Northstar Hoops Way-Too-Early Class AAA Season Preview
Summer is, for all intents and purposes, over. With fall sports starting up this week and schools starting up in the next week or two, we bid adieu to sunshine and brace for the cold winter months ahead.
With school on the mind, let’s turn briefly to the upcoming school ball season.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what hoops in Class AAA will look like this upcoming year:
Big Points
DeLaSalle starts on top again
The Islanders won’t head into the season with a state title to defend for the first time since 2012. But rest assured, they’ll be the heavy favorite to take back that title. Tyrell Terry is perhaps the best point guard in the state and he’s got Jamison Battle — one of the best forwards in the state — as a running mate. That’s the best returning duo in Class AAA. Add in big man Malik Lamin, Julian Wright, Kameron Givens and Jalen Travis and the Islanders will once again have the most talented team in the field.
Outstate teams in the mix
There doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut second, third or fourth best team in Class AAA right now. But among the teams that can probably make a strong case, a lot of them reside outside the metro area. Waseca won 26 games a year ago and returns a bulk of its roster. Malik Willingham is one of the best players in the state. Matt Olsem returns after a solid junior year and the Bluejays have a number of talented but experienced youngsters including Tyreese Willingham, Andrew Morgan and Ryan Dufault.
Marshall graduates Trey Lance but returns key starters like Matt Onken, Bryce Paulsen and Noah Puetz. The Tigers only lost to Waseca and Mankato East a year ago (two losses to South Dakota schools) and will certainly be among the most talented teams in the state.
Willmar graduates Noah Slagter but like Marshall, returns a bulk of the rest of its core. Drey Dirksen is one of the better players in the Central Lakes Conference and guys like Ty Roelofs, Ryan Slette and Jake Evans should be able to take on bigger roles.
After two straight trips to the state tournament on the back of a class that included the Gach brothers, Tate Hebrink and others, Austin will have to retool. But the Packers have talent in the pipe, run that 1-2-2 zone press and have a terrific coach. Ngor Deng and Medi Obang are the top returners and both are all-conference caliber in the Big 9.
Mankato East with Jax Madson and Joich Gong and Northfield with Mason Zick, Blake Christensen and Mitchell Stanchina, will both be strong clubs from that conference as well.
State Tourney Turnover?
It wouldn’t be a shock if there were five or six new state participants next year. Austin won’t be a heavy favorite in Section 1 as Northfield and Winona should be improved.
Section 2 is loaded again but Waseca, Marshall and Mankato East all seem capable of running through that field.
Mahtomedi has the look of a top-five team thanks to talented returners in J’Vonne Hadley and Zac Centers along with good looking role players like Devin Melzer and Cole Champman.
Princeton returns a terrific trio with James Flicek, Jon Stimmler and Adam Williams and should be primed for another 20-plus win season. Hermantown came out of that section a year ago and with Peter Soumis and Connor Bich both back, the Hawks could be better than they were a season ago (11-15 in regular season before getting to state). Bemidji will be solid in that section as well.
St. Thomas Academy graduates key players in Sam Vascellaro and George Stewart but Jack Thompson is one of the better guards in the state. The Cadets will probably be the favorite to come out of their section, but it won’t be in heavy fashion like it was a year ago.
Life post-Calvin Wishart won’t be easy for Delano. But Derek Techam is experienced and Trey Longstreet showed some serious upside as an underclassman. Monticello will face a similar reboot as Matt Todd is gone to graduation. The Magic will be small again, but with a bevy of role players, there will be an opportunity for guys to step up.
Another team to watch in the metro is Robbinsdale Cooper. The Hawks won 19 games a year ago and return a duo as dynamic as any in the state in Jalen Justice and Jalen Miller. They could potentially see DeLaSalle in a section final if both teams are as good as expected.
Way-too-Early Top 10
- 1. DeLaSalle
2. Waseca
3. Mahtomedi
4. Marshall
5. Robbinsdale Cooper
6. Willmar
7. Austin
8. Princeton
9. St. Thomas Academy
10. Mankato East