2016-17 Section 4AAAA Preview

This is the 22nd preview in my 2016-2017 season preview series.  Down the stretch we come.  Its the final week of this 6 week preview series.  This week we finish the remaining class AAAA sections and end the week with an overview of what to watch this season.  In this preview, its a look at section 4AAAA.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 4AAAA (8 teams)
Defending Champion: North St. Paul 

Predicted Seeding

1. Cretin-Derham Hall
2. Woodbury
3. Tartan
4. North
5. East Ridge
6. St. Paul Central
7. Stillwater
8. White Bear Lake

This section is deep at the top.  The top 3 teams are all in that next group of teams behind the top tier of AAAA.  Any would be a very worthy representative.  North would like to make a case to be there as well.  CDH gets the nod over Woodbury but they could split the Suburban East.  Tartan wins the Metro East but because of all the AAA teams there, they'll drop behind the top 2.  North is definitely next.  The next 3 are a tossup.  Central will do well in the weak St. Paul City but they aren't at the level of the top 4 this year.  White Bear Lake is still rebuilding so they take the final spot.

Sleeper: North.  This is by default as the top 3 are considered very good.  The Polars have some losses to replace but have a nice group of perimeter players coming back.  They won't be an easy out.

Section Winner: Cretin-Derham Hall.  They have all the pieces with Ryan Larson filling a huge void at point guard.  There are fast and athletic plus have a dominant inside piece in Daniel Oturu.