Friday Night Preview & Predictions
In this article:
Tonight there are a load of big games in the state of Minnesota. Here is a quick look at eight of the best (four metro, four outstate). Wayzata vs Hopkins The Skinny: A section, conference, and area rivalry…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTonight there are a load of big games in the state of Minnesota. Here is a quick look at eight of the best (four metro, four outstate).
Wayzata vs Hopkins
The Skinny: A section, conference, and area rivalry that has swung the way of Wayzata the last two years. Also, Hopkins has had the better season to date but Wayzata currently has the better QRF number. Big game for both. The Trojans are the only undefeated team in conference play.
Top Match-Up: Jacob Beeninga vs Jalen Dearring. Jacob has to playmake for Wayzata to win, if Jalen slows him Hopkins is at a huge advantage.
Top Prospect to See: Zeke Nnaji of Hopkins. Zeke is headed to Arizona and is ranked consistently between the top 27-35 in the nation at various services.
Prediction: I think Hopkins comes out with a bit more of an edge to them knowing that Wayzata has knocked them out the last two years, wins this game by two scores.
Cretin Derham Hall vs White Bear Lake
The Skinny: White Bear Lake made a statement this year by beating CDH so the Raiders have something to prove. CDH and WBL in the same section plus WBL is 7-1 in the league with a one game edge on the Raiders in conference play.
Top Match-Up: Sam Schwartz vs Jaeden King. King’s touch means the Raiders are always in it but if the workhorse versatile player that is Sam Schwartz limits King, Bears beat CDL for the second time.
Top Prospect to See: Trejuan Holloman. Freshman point guard from CDH who is the latest player receiving interest from USA Basketball for his talent.
Prediction: This is a real toss-up. WBL has an experience edge but raw talent wise CDH is better. CDH has also played very well as of late and will be more locked in. Tough game to pick, I say Raiders by a score.
East Ridge vs Edina
The Skinny: An out of conference game between the two teams that have beaten Hopkins this year. One Is #1 East Ridge, the other is Edina who is fighting to get into the top ten while also trying to fight for a section spot in the very tough 2AAAA.
Top Match-Up: Kendall Brown vs Jack Middleton. Completely love this match-up because Jack is one of the elite defenders in the state while Kendall is one of the top young stars.
Top Prospect to See: Jacob Hutson. Rankings wise Jacob isn’t the highest ranked in the game but he may be the most interesting as he takes his 20 points per game against Ben Carlson.
Prediction: East Ridge looked so good last week, I give them the win by six because they are a bit bigger, a bit more talented.
Prior Lake vs Shakopee
The Skinny: Prior Lake completely controlled Shakopee earlier in the season as Dawson Garcia shut down Charles Katona and the Sabers could do nothing with the size of Garcia and Robert Jones. Shakopee losing two to Prior Lake could really hurt their section spot.
Top Match-Up: Dawson Garcia vs Charles Katona. In the previous game Garcia locked Katona up and it really slowed what the Sabers could do on offense. Katona will be motivated to have a better showing, he leads the Sabers with 15 points a game.
Top Prospect to See: Dawson. He was lights out on both ends in the last game versus Shakopee, tonight will be tougher. Dawson’s most recent school in to see him was Kentucky.
Prediction: Prior Lake by seven.
Pequot Lakes vs Crosby-Ironton
The Skinny: Long time rivals are now both very good again (both have been ranked this year). Pequot Lakes is 12-3, C-I is 13-3. This is the perfect game for a Friday night. Both teams are chasing Detroit Lakes in conference play, both lead in their sub-section. Very important game.
Top Match-Up: Joseph Stokman vs Jordan Scommer. A pair of senior guards that have made a big name for themselves this year leading their teams to great years.
Top Prospect to See: Kyle Skeim of CI. Kyle is a 6-foot-5 big that is scoring 15 a game having taken big steps from last year.
Prediction: When in doubt, go with David Galovich of CI. Rangers by six.
Hayfield vs WEM
The Skinny: Two of the better stories in both southern Minnesota and in Class A hoops this year, Hayfield and WEM are both 15 win teams with something to prove.
Top Match-Up: Mason Tapp vs Grant McBroom. This pair may not go head to head but they will see a lot of one another. Tapp is about five inches bigger and more explosive while McBroom is a 21 point per game guy.
Top Prospect to See: Mason Tapp. Mason was hurt last year, recovered by the fall, grew to 6-foot-5 or bigger, and is now explosively scoring 20 a game.
Prediction: Another tough one to call, Hayfield is bigger, WEM quicker. We go Vikings by a score.
Perham vs Breckenridge
The Skinny: Perham has one loss and that’s to Minnehaha Academy. Breckenridge had a lot to replace last year and so far they are 9-6 falling a bit short of what was expected.
Top Match-Up: Josh Jeziorski vs Noah Christensen. Josh is leading Perham in several categories, is headed to Bemidji State. Noah leads Breckenridge in everything, is headed to NDSU. Both are skilled guys inside and out, Noah is bigger by 3-4 inches.
Top Prospect to See: Many, could be Finn Diggins the sophomore post who is Perham’s second leading scorer, could be Josh who has really grown into a versatile guy headed to a D2, and then of course Noah is putting up 21 points, 11 boards, and 3.3 assists a game as a top senior prospect.
Prediction: Perham wins. Way more experience.
Greenway vs North Woods
The Skinny: Honestly this is just a good game. Good teams from northern Minnesota in different sections, leagues, and classes of basketball. A game to see because both are talented squads.
Top Match-Up: Trevor Morrison/Ian Sherman vs Dylan DeChampeau. Ian is the senior from North Woods, Trevor the more talented junior. They are both in that 6-4/6-5 range and will have to somehow slow Dylan, a 20/10 guy nearly every night.
Top Prospect to See: Dylan is the top prospect in the game, Cade Goggleye is the player on the Mr. Basketball watch list.
Prediction: Another tough call, very tough. Grizzlies by a score.