Apple Valley Eagles (2016-17 season 30-2, 18-0 Conference, 1st)
The defending class AAAA state champs return almost everybody so they are the favorite again. This is the 9th and final year of the Jones era. Senior PG Tre Jones will attend Duke next year. He averaged 23.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 7.5 APG last year. Winona St commit Luke Martens (10.6 PPG) returns on the wing. Harvard FB commit Spencer Rolland returns in the middle. I expect a breakout season from Nathan Macho on the wing as he'll pick up touches to replace Mohamed Kone.
Burnsville Blaze (2016-17 season 11-17, 7-11 Conference, 7th)
The Blaze have to replace their top 3 double figure scorers including Matt Baisch (11.6 PPG). The perimeter has experience with junior returnees Julian Hutchinson (10.3 PPG) and Marcus Shepley. Ty Miklowski and Drew Ihenacho return inside. Max May and soph Josh Kamara are other pieces of the rotation.
Eagan Wildcats (2016-17 season 8-19, 5-13 Conference, 8th)
Former Wayzata top lieutenant Josh Peltier takes over the program. Soph PG Jaylen James topped the team in scoring last year at 7.9 PPG. Cam Lachance also returns to the rotation. Many other players saw minutes in a rough season last year. Forward Jaren Tschetter is a top scoring option depending how he comes back from a 2nd knee injury.
Eastview Lightning (2016-17 season 13-15, 9-9 Conference, 5th)
Eastview has to replace their top 3 scorers. That includes PG Jameson Bryan (18.2 PPG), now at Augustana, and shooter Mason Carpenter (16.1 PPG). Soph forward Tate Machacek is the top returnee with 8.6 PPG. That will go up significantly this year. He can play inside or outside and leads a talented group of sophomores that I expect to be very good in 2 years. Junior Isaak Raspberry will take over the point guard duties. Essam Ibrahim and Will Barry also return to the rotation.
Farmington Tigers (2016-17 season 8-19, 3-15 Conference, 10th)
Wing Sam Wilson and his 21.1 PPG need to be replaced. Forward Caden Freetly is the top returning scorer with 8.4 PPG. He'll be the biggest player. Brock Mogenson and junior Adam Weed are returning starters. The junior trio of Miles Mendes, Jameson Shrum and Brady Bean saw a ton of minutes last year. Who picks up the scoring from Wilson is my big question.
Lakeville North Panthers (2016-17 season 28-4, 16-2 Conference, 2nd)
Coach John Oxton has to replace the 25.9 PPG and 12.1 RPG from Wisconsin recruit Nate Reuvers. Guard Ethan Igbanugo (13.5 PPG) also needs to be replaced. He was an under appreciated defender and scorer. Junior forward Tyler Wahl (9.2 PPG) is the only member of the top 6 scorers coming back. Expect him to have a big season . Tyler Lewko returns inside. Spencer Fossey, Owen Blascziek, Cole Andersen and junior shooter Tommy Jenson will make up a solid backcourt.
Lakeville South Cougars (2016-17 season 15-13, 12-6 Conference, 3rd)
New AD Tom Dasovich brings over old pal Joe Janquart from North St. Paul to be the new head coach. He has UW-Milwaukee commit Shae Mitchell (15.8 PPG) on the wing to build around. Beau Bailey is another wing and Cooper Jackson is a tough undersized point guard. Freshman Riley Mahlman is an option in the middle with a group of senior bangers. The shooting of Jack Sorenson (21.8 PPG) and Cade Carlson (6.3 PPG) will be missed.
Prior Lake Lakers (2016-17 season 14-11, 10-8 Conference, 4th)
5 of the top 6 scorers have graduated. But the one that returns is one of the state's top sophomores, forward Dawson Garcia. He'll take over as the top option and I can see him doubling his 8.8 PPG from last year. Junior Robert Jones has a UWGB offer and will man the middle. Brandon Collins and Pat Bernick also return to the lineup.
Rosemount Irish (2016-17 season 15-14, 7-11 Conference, 6th)
New head coach Lance Walsten returns to the league. He comes from Faribault but was previously an assistant at Lakeville North. He has to replace the twin towers of Alec and Luke Loehr who are now at Navy. They combined for almost 37 PPG last year. PG Myka Edmond and his 11 PPG also need to be replaced. Luke Siwek is the top returnee (11.6 PPG) and will be the main offensive option. Junior guard Andrew Reuter will see a bigger role.
Shakopee Sabers (2016-17 season 4-23, 3-15 Conference, 9th)
Shakopee went with a very young lineup playing 3 and sometimes 4 freshmen last year. Leading scorer Jake Kutina (11.9 PPG) needs to be replaced. Most of the rest of the rotation returns. Sophs Charlie Katona (11.9 PPG), Will Cordes (5.6 PPG) and Caleb Druvenga (5.5 PPG) are the top returning scorers. Seniors Addison Leininger, Luke Budin and Martin McKinney also return. They also should have Garrett Mitchell back from a knee injury that cost him last season. There's not much size available.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Apple Valley
- Lakeville North
- Eastview
- Lakeville South
- Prior Lake
- Burnsville
- Shakopee
- Farmington
- Rosemount
- Eagan
Apple Valley is the easy pick for the top spot. Behind them, I think there's a group of 4 teams. Lakeville North will be lacking experience but they can really shoot it and will just reload. Lakeville South, Prior Lake and Eastview all have a couple of nice pieces to build around. Burnsville has enough returning to be next. Shakopee will be improved but they're looking down the road with their sophomores. The bottom 3 have to find ways to score. Farmington is a year ahead in the rebuild so I'll take them over the 2 remaining teams with new coaches. Luke Siwek gets the nod to keep Rosemount out of the cellar.
Conference MVP: Tre Jones - Apple Valley
Underclassmen to watch:
- Josh Kamara, Josiah Jordan, Tyree Ihenacho - Burnsville
- Jaylen James, Kurt Ohlhues - Eagan
- Tate Machacek, Dan Sweden, Jon Reinke, Steven Crowl - Eastview
- Riley Mahlman - Lakeville South
- Dawson Garcia - Prior Lake
- Charlie Katona, Will Cordes, Caleb Druvenga, Bruce Lockwood - Shakopee
- Lakeville North at Apple Valley - Jan 9th
- Apple Valley at Lakeville North - Feb 13th
- Minnehaha at Apple Valley - Dec 7th (ESPN)
- Apple Valley vs Minneapolis North - Dec 9th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
- Lakeville North vs St. Cloud Tech - Dec 9th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
- Chaska at Lakeville North - Dec 14th
- St. Thomas Academy at Apple Valley - Dec 15th
- Austin at Lakeville North - Dec 29th (projected Lakeville N tourney championship)
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