08-09 Minneapolis City Preview

This is the 4th installment in the 08-09 Season Preview series. If you missed the 1st 3 previews, you can use the Section and Conference Previews page to go back and read them. In this installment, a look at the Minneapolis City Conference.

Henry Patriots (2007 Season 20-12, 10-2)
The Patriots lose some productive players. Explosive guard Mandela Jackson, wing Jerry Sweezy and versatile defender Jerome Vaughn are all gone. However there is good youth. Juniors Jordan Hughes and Louis Cox along with Fred Henry form a small but extremely quick backcourt. Evan Gray and Alonzo Whitfield return up front.

Washburn Millers (2007 Season 16-12, 10-2)
The Millers return plenty of talent with Cedric Martin, Noah Sheppard and Ra'Shede Hageman. They also welcome transfers DeAaron Hearn from Richfield, Thomas Cunningham from South and Dylan Hale from Central. They will be as talented as anyone in AAA. Can they put it all together and become the 1st team in 15 years besides Henry and North to play in the Twin Cities Game and then get thru a tough section 6AAA. (Czar's Note: 11/14/08, although I've previously corrected it, I'll put the correction here too. Thomas Cunningham is at North)

Roosevelt Teddies (2007 Season 17-11, 7-5)
The Teddies lose Derek Scully, Torreio Williams and Xavier Jones along with Dylan Clarke-Knaeble and Josh Mason. Very little returning so I'll be very interested to see what coach Dennis Stockmo can do with this squad.

North Polars (2007 Season 15-11, 7-5)
Despite a down year, North still won 15 games last season. They'll have to replace a pair of productive senior perimeter players Chamar Wilson and Curtis Johnson. Junior Ariel Deloney and sophomore Malik El-Amin give coach Bo Powell a couple of nice youngsters to build around.

South Tigers (2007 Season 13-14, 5-7)
They lose their high scoring guard trio of Deshawn Tyler, Michael Adams and Devon Lamb. In addition they lose their best big man and leading scorer Thomas Cunningham to Washburn. Guard Victor Easter and Will Ferguson return to lead the way.

Edison Tommies (2007 Season 14-14, 3-9)
Lose basically everything except Jonathon Connor. They'll have some athletes but they did not look good in the Minnehaha fall league. A weak schedule will increase the win total, but they'll struggle against city competition.

Southwest Lakers (2007 Season 5-20, 0-12)
Southwest looks to turn around their program under new coach Tom Weko. He comes to SW after leading the Mounds View girls program. They return big guy Dominique Dawson and leading scorer Jonathan Berry. With a new found discipline, I think they're improved this season

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Washburn
2. Henry
3. North
4. South
   
5. Southwest
6. Roosevelt
7. Edison
   

Player of the Year: Cedric Martin - Washburn

Games that will determine the conference title

• Washburn at Henry - January 16th
• Henry at Washburn - February 19th
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Hopkins at Washburn - December 12th
  
• Washburn at Johnson - December 16th
  
• Henry at St. Thomas Academy - December 20th
• Washburn vs Osseo - December 30th (projected Granite City semifinal at St. Cloud Apollo)
  
• Henry at De La Salle - March 3rd
  
• Johnson vs Washburn rematch - March 7th (at Arlington, projected Twin Cities game)