Class AAAA Title Contender Series: Lakeville North
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In Lakeville North’s version of a rebuilding year they still won 17 games. I hope teams took advantage while they could because the Panthers will be contenders again. Key Wins in 19-20 (17-11): Totino-Grace, Wayzata, Lakeville South, Rosemount, Shakopee Oops:…
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Continue ReadingIn Lakeville North’s version of a rebuilding year they still won 17 games. I hope teams took advantage while they could because the Panthers will be contenders again.
Key Wins in 19-20 (17-11): Totino-Grace, Wayzata, Lakeville South, Rosemount, Shakopee
Oops: Prior Lake, Farmington, Eastview, Shakopee, Lakeville South, Austin
Moving On: The Panthers are known for their prepared, hard working senior talents that rise into their roles and play at a high level. Last year’s list – Josh Kamara Josh Kamara 6'0" | PG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN (at Ellsworth CC), Noah Frechette Noah Frechette 6'4" | PF Lakeville North | 2020 State MN (at USF), Carter Patterson Carter Patterson 6'1" | SG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN , Nelson Koshiol, and Jordan Wall – have all graduated of coure. That’s five of last year’s top seven players that need to be replaced. North has a great mix of returning starters, excellent young underclassmen talent, and new seniors from the JV (with some varsity time too) ready to step in.
Returning Starters: The Panthers return all conference 6-foot-4 wing Will Blascziek Will Blascziek 6'4" | SG Lakeville North | 2021 State MN and honorable mention all league 6-foot-5 forward Cooper Laufenburger Cooper Laufenburger 6'5" | SF Lakeville North | 2021 State MN from the starting line-up. Both players are seniors this season coming off a great summer with the Wear Out the Net 17u team. Will was the Panther leading scorer last season (14 a game) and the second leading rebounder (five a game). Will is an excellent shooter and a craft scorer. Cooper is a versatile forward that shoots it with range so he can play both forward spots and is his ability to guard several spots allowing him to guard the five as well.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: Lakeville North has three guys that played off the bench last season and that’s 6-foot-3 senior forward Matt Miller, six foot senior combo guard Noah Nephew Noah Nephew 6'0" | PG Lakeville North | 2021 MN , and 6-foot-1 junior guard Landon Mohs. Miller played most of his 8th/9th Man minutes in December and January last year with key performances in wins over Century and Farmington. Nephew was in that 7th/8th Man role all of last season with a top performance scoring 13 in the Wayzata win. The varsity time for Mohs came more and more as the season moved on last year. All three will play key roles, and for one or two it could be a starting role.
Potentials from the JV: The talent from the JV to watch is 6-foot-6/6-foot-7 sophomore Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN and 6-foot-3 forward Michael McDonald Michael McDonald 6'2" | SF Lakeville North | 2022 MN . Winter, McDonald, and Mohs were the underclassmen that saw junior varsity time a season ago. Winter had an outstanding summer showing off a gorgeous shooting touch with both Howard Pulley and with the Panthers (more so in the fall). Nolan is considered one of the top sophomore college prospects in the state. Also, from the younger levels comes 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Jace Hernandez Jace Hernandez 6'8" | C Lakeville North | 2023 State MN and 6-foot-3 wing Jack Robison. Robison is expected to be one top freshman in his class. There are also four senior guards hoping to earn time as well (Cooper Walsh, Sam McWell, Seth Igbanugo, and Jake Rasmussen).
Final Thoughts: The Panthers appear to be a tough team with more size this season and an improved team when it comes to skilled scoring weapons. If the young talent is ready to handle their share of the load and last year’s reserves step into their bigger roles this is a state team.