Not much else there though so a lot of guys that have little to no varsity experience have to step up. Jack and Jake definitely keep them in the conversation but to take them higher others need to quickly mature.