12-13 Section 4AA Preview

This is the 15th preview in my 2012-2013 season preview series.  To end the 3rd week of previews, let's take a look at section 4AA. For a list of all the season previews, click here.

Section 4AA
Defending Champion: St. Croix Lutheran

Predicted Seeding

1. St. Croix Lutheran
2. Breck 
3. St. Paul Academy 
4. Minnehaha
5. New Life Academy
6. Concordia
7. Trinity
8. Brooklyn Center 
9. St. Agnes
10. Minneapolis Edison
11. St. Paul Humboldt
12. International School
13. Great River
14. St. Paul Washington
15. Hmong Academy
16. Cristo Rey

This section is once again one of the weakest around.  No standout team and a bunch of teams that are even.   St. Croix Lutheran has some pieces back from last year's state team.  Breck's sophomore class can be very competitive here.  Last year they were decimated by injury.  SPA has a nice group coming back.  Minnehaha has some athletes which is a rare commodity in the section.  New Life is well coached and has some talent.  Concordia has size and length.  The bottom half of this section is positively dreadful.  International School and Great River are annual EMAC powerhouses but haven't been competitive with the rest of the section.

Sleeper: New Life Academy.  I think they're as well coached as anybody in the section which is huge come tourney time.  They have some experience.  Conrad Engstrom can be a difficult wing matchup. That's enough to make a run in a weak section.

Section Winner: St. Paul Academy.   This section is way too up in the air and even to think about picking the top seed.  This section will be all about matchups.  Come tourney time have good guards is key.  For SPA, I like their guards with Spencer Egly at the point and Josh Gray on 1 wing.  Frosh Dalante Peyton can score on the other wing and Steven Olson gives them a body up front.