The Lake Preview
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The Lake Conference has long been considered one of the best leagues, if not the best league in the state of Minnesota. It’s very tough once again. Conference Commentary Top Ten: Hopkins, Wayzata, Eden Prairie Wayzata is the defending…
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Continue ReadingThe Lake Conference has long been considered one of the best leagues, if not the best league in the state of Minnesota. It’s very tough once again.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten: Hopkins, Wayzata, Eden Prairie
Wayzata is the defending state champs. They have two starters returning, the first three guys off their bench are back, some young studs coming up, and a group of talent from JV/B/9 that lost a combined two games last season. They are ready to defend the title.
I think people might be over looking the Hopkins Royals a tad. They have one of the state’s best bigs in Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN plus 6th Man Max Wilson returns. They have a couple very good transfers including CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN , some of the state’s best young talent overall, and a nice group of seniors that played well on JV last season.
Then you have Eden Prairie. The Eagles earned third in the Lake last year after replacing a legendary senior class. Several of their key players also return.
Top Ten Potential: Edina, Minnetonka, Buffalo
There will be some parents, several players, and maybe a coach or two who get offended by being ranked 4-6 in the Lake this year but it’s no insult, all of these teams have the talent to potentially be top ten squads. All three of these teams could make the state tournament. Right now I think these three teams are three of the best 17 or 18 squads in Class AAAA.
Compete with Most: STMA
There are some leagues north of the metro that STMA could win, or be very competitive in. They will be competitive in the Lake. That said, I think they will come up a bit short talent wise compared to the other six teams.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- Wayzata
- Hopkins
- Eden Prairie
- Edina
- Minnetonka
- Buffalo
- STMA
Preseason All Lake Conference
First Team
CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN of Hopkins (jr)
Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (sr)
Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN of Hopkins (sr)
Chiddi Obiazor Chiddi Obiazor 6'5" | PF Eden Prairie | 2023 MN of Eden Prairie (jr)
Brady Helgren Brady Helgren 6'8" | C Edina | 2022 State MN of Edina (sr)
Antonio Bluiett Antonio Bluiett 6'2" | PG Buffalo | 2022 State MN of Buffalo (sr)
Second Team
Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN of Minnetonka (jr)
Johnny Tennyson Johnny Tennyson 6'3" | SG STMA | 2022 State MN of STMA (sr)
Zach Zrust Zach Zrust 6'8" | PF Buffalo | 2022 State MN of Buffalo (sr)
Gabe Jobe Gabe Jobe 5'10" | SG Edina | 2022 State MN of Edina (sr)
Ibrahim El-Amin Ibrahim El-Amin 5'10" | PG Minnetonka | 2023 State MN of Minnetonka (jr)
Drew Berkland Drew Berkland 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (sr)
Third Team
Sammy Presthus Sammy Presthus 6'2" | PG Edina | 2022 State MN of Edina (sr)
Spencer Hall Spencer Hall 6'3" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Wayzata (jr)
Hayden Tibbits Hayden Tibbits 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Wayzata (jr)
Miles Smith Miles Smith 6'2" | SG Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN of Eden Prairie (sr)
Max Wilson of Hopkins (jr)
Fourth Team
Andy Stefanovic of Minnetonka (so)
Vlad Ciubotaru Vlad Ciubotaru 6'0" | SG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN of Minnetonka (sr)
Ryan Harvey Ryan Harvey 6'3" | SG Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (sr)
Jermell Taylor Jermell Taylor 6'3" | SG Eden Prairie | 2023 MN of Eden Prairie (jr)
Will Pool Will Pool 6'3" | SF Buffalo | 2022 State MN of Buffalo (sr)