The Metro East Preview
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South St. Paul won the league in 2020-21 and they will enter the favorite once again. Here is the Metro East Preview. Conference Commentary Top Ten: South St. Paul SSP will be one of the top contenders for the…
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Continue ReadingSouth St. Paul won the league in 2020-21 and they will enter the favorite once again. Here is the Metro East Preview.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten: South St. Paul
SSP will be one of the top contenders for the Class AAA title. They will enter the season a top three team and likely stay in the top three all season. The Packers just have too much talent to not repeat as champs.
Top Ten Potential: Tartan, Mahtomedi
Tartan is always right there as a league contender for the Metro East title. With three key returning players plus a frontcourt transfer making them better up front, the Titans will be near the top again. Mahtomedi is also a top ten potential squad at their level and a league contender. They dropped a pair to Tartan last season but both games were close. The Zephyrs have their best two guys back although almost all of the role players have graduated.
Compete with Most: Simley, Hastings, North St. Paul
The Spartans have a solid group of guards and it the size can takes steps they will be a solid team. Hastings is always a challenge with their balance and what they run but with five of the top six players gone it may be tough to repeat their 7-8 league mark. NSP might be the team that surprises. There are a lot of hungry players that will now get their chance. The top two scorers graduated but the Polars might be a bit better this year.
Rebuilding: St. Thomas Academy, Henry Sibley, Hill-Murray
STA has a decent amount of players back but they are starting over again. A new coach and a new outlook. They could crack that top five if a lot of things break the right way. Sibley went really young last year and that will be the same this season while Hill-Murray not only lost their grads but also their best player to transfer.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- South St. Paul
- Tartan
- Mahtomedi
- North St. Paul
- Simley
- St. Thomas Academy
- Hastings
- Henry Sibley
- Hill-Murray
Preseason All Metro East Conference
First Team
Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN of South St. Paul (sr)
Will Underwood Will Underwood 6'0" | PG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN of Mahtomedi (jr)
Devin Newsome Devin Newsome 6'1" | SG South St Paul | 2022 State MN of South St. Paul (sr)
Owen Carlson Owen Carlson 6'3" | SG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN of Mathomedi (jr)
RJ Jioklow of Simley (sr)
Shawn West-Zimpel Shawn West-Zimpel 6'2" | SG South St. Paul | 2022 State MN of South St. Paul (sr)
Second Team
D’Marco Chelley of Tartan (sr)
Marko Vukomanovich Marko Vukomanovich 6'4" | PF Tartan | 2022 State MN of Tartan (sr)
Michael Mitchell of Hastings (sr)
Romantay Harmon of South St. Paul (sr)
Aj Burns Aj Burns 6'2" | SG Tartan | 2022 State MN of Tartan (sr)
Sam Yanz Sam Yanz 6'6" | C Tartan | 2022 State MN of Tartan (sr)
Third Team
Michael Kirchner Michael Kirchner 6'0" | PG St. Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN of St. Thomas (jr)
Jack Chamberlain Jack Chamberlain 6'0" | PG St. Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN of St. Thomas (jr)
Devin Robinson of Simley (sr)
Romantre Harmon of South St. Paul (sr)
Nino Johnson Nino Johnson 6'3" North | 2022 MN of North St. Paul (sr)
Ishmael Powell Ishmael Powell 6'2" | SG Stillwater | 2023 State MN of North St. Paul (jr)
Third Team