The NW Suburban West Preview
Conference Commentary Top Ten in State Right Now: Maple Grove This is the year that they should peak and likely contend. They are third in state preseason but why are people not talking about them like they do Apple Valley…
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Top Ten in State Right Now: Maple Grove
This is the year that they should peak and likely contend. They are third in state preseason but why are people not talking about them like they do Apple Valley and Hopkins? This Maple Grove group hasn’t played in the section final yet. They need to show they can take that step. They have the talent to do it and now being in section 8AAAA they are a state tournament bound no brainer. But they didn’t get there last year and that is fresh in the mind.
So why is this the peak year? Because Reed is the center and he is a senior, and Taron is the ball handling speed guy turning the corners, also a senior. The team needs to get their title while they have those weapons. Add that to Tywhon’s slashing game, Hutchison shooting, the toughness on the bench, and Brad handling/creating/scoring/everything and this is the year they should make that push. How do they compare to those two favorites? The Crimson are deeper than Apple Valley bench wise, but not as deep as Hopkins. The Eagles have the proven winners in their line-up where as Maple Grove has not shown that yet. Hopkins returns most of the line-up plus adds Amir Coffey back. They have also shown they can get there. Maple Grove will be there at state, but when there it will be a new experience. That is the difference.
Potential Top Ten: Armstrong, Osseo
I like the way Kevin Alsteens (aka TC Hoops Czar) put it with Armstrong: “I see them reloading”. I agree. The Thompsons, Alade, and Isaiah Rollins are a great core and there is potential quality role players around them. Don’t forget about Osseo though. They have a lot of guard depth especially with Damario Armstrong over from Maranatha Christian. Kameron Bettie is back and he is a guy that is not talked about enough. Osseo is going to be better than people think.
Compete with Most: Totino-Grace, Spring Lake Park, Irondale, Park Center
This league is really competitive. Park Center, as long as Amani Hooker is playing one more year before heading to Iowa, has a wealth of young talent plus a couple solid veterans. Spring Lake Park had one bad year but they bring everything back. Irondale has all it’s top three scores back, and don’t forget about the rough and rugged combo of James Streeter and Rocky Krueser over at Totino-Grace. These are teams that could pull upsets.
Conference Predictions
- Maple Grove
- Robbinsdale Armstrong
- Osseo
- Totino-Grace
- Park Center
- Irondale
- Spring Lake Park
Preseason All NW Suburban West
First Team
Brad Davison, Maple Grove
Reed Nikko, Maple Grove
Race Thompson, Robbinsdale Armstrong
Allen Anderson, Osseo
Damario Armstrong, Osseo
Second Team
Tywhon Pickford, Maple Grove
Jubie Alade, Robbinsdale Armstrong
James Streeter, Totino-Grace
Jack Hutchison, Maple Grove
Taron Pickford, Maple Grove
Third Team
Amani Hooker, Park Center
True Thompson, Robbinsdale Armstrong
Rocky Kreuser, Totino-Grace
Uwana Etuk-Akpan, Irondale
Kameron Bettie, Osseo
Fourth Team
Zach Theisen, Osseo
Isaiah Rollins, Robbinsdale Armstrong
Zach Ojile, Spring Lake Park
Kevin Schramm, Irondale
Kayode Awosika, Maple Grove
Fifth Team
Isaiah Simon, Park Center
Kyle Williams, Osseo
Aaron Flink, Spring Lake Par
Khari Broadway, Park Center
Mar Mar Hughes, Osseo
Sean Sutherlin, Irondale