Section 4AAA Preview
Playoffs?!? The playoffs are right around the corner. With small-school section tournaments already under and big school section tournaments set to start in the next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason. See Previous Section Previews Here…
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Continue ReadingPlayoffs?!? The playoffs are right around the corner. With small-school section tournaments already under and big school section tournaments set to start in the next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason.
See Previous Section Previews Here
Here’s what you need to know about Section 4AAA:
Favorite: Mahtomedi
The Zephyrs have gone into the section tournament as one of the favorites most years recently but this year feels different. For one, the rest of the section – Columbia Heights – isn’t as strong and for two, this team has as much talent as its had – which is saying a lot.
J’Vonne Hadley has emerged as one of the best players in the state as a junior. The 6-foot-6 swingman averages nearly 30 points per game and has grown into a legitimate high-major Division I prospect. He’s got deep range and combines it with elite athleticism. He’s tough to keep out of the paint and when he gets there, he’s got the explosiveness and size to finish over length.
Hadley is big-time. But he’s got a very good running mate in senior guard Zac Centers, who is averaging better than 16 points per game. Centers is a multi-year starter and no stranger to big games and it’s shown in his performances against some very good teams this winter.
Devin Melzer is an impact player in the frontcourt and capable of scoring and rebounding at a high rate.
The Zephyrs have been one of the best teams in Class AAA all year and while they have some puzzling losses, they are seemingly hitting their stride now. And they are good enough to win multiple games in the state tournament.
Contending: Totino-Grace
The Eagles don’t have a great record, but some of that is a product of the schedule they play in the Northwest Suburban Conference which is arguably the best in the state.
T-G doesn’t have a lot of high-end scorers but you know what you are going to get with this team. The Eagles will play hard-nosed defense and work their tails off. Eric Krieger and Devin Burger can get it going on the offensive end and take over stretches of a game at any given time.
There’s a decent drop off from the top team in this section to the rest of the field, but Totino-Grace is certainly equipped to make a lengthy run and with how tough their schedule has been this winter, nothing they see in sections will shock them.
In the Mix: Columbia Heights, St. Paul Johnson, St. Anthony Village
Columbia Heights doesn’t have the same kind of juice it had the last two years when it went to state, but the Hylanders shouldn’t be counted out. They’ve got several experienced players in Jarvis Wright and Amir Davis. Jordan Jones and Muja Burton have emerged as really nice players worth watching in the future as they are both underclassmen.
St. Paul Johnson finished the year with a winning record but a negative point differential thanks to several lopsided losses. Still, the Governors have shown they are capable of beating good teams and have ea solid trio of guards in senior Jordan Mobley, junior Larry Harris and eighth-grader DeWayne Givens.
St. Anthony Village always has guys who can fill it up and this year is no different as junior guard Tait Nelson is one of the best pure scorers in the state. He doesn’t have great size but he can shoot from anywhere and has an aggressive, attacking mindset.