The Early Season Surprise Teams
The early season surprise teams and the players that led them there. That’s today at Prep Hoops Minnesota/Northstar Hoops Report. Bloomington Kennedy (5-0). In the last four seasons JFK High School in Bloomington had won 0, 7, 4, and 7…
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Continue ReadingThe early season surprise teams and the players that led them there. That’s today at Prep Hoops Minnesota/Northstar Hoops Report.
Bloomington Kennedy (5-0). In the last four seasons JFK High School in Bloomington had won 0, 7, 4, and 7 games respectively. So when we look at a 5-0 record for the Eagles it’s something we are happy to see. They’ve also earned their 5-0 mark by beating preseason top ten Mayer Lutheran (who was banged up), preseason top 15 Holy Angles, and the Vern Simmons coached Johnson Governors.
The Eagles are getting balanced production from their team led by junior Amarion Hanspard who is scoring 15-16 a contest. There is also a group of four seniors that has paid their dues and is now earning some victories for their time. Jake Husting plays up front, Isaiah Subah joins Hanspard in the backcourt, and Tyvan Klinger and Eric Dums are the forwards. All of these players are averaging double figures through five games.
Mounds View (5-0). The Mustangs aren’t just winning, they have pounded their five opponents by an average of 25 points a game. The schedule hasn’t been daunting but Mounds View still crushed decent Woodbury and Concordia Academy teams. Mounds View is another team that’s found a good balance and used it to get five early wins. Sophomore Dylan Wheeler is again the catalyst that teams have to gameplan for but there is more to the Mustangs that the young talent. Junior lead guard Cole Sorenson played well at the end of last year and is really starting strong. Athletic 6-foot-5 forward John Montgomery has played well as has 6-foot-2 junior guard Evan Kim. Six-foot-4 leader Thomas Gebhardt has been the vocal catalyst and the fifth scorer.
Rosemount (5-0). The Irish are obviously tired of losing. So far this year they have surprised Jefferson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and New Prague teams that would have been favored to beat them. Considering the Irish are a combined 6-48 the past two seasons a 5-0 start is awesome.
One of the top sophomores this young season has been shooter Caleb Siwek who is averaging 19 points a contest through five games. Junior center Zach Wenthe has also stood out. The 6-foot-6 post is averaging double figures and will have a few double-doubles this year. Junior guard Sean Sullivan and senior 6-foot-5 big Jared Gerke are also key pieces to this great start.
South St. Paul (4-0). South St. Paul being good isn’t a surprise. The resurgence led by new coach Matthew McCollister and with talent at every age – Max Wilson (Fr), Alonzo Dodd (Soph), Marquise Gleb (Jr), and Marcus Brown (Sr) – a good year was expected. But 25 years of bad basketball means a 4-0 record at SSP is something to talk about.
One of the top metro scorers at the moment is 6-foot-2 Alonzo Dodd who had 30 at Kasson-Mantorville and then 28 against Breck. No team has been able to slow Dodd yet and likely nobody will be able to any time soon. Max Wilson continues to show he’s one of the top metro freshmen with his 16 points and seven assists a game. Six-foot wing Marquise Gleb has been an excellent fit as the third scoring option.