The CDH Jamboree Preview
The CDH Jamboree is this weekend and puts together some interesting big school match-up after a week of practice. NHR looks at these initial weekend scrimmage match-ups in excitement for the season.
CDH Joe Mauer Fieldhouse
5:00 PM – Maple Grove vs. Minneapolis North. The defending Class A champions against one of the top teams in Class AAAA, this game includes Brad Davison and JaQuan Sanders-Smith going head to head at point and Isaac Johnson versus Tywhon Pickford on the wing. Davison and Johnson are signed D1 talents at Wisconsin and Western Illinois respectively plus Howard Pulley teammates.
5:40 PM – Apple Valley vs. DeLaSalle. The Eagles and Islanders square off again although this year they are playing in a shorter game as compared to the Tip Off Classic like in years past. How will the Apple Valley mass of juniors and Tre Jones do against the Class AAA defending champs who bring back most of last year’s team.
6:20 PM – Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Hopkins. The Raiders are best at lead guard (Ryan Larson) and up front (Daniel Oturo) while the Royals are best on the wing and forward (Ishmael El-Amin, Simon Wright, Anthony Davis). Hopkins is defending champions and more experienced while the Raiders are a team moving into the top area of Class AAAA with a fantastic junior class.
7:00 PM – Park Center vs. Woodbury. Two years ago Park Center won eight games and Woodbury won six games. Both have relatively new coaches and with those new coaches they are coming off strong 15-16 seasons. Now they are teams working to be top ten level with Woodbury being close to that and Park Center having some of the best young talent in the state. The Losini Kamara versus Jermiah Coddon match-up should be fun.
CDH AUX GYM
4:20 PM – Rosemount vs. Park Cottage Grove. A pair of south metro teams that should be better. Park greatly improved a year ago with ten wins while Rosemount underachieved. With Luke and Alec Loehr the Irish should not underachieve again this year.
5:00 PM – St. Thomas Academy vs. Minneapolis South. Long time coach Joe Hyser always has a competitive team although we aren’t sure who they have this year while the Cadets have yet another new coach coming yet another disappointing year. Jason Birr will help them though.
5:40 PM – North St.Paul vs. Columbia Heights. Both teams have some players that should have big years. Goodnews Kpegeol is on the verge of becoming a top prospect based on his potential and past results plus Bryce Phillips should be an excellent lead guard. Phillips and Deundra Roberson are excellent 2018 lead guards and they will go head to head. Chris Kelly is eligible after his transfer and we are looking forward to seeing him play against Kpegeol.
6:20 PM – Osseo vs. Benilde St.Maragret’s. BSM has some excellent senior role players and some good younger talent. They have size and should be deeper. Osseo was the last team to lose a game last year and returns leading scorer Zach Theisen, the Bezdiceks, and Mar Mar Hughes. It’s early but this game could clue us in as far as what they will look like after graduating several players who are now in college basketball.
7:00 PM – Totino-Grace vs. Orono. The Eagles had high expectations last year and then had a massive losing streak last year while Orono has added a couple impact transfers to go with a strong junior class of talent. Jarvis Thomas and Rocky Kreuser will be an excellent frontcourt match-up while Max Bjorklund and Charlie Jacob at guard should be fun as well.