This is the 23rd preview and second to last preview in my 2010-2011 season preview series. In this preview, a final look at the metro sections with a trip to Section 7AAAA. For a list of all the season previews,
click here.
Defending Champion: Forest Lake
Predicted Seeding
- Duluth East
- Blaine
- Andover
- Anoka
- Forest Lake
- Cambridge-Isanti
- Duluth Central
- Coon Rapids
- St. Francis
This is the other section in 4A with 9 teams in it. This one is caused by the combination of Duluth Central and Duluth Denfeld. Next year those schools will combine under the Denfeld name. Johnny Woodard leads Duluth East to the top spot in the section. In addition to 2012's top prospect (in my opinion), Ian Nelson mans the post and junior Taylor Stafford had a breakout fall at the point guard spot. He's lightning quick and should continue his big improvement this season. I picked Anoka ahead of Blaine and Andover in my NW Suburban picks but losing Marcus Tyus until at least January is a huge blow. They will be one of the hardest teams in the state to seed thanks to that injury. And with a lower seed, they have bracket buster written all over them. Forest Lake is the best of the rest with their open-post offense. Cambridge-Isanti loses a ton but returns shooter Ted Lutterman. The Duluth combo jumps in next. Coon Rapids and St. Francis are my picks for the pigtail game.
Section Winner: Duluth East. I think they'll be better than years past defensively. But unlike last year where they could use Woodard as a defensive stopper and let Dyami Starks score, they'll need to get Woodard off the star on defense. The other 2 stars I think are the nominees for the runner up spot. That's forward Zach Romashko at Blaine and Tyus if healthy.
Czar,
ReplyDeleteWoodard as the #1 prospect? Bold statement. I like others better but agree Woodard can score.
Just an observation but this section might be the weakest of all the sections you cover. You wrote Section 5 is average after Osseo but Park Center would be near the middle of this group of teams.
Couple observations. Coon Rapids and St. Francis will be improved over last year and I think Coon Rapids will be much improved. Wouldn't be surprised to see them above FL when all is said and done. Watched them a couple of times this summer and they are definitely more athletic than last year.
Very tough injury for Tyus. Hadn't heard he'd be out for that long. Hopefully his wrist will heal quickly.
Woodard as the #1 prospect in 2012 is a no-brainer. Write that one down. Will he be ranked there, probably not. That's because he doesn't go on the road in the summer. But he defends, can shoot and score, is athletic and is built like a Greek god. Without Van Pelt, I think Park Center takes a big hit. I'd pick them no higher than 7 in this group. I agree this section is very blah and hard for me to pick between this and section 5. The bottom half of this group is really weak. Hopefully you're right on St. Francis and Coon Rapids but I'll believe it when I see it. Too many losses from last year.
ReplyDeleteEvery year Woodard starts with a program; PnR as a 15 and Pulley as a 16 but the drive etc become difficult and he quits. Tough call living in Duluth and tying to play in the Cities. That being said, he's not going to be the top.
ReplyDeleteI'll take Kyle Washington, Huisken, Chambers, King all over Woodard in terms of potential to be the highest rated. I'm sure Woodard will score a lot this year. Probably more than the people I listed.
Coon Rapids is just a completely new team. It seemed they had a bunch of kids move in to the district or something. I saw them in Rogers and came away impressed.
Washington's stock has gone up big. Chambers size is a concern but he's a very good floor leader. King regressed over the summer but they also played up a year. Huisken and Bauman are going to be very interesting to watch. Bauman would get my nod just because of playing for Mitch Ohnstad and what Mitch has does for guys development.
ReplyDelete