2013-14 Section 5AAAA Preview

This is the 22nd preview in my 2013-2014 season preview series.  This final week of previews begins with a look at section 5AAAA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

(11/4/13 Note: Fixing initial mistake of including Armstrong in this section instead of Maple Grove)

Defending Champion: Park Center

Predicted Seeding

1. Osseo
2. Champlin Park
3. Park Center
4. Maple Grove
5. Centennial
6. Wayzata
7. Robbinsdale Cooper
8. Irondale

Osseo is the clear favorite here with D1 signees Ian Theisen and Wheeler Baker returning.  Add in transfers Jordan Dembley and Elliot Kane with the usual assortment of role players and this is a deep squad that should be one of the best in the state.  Don't sleep on their neighbor Champlin Park.  Brennan Witt is underappreciated inside and the guard tandem of Ian Smith and JT Gibson is outstanding.  Park Center returns Isaiah McKay on the wing with a bunch of talented but fairly inexperienced guards.  Maple Grove has youngsters Reed Nikko and Brad Davison.  But they lose a ton as does the rest of the section so there's a dropoff after the top 3.

Sleeper: Park Center.   They have talent back from last year and their young guards have the ability to score in an up and down game.

Section Winner: Osseo.  All the right pieces and depth on top of it.  Can't pick against a team that will be a top 3-5 team all season.