Deepest Returning Metro Teams Pt. 2
The 2020 class in Minnesota was special, with a handful of nationally ranked talents and depth of prospects at all levels. But they’re moving on to college, leaving a lot of holes to fill. Which metro teams come back with…
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Continue ReadingThe 2020 class in Minnesota was special, with a handful of nationally ranked talents and depth of prospects at all levels. But they’re moving on to college, leaving a lot of holes to fill. Which metro teams come back with the depth to compete for state during the 2020-21 season? NHR has you covered with five of the deepest returning metro teams!
Minnehaha Academy
Key Players: Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN (2021), Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN (2022), Hercy Miller Hercy Miller 6'3" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN (2021), Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 5'10" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 OH (2022), Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN (2021)
Despite losing Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs 6'5" | SG Minnehaha Academy | 2020 State #6 Nation MN , Terry Lockett Terry Lockett 6'1" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2020 State MN , and Kaden Johnson to graduation, Minnehaha will once again field arguably the most talented lineup in the state. It starts with 7 footer Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN causing havoc on the defensive end with his timing and wingspan that allow him to block nearly everything in the paint. He’ll also look to make up for some of the scoring lost with the departure of Suggs, using his range to stretch the defense, and guard like handles to get to the hoop. Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN has been a double-digit scorer the past two seasons with a solid shooting stroke and explosive finishing around the rim. He’s also an elite level defender. Hercy Miller Hercy Miller 6'3" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN is a high major point guard prospect who can attack the basket and create open looks for his teammates. Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 5'10" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 OH will once again stretch the floor with his deep range and ability to create his own shot off the bouce. Minnehaha’s depth on the wing gets scary with guys like Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN , Demarion Watson Demarion Watson 6'8" | SF Totino-Grace | 2022 State #150 Nation MN , and Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'7" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 MN all capable of getting to the rack and finishing. They’ll also add additional depth from some of the talent from last winter’s JV team.
Richfield
Key Players: Ryan Miles Ryan Miles 6'5" | SF Richfield | 2021 State MN (2021), Lamar Grayson Lamar Grayson 6'0" | PG Richfield | 2021 State MN (2021), Isaiah Casey Hammond Isaiah Casey Hammond 6'7" | C Richfield | 2021 State MN (2021), Mitchell January Mitchell January 6'1" | SG Richfield | 2022 State MN (2022), Jaden Wollmuth Jaden Wollmuth 6'5" | C Richfield | 2022 State MN (2022)
Arguably the most improved team in the state last year, Richfield put together an impressive season and will return almost the entirety of their core lineup. Shifty guard Lamar Grayson Lamar Grayson 6'0" | PG Richfield | 2021 State MN returns after scoring 20 a game as a junior, and he has the speed to come off screens hard to get to the rack or make defenders pay from beyond the arc with his shot. Ryan Miles Ryan Miles 6'5" | SF Richfield | 2021 State MN is a do-it-all wing at 6’5 who can handle, get to the rack, knock down jumpers, and defend just about everywhere on the floor. Mitchell January Mitchell January 6'1" | SG Richfield | 2022 State MN is an additional scoring threat who excels at finishing in transition and causes a lot of problems for opposing ball handlers with his pesky defense. Isaiah Casey Hammond Isaiah Casey Hammond 6'7" | C Richfield | 2021 State MN at 6’7 and Jaden Wollmuth Jaden Wollmuth 6'5" | C Richfield | 2022 State MN at 6’5 will make up a strong frontcourt duo. Casey Hammond has a long wingspan to contest shots and finish explosively above the rim while Wollmuth is a bruiser who can finish through contact and rebounds extremely well.
Hopkins
Key Players: Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN (2021), Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN (2022), Jaelen Treml (2021), Xavier White Xavier White 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2021 State MN (2021)
Hopkins loses arguably the state’s top shooter and one of the best players overall in Kerwin Walton Kerwin Walton 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2020 State #62 Nation MN , but return a deep lineup of guards capable of stepping up. Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN could become the top scoring option as an explosive finisher who is dangerous at creating his own shots off the bounce. He’s one of the top 2021 guards in the state. Jaelen Treml is a long guard who could play the 1 or 2 and provides an outside shooting threat and consistent ball handling. Xavier White Xavier White 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2021 State MN is a 6’5 wing who broke out as a junior, knocking down high arcing threes and developing into a more aggressive attacker. In the post Hopkins will look for Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN to provide shot blocking and finishing. He’s an explosive 6’8 forward who looks to dunk everything in the paint. Additional guard depth will come from Tristan Lee Tristan Lee 6'2" | PG Hopkins | 2021 State MN who is an elite on-ball defender, and possibly 2022 prospect Tyrell Sappington Tyrell Sappington 5'11" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State MN who was a standout JV performer. Andrew Chisley Andrew Chisley 6'6" | PF Hopkins | 2021 State MN at 6’6 and Jack Hernandez Jack Hernandez 6'11" | C Hopkins | 2021 State MN at 6’8 provide some additional size.
South St. Paul
Key Players: Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN (2022), Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN (2023), Marquise Gleb Marquise Gleb 6'2" | SF South St. Paul | 2021 State MN (2021)
South St. Paul had a breakout season last winter, and will return will a majority of their top contributors. It starts with Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN , one of the top scoring threats in the metro after averaging 25 ppg as a sophomore. He’s able to change direction in a hurry and blow by defenders to get to the rim, contorting his body to finish in a variety of ways. Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN will look to take a step forward as one of the state’s top 2023 prospects. He has great passing vision off penetration, and is a dangerous shooter off the bounce from three. Marquise Gleb Marquise Gleb 6'2" | SF South St. Paul | 2021 State MN is an undersized forward but uses his strength to score tough buckets around the rim. Both Ramontay and Ramontre Harmon Ramontre Harmon 5'10" | PG South St Paul | 2022 State MN saw big minutes at guard spots, and they both look ready to step into more consistent roles. Anthony Faulk Anthony Faulk 6'5" | PF South St Paul | 2022 MN is a 6’5 2022 forward who saw some consistent minutes last year, and could step into a much bigger role to provide some necessary size for the Packers.
DeLaSalle
Key Players: Cade Haskins Cade Haskins 6'6" | SF Delasalle | 2021 State MN (2021), Keijuan White Keijuan White 6'0" | SG DeLaSalle | 2021 State MN (2021), Evan Boyd Evan Boyd 6'2" | SG DeLaSalle | 2021 State MN (2021)
As can be expected with a dominant program like DeLaSalle, they’ll return next winter with plenty of talent. Cade Haskins Cade Haskins 6'6" | SF Delasalle | 2021 State MN has emerged as one of the top wings in the state, as he can knock down threes in bunches with his high release. He’s also grown as an athlete and has the ability to finish above the rim with ease and take defenders off the dribble. Keijuan White Keijuan White 6'0" | SG DeLaSalle | 2021 State MN is a stellar on-ball defender and is one of the most explosive players in the state. He attacks the basket hard and can elevate over defenders to finish. Additional scoring will come from Evan Boyd Evan Boyd 6'2" | SG DeLaSalle | 2021 State MN , a solid outside shooter who excels at pulling up from mid-range. He averaged 6.7 ppg as a junior but could be in for a breakout senior year. The guard depth runs deep with guys like 2023 prospect Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN who dominated at the JV level, or Amir Everett Amir Everett 6'0" | PG De La Salle | 2022 State MN who is a bulldog guard capable of finishing through contact at the rim.