Andover Huskies (2016-17 season 11-20, 5-14 Conference, 6th North)
Guard Logan Rezac's 25.4 PPG needs to be replaced. Conner Knoepfle is the top returnee at 9.4 PPG. Mason Heath and junior Jake Mallet return to the rotation with some size. At the guard spots, Peyton Aune and junior Matthew Brodeur are options.
Anoka Tornadoes (2016-17 season 7-20, 4-15 Conference, 7th North)
Center Jake Phipps anchors the middle for the Tornadoes after averaging 9.9 PPG last season. Addison Ostendorf returns at a guard spot. Junior Micah Madyun will be another guard in the rotation. John Walberg and junior Zubier Oman are options on the front line.
Blaine Bengals (2016-17 season 16-11, 10-9 Conference, Tie 2nd North)
Coach Mark Arzdorf has to replace most of his rotation. 6 of the top 7 scorers graduated. G Byron Bynum is the top returnee at 7.1 PPG. Sam Browne and Jason Kaul also saw limited time last season. Lucas Larson will be a guard option. Ray Mitchell is an athletic option on the wing.
Centennial Cougars (2016-17 season 12-15, 8-11 Conference, 4th North)
Dave Frasier takes over for Travis Bledsoe who's now at De La Salle. Talented forward Josh McGreal (16.7 PPG) and 13.1 PPG from guard Shane Taleen need to be replaced. Juniors Ariq Eason (7.3 PPG, top returning scorer) and Riley Van Buskirk (3.9 PPG) are an experienced backcourt. Andrew Metz (5.9 PPG) also returns to the rotation. Hunter Ross is an interior option.
Champlin Park Rebels (2016-17 season 31-1, 19-0 Conference, 1st North)
The entire starting lineup from last year's AAAA runner-up needs to be replaced. That includes 4 double figure scorers and 2 high D1 players in PG McKinley Wright (22.8 PPG) and F Theo John (13.9 PPG). But the Rebels have plenty to reload with. Josiah Strong (9.7 PPG) will take over the alpha dog role. Junior F Bennett Otto is poised for a breakout season. Jisaiah Riley-Phillips and Alex John are 2 forwards from last year's JV squad who will step up roles.
Coon Rapids Cardinals (2016-17 season 13-15, 6-13 Conference, 5th North)
A banner year for the Cardinals last year. They now have to replace the top 4 scorers from that group. That includes the duo of Lionel Warner (18.1 PPG) and Tyree'on Johnson (15.9 PPG). Senior Marcel Winston is the top returnee at 6.5 PPG. Junior Marshall Holland should also provide some scoring punch. Seniors Henock Mwanasomwe and Logan Severson provide experience.
Elk River Elks (2016-17 season 16-12, 10-9 Conference, Tie 2nd North)
Senior forward Jack Burger returns after averaging 18.5 PPG. But most of the rest of the rotation needs to be replaced including the productive guard tandem of Wyatt Morrell (12.7 PPG) and Noah Weege (8.5 PPG). Andrew Hess and junior Brock Burdine will slot in at guard spots. Carter Baldwin is an option in the middle.
Irondale Knights (2016-17 season 5-22, 1-18 Conference, 7th West)
The Knights have to replace all everything guard Sean Sutherlin (23.9 PPG). Junior Aden Price is the top returnee at 9.6 PPG. Senior Brendan White (6.1 PPG) returns in the middle. Senior Daudi Simon and junior Leighton Glodek also return to the rotation.
Maple Grove Crimson (2016-17 season 28-4, 17-2 Conference, 1st West)
The Crimson have to replace the entire roster with 10 seniors graduating. Brad Davison (24.9 PPG) and Tywhon Pickford (21.1 PPG) are the 2 high profile stars in that group. Experience will be a problem but there is talent on hand. Juniors Jared Rainey and Ian Lim are the backcourt. Senior Alex Battist takes over in the middle. Senior Jordan Stensland is an option on the wing.
Osseo Orioles (2016-17 season 21-8, 13-6 Conference, 4th West)
Leading scorer and top shooter Zach Theisen (22 PPG) returns for the Orioles. Maurice Nelson (9.4 PPG) also returns to the lineup after a productive season. They do have to replace lots of firepower in the graduated Mar Mar Hughes (8.5 PPG) and the Bezdicek twins (combined over 20 PPG). Soph Cornell Richardson should break into the rotation as a major threat. Emmette Page (6.5 PPG) is an experienced returnee and Richard Mulbah is another front line option.
Park Center Pirates (2016-17 season 21-7, 14-5 Conference, 3rd West)
Star PG Losini Kamara (11.8 PPG) is off to Idaho but the Pirates are still very talented. NDSU commit SG Jarius Cook returns after leading the team with 15.1 PPG last year. Dain Dainja (8.7 PPG) mans the middle as one of the state's top sophomores. A ton of other experience returns with juniors Khari Broadway (9.3 PPG) and Emmanuel Tamba (6.9 PPG). Athletic forward Lavante Parker and junior Tommy Chatman are also talented options in the rotation.
Robbinsdale Armstrong Falcons (2016-17 season 18-9, 15-4 Conference, 2nd West)
Big loss for the Falcons as star forward Race Thompson decided to enroll at Indiana early and skip his senior year. Forward Quinn Smith transferred to Maranatha. Plus all the other starters graduated including the backcourt of Isaiah Rollins (13 PPG) and Davonte Saeed-El (12.9 PPG). Isaiah Miller and Ben Inniger return to the perimeter rotation. Cole Priem is another perimeter option who can shoot it.
Spring Lake Park Panthers (2016-17 season 5-22, 3-16 Conference, 6th West)
The Panthers took lumps with a young lineup and the injury to football star Zach Ojile. Leading scorer Kameron Davis 18.2 PPG returns on the wing. Elijah Elkerton (10.7 PPG) returns to the center spot and soph Gabe Myren (6.9 PPG) returns at a guard spot. Ben Whann and Jackson Wenholz are experienced guards. Junior Walker Steward (5.1 PPG) provides depth up front.
Totino-Grace Eagles (2016-17 season 15-13, 8-11 Conference, 5th West)
Nick Carroll takes over the program with Rob Ware now at Maranatha. He has to replace the top 2 scorers from last year. F Rocky Kreuser topped the list at 16.4 PPG and is now at NDSU. Shooter Nathan Kavolak averaged 15.7 PPG. The Eagles have their next 5 scorers return though. G Charlie Jacob leads the way with 14.2 PPG. Will Schmidt mans the middle at 8.9 PPG. PG Braeden Mischke and SG Nick Flottmeier return at the guard spots. Tyler Kittelson is an athletic returnee on the front line along with Sam Hanson.
Predicted Order of Finish
North Division
- Champlin Park
- Elk River
- Centennial
- Blaine
- Andover
- Anoka
- Coon Rapids
- Park Center
- Totino-Grace
- Osseo
- Maple Grove
- Spring Lake Park
- Robbinsdale Armstrong
- Irondale
In the west, Park Center is the clear favorite and the 1 elite team in either division. Totino-Grace has too much returning to not put them 2nd. Osseo gets nod over Maple Grove thanks to a couple of returnees and experience. Spring Lake Park moves up a spot with all of the losses at Armstrong and most of their roster back. Irondale still takes up the last spot.
The north once again is noticeably weaker than than the west. Only 1 player who averaged double figures returns in the division. Champlin Park still has too much talent to not be the favorite. Elk River is always solid and Centennial has a good group of guards coming back. I see those teams fighting for 2nd. Blaine looks to jump into that group as well. I don't see the bottom 3 changing. Coon Rapids moves down as they lose a ton. Andover and Anoka fight to stay above the cellar.
Conference MVP: Jarius Cook - Park Center
Underclassmen to watch:
- Cody Lindenberg - Anoka
- Carter Anderson - Centennial
- Cooper Olson, Jared Walter - Champlin Park
- Jackson Aurelius - Coon Rapids
- Cornell Richardson - Osseo
- Dain Dainja - Park Center
- Adam Biewen - Robbinsdale Armstrong
- Gabe Myren, Jacob Say, Blake Remme, Daydor Phillips- Spring Lake Park
- Totino-Grace at Park Center - Jan 11th
- Park Center at Totino-Grace - Jan 30th
- Champlin Park at Park Center - Feb 2nd
- Park Center vs Minnehaha - Dec 9th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
- Hopkins at Champlin Park - Dec 12th
- Park Center at Wayzata - Dec 15th
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