The IMAC Preview
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We continue our league previews by stepping into the IMAC, the six team league of private schools in the metro. Conference Commentary State Title Contender – Minnehaha Academy Odds are that had there been a state tournament we would…
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Continue ReadingWe continue our league previews by stepping into the IMAC, the six team league of private schools in the metro.
Conference Commentary
State Title Contender – Minnehaha Academy
Odds are that had there been a state tournament we would be talking about Minnehaha Academy’s 4th straight state title, and looking for a fifth. While that may have been unfair to some other quality teams – DeLaSalle, Marshall (Mankato East, Totino-Grace, and Waconia are the other Top 6 ranked Class AAA teams but they were all knocked out in section title games) – the reality is Minnehaha Academy was the favorite. And they will enter this season the Class AAA favorite with three starters returning ( Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN , Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN , Hercy Miller Hercy Miller 6'3" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN ) and three bench players back ready for starting roles ( Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'7" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 MN , Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 5'10" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 OH , and Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN ).
Top Ten in State – Blake
This is the season Blake has been priming for. Robert Grace IV Robert Grace IV 5'10" | PG Blake | 2021 State MN is one of the fastest players in the state of Minnesota – and he would get some votes as the fastest – plus his long time running mates Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN and Jasper Liu Jasper Liu 6'1" | PG Blake | 2021 State MN are back as well. Throw in Theo Liu Theo Liu 6'4" | PF Blake | 2022 State MN and you have a four guard/wing attack that will spend much of the season ranked in the top ten.
Compete with Most – Providence Academy, Breck
If the Lions can get something out of their frontcourt, they have a backcourt that can surely make nights tough for opponents. Liam Carney Liam Carney 6'2" | PG Providence Academy | 2022 State MN is a scorer that is capable of explosive numbers after a great summer and fall of play. Sam Schroeder and Jimmy Fafinksi are solid returning backcourt members as well. I expect a big step forward for Breck. They have a really nice backcourt duo in speedy defender Jared Morton and shooter Jimmy Koch Jimmy Koch 6'2" | PG Breck School | 2022 State MN .
Rebuilding – St. Paul Academy, Mounds Park Academy
SPA isn’t rebuilding as much as they are a big unknown. Outside of the top player on the team – Adam Holod Adam Holod 6'1" | SG Wabasha Kellogg | 2021 State MN – the Spartans lost the majority of their rotation from a 16 win team. They will stay competitive with a lot of the teams on their schedule but so much of the rotation has to be rebuilt.
19-20 Conference Predictions
- Minnehaha Academy (played just three conference games last year)
- Blake
- Providence Academy
- Breck
- St. Paul Academy
- Mounds Park Academy
Preseason All IMAC
First Team
Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)
Robert Grace IV Robert Grace IV 5'10" | PG Blake | 2021 State MN of Blake (Sr)
Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)
Hercy Miller Hercy Miller 6'3" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)
Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 5'10" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 OH of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)
Second Team
Chase Carter Chase Carter 6'7" | PF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 MN of Minnehaha Academy (Jr)
Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)
Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN of Blake (Sr)
Jasper Liu Jasper Liu 6'1" | PG Blake | 2021 State MN of Blake (Sr)
Jaren Morton Jaren Morton 5'11" | PG Breck | 2021 State MN of Breck (Sr)
Third Team
Liam Carney Liam Carney 6'2" | PG Providence Academy | 2022 State MN of Providence Academy (Jr)
Adam Holod Adam Holod 6'1" | SG Wabasha Kellogg | 2021 State MN of St. Paul Academy (Sr)
Jimmy Koch Jimmy Koch 6'2" | PG Breck School | 2022 State MN of Breck (Jr)
Theo Liu Theo Liu 6'4" | PF Blake | 2022 State MN of Blake (Jr)
Mercy Miller of Minnehaha Academy (Fr)
Fourth Team
Jimmy Fafinksi of Providence Academy (Jr)
Trent Finney Trent Finney 6'4" | PF Minneahaha Academy | 2021 State MN of Minnehaha Academy (Sr)
DeWayne Givens DeWayne Givens 6'1" | PG St. Paul Johnson | 2023 State MN of Minnehaha Academy (Soph)
Dhruv Muppidi of Mounds Park Academy (Sr)
Sam Schroeder of Providence Academy (Sr)