Minnesota’s Top Ten “League Pass” Rankings: Class A
The NBA season is underway this week and that means a free trial of NBA League Pass for all you basketball junkies! Sure, the Golden State Warriors are on pace to plow through the league once again, but that doesn’t…
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Continue ReadingThe NBA season is underway this week and that means a free trial of NBA League Pass for all you basketball junkies! Sure, the Golden State Warriors are on pace to plow through the league once again, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fun and interesting and exciting players, teams and storylines to follow in between; how will DeAndre Ayton pan out in Phoenix? Is Trae Young going to be Steph Curry 2.0? People who love basketball, these questions are for you, and so is today’s content.
Today we run through some of the more thrilling teams around the state of Minnesota at the Class A level that you should dig up a livestream on or check out in person if you can!
10) Hope Academy – The Lions bring back four starters from an 8-19 season, led by 6-4 junior wing Caleb Hoilien. He dropped 21 PPG last season and is the biggest guy on the floor for Hope Academy. They gave up more than 70 points per game last year. To keep up with that defense, the pace of play will be pretty fast. Expect a run-and-gun style that will likely outgrow the little gym in Minneapolis, a style that could be a factor come conference tournament season.
9) CHOF – Christ’s Household Of Faith had a nice year independently at 18-8. The Lions had some quietly impressive wins last year against bigger competition and they played tough against just about everybody. They lose leading scorer Jackson Rohlf but return guard McCaleb Alleman at 16.2 PPG. He had a couple huge games last year including a 40-bomb in a win over Maranatha in December. This is another team without much size but can fill it up with quickness and scoring punch. They have a game against Hope Academy in February that could be super fun.
8) Russell-Tyler-Ruthton – RTR went 33-1 and added a state championship trophy to the school hallway last year behind some great inside play and timely three-point shooting. The perimeter needs to be shored up but two instigators of winning are back: Carter and Cooper Hansen both were double digit scorers down low and after a summer of skill expansion on the grassroots circuit, expect them to dominate in the paint most games. Not a lot of teams will be able to halt the physicality of that pair in the Camden Conference.
7) Spring Grove – We’ve always liked the guard/forward combo of Alex Folz and Ethan Matzke down in Spring Grove. They lead a team of strong fighters who make life hard on offenses. Matzke became one of my favorite guys this summer; his broad shoulders and jumping ability make him a tough assignment inside and out. I could see him having a big scoring year. Folz is that spark plug lead guard who sees everything and gets to his distributing spots without tipping defenses on what his next move is. Those two alone up the entertainment value on this squad.
6) Nevis – Most of the time League Pass rankings are decided by one or two talents on a team that people should see or get to know or be entertained by. Nevis’ Michael Landquist fits the bill as a natural scoring guard who has good range and is physically superior to his usual defenders. The Tigers went 23-6 last year and it’s a likely bet that they come close to that record again. A couple games jump out on the schedule against similar offense-heavy teams.
5) Prairie Seeds Academy – If I knew more about their players, PSA would probably be higher on the list. The Lycans (in the running for best nickname in the state by the way) went 19-8 last year behind an explosive run from Jamar Robinson who has since graduated. The next guys up are AlMonti Booth and Peter Anderson in that regard. But no matter who they put on the floor, you know this: PSA’s number one goal is for you to turn the ball over away from the basket. They scored 83 points per game last season using that scheme and it works with the constant flow of athletic and quick personnel every year.
4) Mayer Lutheran – Mayer Lutheran graduates backcourt scorer Kobey Woolhouse and center Garrett Tjernagel, both key cogs in last season’s team. But the real kicker on this team’s ranking is in Baden Noennig. The 6-6 senior recently committed to Upper Iowa and had a nice summer with the MN Comets, becoming a mismatch for many on offense and a swiss army knife on defense. His length, athleticism, scoring and rebounding will make him the focal point of the Crusader identity. He’s a “lead the team in all five major categories” candidate.
3) North Woods – The Grizzlies are back for another run with their core. Cade Goggleye is one of the better shooters in Minnesota and he’s flanked by forward Trevor Morrison, both very experienced and talented players who have played in two straight state title games. North Woods has been pegged in the past as a “their schedule is flimsy, wait until playoffs” phenomena, but they exceeded a lot of expectations last year proving 2016-17 wasn’t a fluke. Another team that will score every which way, many expect the Grizzlies to win just about every game and be contenders for the Class A title once more.
2) BOLD – Not many squads are as balanced and diverse as the Warriors. Visibly, it begins with the dynamically athletic Carter Henry, a 6-7 forward who has a permit for dunk-hunting from November to March. He gets stuck on the block every so often but is very good at protecting the rim and defending pick and roll. His point guard Gavin Vosika is a walking triple-double who has a knack for setting up his teammates in perfect scoring spots while getting his own scores in clutch moments. Then you add in the Sagedahl brothers, Drew and Jordan, two of the best heat check shooters in the state. This team has weapons everywhere and will be very fun to watch. Sad that they are in the same section as Mayer Lutheran and Springfield.
1) Springfield – The somewhat-consensus preseason number one in Class A. Springfield brings back its two best guys to run the backcourt and score from everywhere at will. Isaac Fink is worth the price of admission with his shooting, charm and leadership. Definitely a possibility for a 30 PPG season from the Augustana commit. Decker Scheffler also returns manning the point, and his name isn’t mentioned enough in the “best guards in the class” discussion. He’s solid in every way and has a history of big-shot-making.
The story of these teams is violent offensive numbers across the board and plenty of guys capable of doing it themselves on any given night. Class A has some talent, huh? Catch Class AA’s rankings next Friday!