2017-18 Section 4AA Preview

This is the 15th preview in my 2017-2018 season preview series.  In this preview, a look at section 4AA. For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Section 4AA (16 teams)
Defending Champion: Minnehaha Academy (2017 State AA Champion)

Tournament Schedule:

Round of 16: Thursday, March 8th
Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 10th
Semifinals: Tuesday, March 13th at St. Paul Washington
Finals: Friday, March 16th at St. Paul Washington

New teams in the section

• Cristo Rey Jesuit (4A)
• Minneapolis Edison (5AA)
• Nova Classical Academy (4A)

Teams that left the section

• Minneapolis Roosevelt (6AAA)
• Mounds Park Academy (4A)
• St. Croix Lutheran (3AAA)

Predicted Seeding

1. Minnehaha
2. Trinity   
3. Cristo Rey
4. New Life Academy  
5. Concordia Academy
6. St. Paul Prep
7. Nova Classical
8. St. Paul Washington
9. St. Croix Prep
10. St. Paul Academy   
11. St. Agnes
12. St. Paul Humboldt
13. AFSA 
14. Minneapolis Edison
15. Math and Science
16. Charter Stars

2 contenders in Roosevelt and St. Croix Lutheran moved up to AAA.  That takes away the teams that would likely be the next seeds behind Minnehaha.  So that leaves Trinity and Cristo Rey as other top temas in their leagues as the next in line.  New Life has size to bother most of the teams in the section.  Concordia and St. Paul Prep/HSRA fighting for next seeds here.  Nova's schedule will hold them down despite being TCAC D2 champs.  Rest of the TCAC also gets shoved down in seeding.

Sleeper: St. Paul Washington.  They'll play a schedule that preps them for section play (Trinity tourney will be telling for them and the section).  Add in soph forward Drewjuan White as an athlete and maybe they steal a game or 2.

Section Winner: Minnehaha.  With everybody back and the top player in the section in Jalen Suggs returning for the defending state champs, no way I can bet against that.