Last Year’s AAAA Top Ten: Whats Next?
The 2016-17 season ended with Apple Valley hoisting the trophy for the second time in three seasons. What’s next for the Eagles and the rest of the top ten? Have a look.
****THIS IS THE FINAL 2016-17 TOP TEN FROM LAST MARCH
One. Apple Valley. What’s next? They are the favorites to win the title and they have a lot of pieces back including the nation’s best PG Tre Jones, Winona State committed Luke Martens, big Spencer Rolland (Harvard football commit), Jamestown committed Ely Hendrickson, and 17u all state player Nathan Macho. The depth is there, the talent is there, the coaching is there, and the expectations are big.
Two. Champlin Park. The Rebels have a load of senior talent graduate. The Rebel program has a lot of young talent and that young talent will have to plug a lot of holes. The holdovers are Josiah Strong, who has three D1 offers, and Bennett Otto who is ready for a scoring and leadership role based on his experiences. But the depth will take time so they aren’t likely to be in the group of elite contenders, at least not at the start.
Three. Wayzata. First off Gavin Baumgartner was very much underappreciated, the young man had/has talent. That said the Trojans are still in a good position. Jacob Beeninga, Drew Galinson, Luke Paulson, and others are back the drop off should be only a bit. They are top ten potential right away with Coach Schnettler leading the way.
Four. Maple Grove. If you think Champlin lost a lot, take a look at the Crimson. MG lost their entire line-up of players including three guys that are on D1 rosters now in Brad Davison (Wisconsin), Tywon Pickford (Northern Iowa), and Jack Hutchison (Iowa State).
Five. Lakeville North. The Panthers did what they do, make state and put players into college basketball. They finished in the top five last year and even though Nathan Reuvers is gone they will be right around this spot once again. Tyler Wahl and Tyler Lewko are players up front that guys will lean on and they have a nice group of guards.
Six. Hopkins. The Royals missed state last year falling to Wayzata for the second time. The Royals aren’t going anywhere though bringing back four of their top six pieces in Anthony Davis, Joseph Hedstrom, Zeke Nnaji, and Blaise Beauchamp plus Hopkins has some good youth ready to step in. They will be top three entering the year and have the depth and talent for a shot at the title.
Seven. Cretin-Derham Hall. The expectations for the Raiders are large especially this year. CDH beat veteran teams a year earlier than expected and worked their way to the state tournament. Everybody returns for this team led by top 40 national player Daniel Oturu and Ryan Larson among others. This is definitely one of the state title favorites.
Eight. East Ridge. If CDH got big results earlier than expected what about the Raptors? A 22-6 record at East Ridge last year and they grab one of the best young coaches in the state of Minnesota in Bryce Tesdahl. With a top five junior in Courtney Brown, a top five sophomore in Ben Carlson, and one of the freshmen elite talents in Kendall Brown, this program is on the verge of big things.
Nine. Rochester JM. The Rockets lost seniors but they still have five star superstar Matthew Hurt and added successful Lourdes Head Coach Jim Daly. The Rockets won’t have last year’s depth but they have an even better Matthew Hurt.
Ten. Chaska. Cole Nicholson and a few others are back but the Hawks lost a lot of talent to graduation. Chaska enters a bit of a rebuilding phase with so many new bodies entering the varsity rotation.