The Czar's 2009 Top 50 Metro Players

A preface to the rankings you're about to read.  These rankings are of players who are in the 11 metro conferences and independents that I follow.  Therefore, there are many worthy names that don't appear on this list.  Deserving players like Shelby Moats, Jordan Smith and Yuriy Maleshenko don't play in leagues that I cover so you will not see them in this list. 

This ranking is an evaluation of where kids are right now, not a prospect list (which would be much much different) and not necessarily what a kid may be capable of later this season.  History is important here.  The biggest factor in these rankings as I did them was impact on the game.  They are based on what I've seen of each of these kids during the regular season and summer basketball.

So without any lengthy or boring explanations, here's the list.

1. Kevin Noreen
   
2. Jacob Thomas
3. Seantrel Henderson
4. Mike Rostampour
5. Calvin Godfrey
   
6. Cole Stefan
7. Vinard Birch
   
8. DJ Peterson
9. Estan Tyler
10. Tor Anderson
11. Jake White
12. Jordan Hughes
    
13. Brett Ervin
14. Marvin Singleton
15. Zach Riedeman
16. Joe Coleman
17. Marquel Curtis
18. John Crockett
    
19. Alex Richter
20. Alonzo Traylor
21. Aaron Anderson
22. Jalen Jaspers
23. Ryan Duxbury
24. Taylor Hanson
25. Louis Cox
26. Jordan Jackson
27. Jay Sewer
28. Devon Knopke
29. Dajon Newell
30. Evan McMillan
    
31. Jake Kreuser
32. Manani Beavers
    
33. Deron Murphy
34. Kyle Zimmerman
35. Jonah Travis
36. Clay Horne
    
37. Thomas Schalk
38. Isaiah Zierden
39. Ross Travis
40. Siyani Chambers
    
41. Peter Crawford
42. Joey King
    
43. Nick Latzke
44. Elijah Sabah
45. Kyle Noreen
46. Marcus Alipate
47. Parker Hines
48. Josh Pratt
49. Jasper Duberry
50. Danny Geiger
    

2009 Fall League Final Picks

Top picks for the final big day of fall leagues as the Breakdown league finishes up Saturday at Kennedy.

Best games are upstairs in the mid-afternoon

Chaska vs Tartan on Court A at 2:15
Champlin Park vs Lakeville South on Court B at 2:15

Followed by

Forest Lake vs Lakeville South on Court A at 3:05
Champlin Park vs Tartan on Court C at 3:05

09-10 Section 7AAAA Preview

This is the 24th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I finish my look at the 11 metro area sections with a look at Section 7AAAA. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Blaine

Predicted Seeding:

1. Duluth East
   
2. Forest Lake
   
3. Blaine
   
4. Anoka
   
5. Andover
   
6. St. Francis 
   
7. Cambridge-Isanti
   
8. Coon Rapids
   

Section Winner: Duluth East.  A Forest Lake vs Duluth East final should be fantastic as these teams went triple OT last year.  Soph Johnny Woodard I believe went for 38 in that game.  With his improvement and Dyami Starks, the Greyhounds get the nod over Zach Riedeman and the Rangers.  Too bad that game won't be on Saturday night this year.  Too bad both teams have to go to Elk River to play it.  Move that game to some place like Cloquet.  Blaine is down but with forward Zach Romashko they're a level above the rest in this section.  The bottom 5 here are bad teams.  C-I lost 5 of their top 6 scorers.  St. Francis is a bottom half team in the North Suburban.  And the 3 remaining teams are the 3 teams I picked at the very bottom of the NW Suburban.

09-10 Section 6AAAA Preview

This is the 23rd preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 6. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Hopkins

Predicted Seeding:

1. Hopkins
   
2. Minnetonka
   
3. Armstrong
   
4. Wayzata
5. Minneapolis North
   
6. St. Louis Park
   
7. Minneapolis South
   
8. Minneapolis Southwest
   

Section Winner: Hopkins.  Should be another epic section final between the big rivals Hopkins and Minnetonka.  X-Factor in that matchup is Marvin Singleton for Hopkins.  St. Louis Park is much improved and South's Alonzo Traylor is a tough matchup in the post, but these teams don't have enough to pull an upset.  Armstrong's guard play will make for an interesting matchup with Minnetonka.  Armstrong put up 91 and 84 in the 2 games last year so keep an extra scoreboard handy.

09-10 Section 5AAAA Preview

This is the 22nd preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 5. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Osseo

Predicted Seeding:

1. Champlin Park
   
2. Osseo
   
3. Centennial
   
4. Robbinsdale Cooper
   
5. Spring Lake Park
   
6. Mounds View
   
7. Park Center
   
8. Irondale
   

Section Winner: Champlin Park.  The best of the NW Suburban resides here with the top 3 teams from that league.  Cooper is inexperienced but talented.  Spring Lake Park can play with any of these teams.  Mounds View's tradition and coach Ziggy Kauls can't be overlooked either.  A very balanced top 6 will make for very close if not high profile semifinals and a 4 vs 5 game that will be good.  Champlin Park vs Cooper is an appealing matchup that could be a semifinal.  Osseo and Cooper have seen each other 3 straight years in section play including the last 2 finals. They'll be challenged to do that again.

09-10 Section 4AAAA Preview

This is the 21st preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 4. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Henry Sibley

Predicted Seeding:

1. Tartan
   
2. Stillwater
   
3. Henry Sibley 
   
4. Cretin-Derham Hall
5. Roseville
   
6. White Bear Lake
   
7. Woodbury
   
8. North
   

Section Winner: Tartan. This won't be easy for anyone. The top 4 here are as good as any section. Seantrel Henderson and CDH are as talented as anyone here. I'd definitely want to see Seantrel Henderson or Ryan Duxbury go at it with Mike Rostampour. Seeding here will definitely be interesting with 5 Suburban East teams voting against 3 Classic Suburban teams. If Stillwater or CDH wins the Suburban East outright, then I'd expect them to be voted the top seed by their peers. I think Tartan is the best team but against the other 3 contenders they have no matchup for the big guy. Not to mention they'd have to overcome that not once, but twice. Great constrast of styles. The semis and finals are at the new East Ridge gym rather than Concordia-SP or Arlington which should be a great venue.

09-10 Section 3AAAA Preview

This is the 20th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I continue my look at the big boys in AAAA with a look at section 3. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Apple Valley

Predicted Seeding:

1. Lakeville South
   
2. Eastview
   
3. Lakeville North
   
4. Rosemount
   
5. Apple Valley
   
6. Burnsville
7. Eagan
   
8. Park
   

Section Winner: Eastview. The Lightning are always a tough out at tournament time. The matchup of Vinard Birch vs Riley West at the point is a major weakness in this one for Lakeville South. Lakeville North has talented guards which can be a major factor at tourney time, but size and chemistry are issues to watch. Seeds 4-7 all have players who can have big games which provides an element of danger for the top seeds.

09-10 Section 2AAAA Preview

This is the 19th preview in my season preview series. In this edition I start my look at the big boys in AAAA. We start with section 2. If you missed any of the previews, you can find links to all of them on the Section & Conference Previews page.

Defending Champion: Bloomington Jefferson

Predicted Seeding:

1. Chaska
   
2. Eden Prairie
   
3. Shakopee
   
4. Bloomington Jefferson
   
5. Edina
   
6. Bloomington Kennedy
   
7. Prior Lake
   

Section Winner: Chaska. Despite all the success that Eden Prairie has in football, they just can't seem to get to state in basketball. Last year, Jefferson pulled the upset in the section final. Eden Prairie will be right there though. Shakopee and Jefferson will be very tough outs which should make for interesting semifinals according to the seedings. Jefferson is always well prepared and against a junior laden Chaska team, I can see that upset. Shakopee vs Eden Prairie will be a defensive struggle. The winner of the section will definitely earn it via 2 tough games.