Minnesota’s League Pass Rankings – Class AAAA
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The condensed NBA offseason has my head spinning — trades everywhere, rookies added to depth charts and lucrative free agent contracts will surely make for some under-the-radar rosters to watch on NBA League Pass this season. So that got me…
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Continue ReadingThe condensed NBA offseason has my head spinning — trades everywhere, rookies added to depth charts and lucrative free agent contracts will surely make for some under-the-radar rosters to watch on NBA League Pass this season. So that got me thinking… which teams in the Minnesota high school scene would be League Pass darlings? Today we run through some squads in Class AAAA that fit the bill for your hopeful live stream viewing priorities.
5. Duluth East – The Greyhounds have been gearing up for this season with their elite senior frontcourt pair. Mattie Thompson Mattie Thompson 6'6" | SF Duluth East | 2021 State MN and Noah Paulson Noah Paulson 6'8" | C Duluth East | 2021 State MN are Minnesota-Duluth commits and pose a big threat to interior defenses everywhere. Thompson is an athletic wing slasher and rebounder who could keep rising our 2021 rankings with some offensive explosions. Paulson has been a mainstay in the paint for East and makes winning plays. Losing point guard Will Van Scoy Will Van Scoy 6'1" | PG Duluth East | 2022 State MN for the season due to injury hurts their depth and their ranking here, but with an experienced rotation, the Greyhounds are very worthy of the fifth spot in Class AAAA’s LP list.
4. Osseo – I was one of many who expected Osseo to come out last season blazing hot with their spectacular sophomore class. The lack of experience showed and it was a bumpier ride en route to a 10-17 finish. But the core returns save for Tariq Henry Tariq Henry 6'1" | SG Osseo | 2020 State MN graduating and Hassan Kamara Hassan Kamara 6'4" | SG Columbia Heights | 2022 MN transferring; Benard Omooria Benard Omooria 6'2" | CG Osseo | 2022 State MN and Josh Ola-Joseph were two of the more consistent Orioles last year and both have big-time athleticism and ball skills. Ola-Joseph’s explosiveness to the rim makes him a Blake Griffin-esque lob threat and Omooria has been torching perimeter defenses from beyond the arc since his freshman season. Add in Donald Ferguson Donald Ferguson 6'1" | SG St. Cloud Tech | 2022 State MN and Tyirece Waits Tyirece Waits 6'1" | PG Osseo | 2022 State MN to catalyze the fast break and another year of seasoning for raw big man Blessed Barhayiga Blessed Barhayiga 6'9" | C Osseo | 2022 State MN in the middle and this team has pieces to be one of the more exciting metro squads around. They also have a coach in Tim Theisen that has been around the block enough where you forget to appreciate how good he is at adjusting his players to his style.
3. Robbinsdale Cooper – The Hawks reached the section 6AAAA final a year ago with a cast of sophomores and juniors that play with lots of pace. Broderick Powell Jr Broderick Powell Jr 5'11" | PG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2021 State MN . is the focus of the offensive creation and he gets to the free throw line with ease. Davion Evans Davion Evans 6'0" | PG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2022 State MN , Majay Murphy Majay Murphy 6'2" | SG Robbinsdale Cooper | 2021 State MN and Jeffrey Cooper are a trio of guards that have physical advantages against most every opponent and with another year of experience will be even more gelled as a unit. Cooper’s always scrappy, never very big and definitely an exciting watch because it seems they’re never really out of a game until the buzzer sounds.
2. Eastview – Losing four high-level starters will hurt, but the Lightning are in as good a position to reload as any for the next three years. Ultra-athletic forward Zach Spann Zach Spann 6'5" | SF Eastview | 2021 State MN will step into a bigger role offensively. Henry Shannon III Henry Shannon III 6'6" | SF Eastview | 2021 State MN , Grayson Stahlboerger and Jackson Purcell Jackson Purcell 6'4" | SF Eastview | 2021 State MN were experienced juniors that add depth and versatile skills. Then the 2022 and 2023 classes are dynamic in their own right – big man Jamal Ambrose, guard Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN and twin forwards Mario Adams and Myles Adams had strong offseasons boosting stock as well. I see this team not only as a potential-filled group in the next few years, but as a current competitor and very good defensive threat.
1. Lakeville South – The preseason number one team returns almost the entire rotation and plenty of experience. Reid Patterson Reid Patterson 6'2" | SG Lakeville South | 2021 State MN running the show at the point, Riley Mahlman Riley Mahlman 6'9" | C Lakeville South | 2021 State MN protecting the rim and a bevy of very mature junior wings make up this state contender. Patterson is a one-man wrecking crew on his own – add in Sam Fliehe Sam Fliehe 6'5" | SF Lakeville South | 2022 State MN , Avery Mast Avery Mast 6'5" | PF Lakeville South | 2022 State MN and Trystan Ressler Trystan Ressler 6'2" | SG Lakeville South | 2021 State MN , that’s a deep, experienced team that plays great team ball. They’ve been building for this and hopefully watching it play out will be a treat for all.