Minnesota’s Top Ten “League Pass” Rankings: Class AAA
The NBA season is underway and that means games every day across the country 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…
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Continue ReadingThe NBA season is underway and that means games every day across the country 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 AAA level that you should dig up a livestream on or check out in person if you can!
10) Delano – Fresh off a state championship, the Tigers graduate a few impact seniors but return enough experience to be competent. Guard Derek Tedham sits at the top of their entertainment list with his long range sniping ability and willingness to initiate the fast break. Trey Longstreet was one of the most underappreciated underclassmen last season and he’s a 6-foot-4 defensive hound who can pick up some slack too. Coach Terry Techam likes a fast pace and keeps his rotation thin; will that be the case again this season?
9) Mankato East – The Cougars lose two highflyers in Uhana Ochan and Damani Hayes. There’s plenty in the offensive pipeline with a dynamic trio of juniors. Jax Madson, Joich Gong and Jordan Merseth form threats on the perimeter, in driving lanes and in the paint. Madson is one of the best floor generals in southern Minnesota and I expect they’ll be in the running for a top 10 spot in AAA, plus they’ll play fast and work hard defensively to create turnovers.
8) St. Thomas Academy – When you have Jack Thompson to lead your team, scoring will be guaranteed. The Cadets bring back the senior guard and rangy wing threat Noah Chamberlain to facilitate most of the offense. Their state tournament experience will make them a tough out against anybody, and that’s why they’ve got high watchability status.
7) Mahtomedi – Let the Zephyrs run! Junior forward J’Vonne Hadley is up there with the best leapers in the state and has a rapidly growing skillset with the ball. Center Cole Chapman is the anchor and a very solid shot blocker to get the break started for Mahtomedi. Expect them to be a top five squad throughout the season.
6) St. Cloud Apollo – A tough bunch of guys that aren’t well-known names will look to prove themselves this season after a 12-16 season last year. Michael Gravelle leads the backcourt and will be a go-to scorer for the Eagles. This group works hard and showed often last season that they will fight and claw with every team they face.
5) Austin – The Packers reload as usual—maybe not as easily as past seasons, but they still have the personnel types to wreak havoc in their full court trap. Medi Obang is the most experienced returner and he will take a decent chunk of responsibility on both ends. Moses Idris is another name to watch. The names might not scream star power, but the scheme combined with willing and smart athletes keeps Austin in contention.
4) Robbinsdale Cooper – The two Jalens return for one more round of Hawk hoops, and they’re going to get a lot of chances to score. Jalen Justice and Jalen Miller are two of the better off-guards in the metro but the rest of the rotation could be unknown. Justice and Miller will be enough most nights and it’s a given that the whole team will play hard, aggressive and fast.
3) DeLaSalle – Tyrell Terry and Jamison Battle were very much in synchronization during the summer and I expect that to continue. Terry’s tremendous feel for the game and riding the wave of transition is second to none, and with a lengthy shooter in Battle on the wing, that’s a dynamic duo. Strong defensive role players will fill in the gaps from there, which means a lot of turnovers into Islander fast breaks. De is the favorite once again.
2) Princeton – As good a starting lineup as any in AAA? Yes, that’s the 2018-19 Princeton Tigers. “The Wizard” James Flicek commands the point and with Adam Williams and Reilly O’Neill on the wings and Jon Stimmler standing firm in the middle, it’s a fearsome lineup that can do damage in different ways. Slow down in the halfcourt and pound you to death? No problem. Grab a board and go, transition three? Easy money. Pick-and-roll for mismatches? You bet. The Tigers are a big-time AAA team to watch.
1) Waseca – The Bluejays have weapons just like Princeton does. It all begins with one of the best pure scorers in the state, Malik Willingham. His smooth handle, stroke and finishing ability all make him close to unguardable in isolation. Let’s not forget the other pieces though, in point guard Ryan Dufault (has a great chance to be as good and consistent as his older brother Nick) and 6-foot-8 center Andrew Morgan (natural shot-blocker, improving finisher in PnR). This trio plus another rock-solid option in Kyreese Willingham will form another deadly southern MN squad. They’ve missed out on the State Tournament the last few years of contention, but is this when it all comes together? Their offensive prowess is definitely in that upper tier.