Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Hopkins
The Hopkins Royals are always a contender. This year is no different. It’s a wide open Class AAAA field and the Royals have enough to make a run. Key Wins in 19-20 (24-5): Armstrong, Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis North, Champlin Park,…
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Continue ReadingThe Hopkins Royals are always a contender. This year is no different. It’s a wide open Class AAAA field and the Royals have enough to make a run.
Key Wins in 19-20 (24-5): Armstrong, Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis North, Champlin Park, Wayzata, Edina, Totino-Grace, Cooper
Oops: Park Center, Shakopee, DeLaSalle, Eden Prairie
Moving On: Nationally rated shooter Kerwin Walton Kerwin Walton 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2020 State #62 Nation MN is now at North Carolina playing for Roy Williams. Walton scored 27 a game and was an All State player in Minnesota. Should of been on the Mr. Basketball Final Five and he has a state title to his name. Guards Cornell Richardson Cornell Richardson 5'11" | PG Hopkins | 2020 State MN , Sawyer Shrake Sawyer Shrake 6'2" | SG Hopkins | 2020 State MN , and Regan Merritt Regan Merritt 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2020 State MN all graduated while guard Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN transferred to Minneapolis North.
Returning Starters: The lone starter returning from Hopkins section games is 6-foot-7 forward Xavier White Xavier White 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2021 State MN . White is a senior and a talent that I can see exploding into a lot of spring recruiting opportunity. White had a solid junior year scoring 3-4 buckets a game but since that point he’s grown two inches, become more confident in his skills, and he’s become more aggressive in utilizing his explosive athletic ability.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: The Royals bench will become the Royals starters. White will be joined by four others, all of whom having starting experience. Guard Jaelen Treml Jaelen Treml 6'4" | SF Hopkins | 2021 State MN will likely be the best all around player on the team. He’s coming off of a brilliant summer and Treml has started games for Hopkins before. Tristan Lee Tristan Lee 6'2" | PG Hopkins | 2021 State MN is a strong, aggressive defender that will join Treml in forming an outstanding defensive duo. Lee has started games for Maranatha Christian Academy in the past. Up front, high major offered Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN is a junior that started games at center last winter. Nnaji is a hard working low post player ready to take a big jump. And then you senior Andrew Chisley Andrew Chisley 6'6" | PF Hopkins | 2021 State MN , a 6-foot-6 senior forward that opened last year as a starter. Chisley is another player that had a great summer (Chisley and Treml played for Select, White played for Select and Gain Elite).
Potentials from the JV: Hopkins will need their JV to step into reserve roles instantly. This team is not as deep as teams in the past. They have size up front in 6-foot-9 senior Jack Hernandez Jack Hernandez 6'11" | C Hopkins | 2021 State MN and 6-foot-6 junior big Tim’Avion Ryan Tim’Avion Ryan 6'6" | C Minneapolis North | 2022 MN . Each of which could back up Nnaji and/or Chisley. As far as guards go, Tyrell Sappington Tyrell Sappington 5'11" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State MN is a name we have been hearing for about for some time and he’s now a junior. Jarrett Brenlynd is a senior that could step into a key reserve role but you could say that about six different guys (Brenlund and Hernandez included) that will be seniors who played JV last year. There is room for a couple of them, will it be Brenlynd and/or Hernandez? Others? None of them? It will be something to watch.