2020-21 Metro East Conference Preview

This is the 9th preview in my 2020-2021 season preview series.  With no MEA break during this season's previews, we roll on with the Metro East Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and an explanation of how the previews are generated, click here.

Hastings Raiders (2019-20 season 17-10, 12-4 Conference, 3rd)
Hastings once again has to replace a ton in their lineup.  The top 4 scorers need to be replaced.  That includes guard Devon Haraldson (15.1 PPG) and 2 other double figure scorers.  Guards Evan McGinnis and Japhe Gudissa return to the rotation.  Seniors Jack Dunn and Bailey Johnston will likely step into major roles as well.

Henry Sibley Warriors (2019-20 season 5-23, 3-13 Conference, 7th)
Assistant Doug Linton takes over for John Carrier who is now at Nova Classical Academy.  Linton won almost 300 games in 18 years as the head coach at New Life but long before that he spent 4 years as Sibley girls head coach.  He has a big task ahead with the graduation of center MJ Davis (10 PPG) and the transfer of PG Dewayne Thompson (18.1 PPG) to Tartan.  Senior wing Cam Latvis (9.2 PPG) is the top returnee.

Hill-Murray Pioneers (2019-20 season 6-21, 1-15 Conference, 9th)
Leading scorer Mitch Gutknecht and his 14.2 PPG need to be replaced at a guard spot. Junior Max Yanz is the top returnee with 11.7 PPG.  Guard Rashad McKinley (10.3 PPG) leads a group of 4 juniors that return to the rotation.  Senior Andrew Chambers is another rotation option.

Mahtomedi Zephyrs (2019-20 season 13-13, 8-8 Conference, Tie 5th)
Mahtomedi once again decimated by graduation and a top scorer transferring.  7 of the top 9 scorers are gone.  That includes guard Brody Fox (18.6 PPG) and center Cole Chapman (10.8 PPG).  Forward Cal Greene (12.9 PPG) has moved on to Mike Miller's school in Tennessee.  Soph PG Will Underwood (7.1 PPG) is the top returnee.  Ryan Maule (3.6 PPG) is the only other notable returnee.

North Polars (2019-20 season 18-9, 15-1 Conference, 1st)
Coach Damien Johnson took the Benilde-St. Margaret's job.  So the Polars decided once again to dip into the Eden Prairie assistants pool by picking Cornelius Gilleylen to take over. He has to replace 3 of the top 4 scorers.  Shaheed Muhammad (18.7 PPG) and Brandon Hickman (12.3 PPG) graduated.  Shawn West-Zimpel (10.2 PPG) has changed directions to South St. Paul.  Forward Laron Thomas (10.2 PPG) is the main piece to build around.  Junior Kenny Daily is another offensive option.  Ben Teigland and Robert Wessel provide size.  The guard rotation will be inexperienced.

St. Thomas Academy Cadets (2019-20 season 2-25, 2-14 Conference, 8th)
Coach Jason Birr went with a huge youth movement that included 4 freshmen and a sophmore.  That caused the Cadets to drop 17 wins from the previous season.  They also lost all 3 games to archrival Sibley.  The entire roster returns except for forward Stephen Betts (8.6 PPG).  Senior Ryan Chamberlain mans the inside with his team high 9.8 PPG.  Junior Nathan Johnson (7.8 PPG) is another quality front line option.  Yenika Fondugallah and soph Anthony Bickford lead the wing group.  Jack Chamberlain     leads the group of small sophomore guards who can shoot it.

Simley Spartans (2019-20 season 14-14, 8-8 Conference, Tie 5th)
Former North St. Paul and St. Paul Academy coach Isaiah Wallfred took over the program last year and led the Spartans to a solid season.  He returns most of his rotation including his top scorers in wings Breyton Buysman (13.6 PPG) and junior RJ Jioklow (13.3 PPG).  Luke Vandemeer returns inside with 7.1 PPG.  Juniors Devin Robinson and Kevin Wormer also return to the rotation along with senior Nathan Fischer.

South St. Paul Packers (2019-20 season 18-10, 10-6 Conference, 4th)
After winning their most games in a season in 50 years, the Packers program is back.  Guard Max Wilson (12 PPG) is off to Hopkins and forward Marcus Brown (9.9 PPG) are the significant losses from the rotation.  Coach Matt McCollister still has a ton of offensive firepower.  Junior PG Alonzo Dodd (24.9 PPG) makes their dribble drive offense go.  Marquise Gleb and and transfer Shawn West-Zimpel from North St. Paul make up a productive wing duo and they'll score plenty.

Tartan Titans (2019-20 season 24-4, 13-3 Conference, 2nd)
All 3 double figure scorers from last season have departed.  Langston Binns and Joseph Kearney combined for almost 28 PPG on the wing.  PG Dorian Singer (10.7 PPG) was set to be the go to guy but he transferred to Arizona for football.  The pickup of DeWayne Thompson from Sibley fills that hole.  Defender Laye Keita and F Curtis Favors (8.3 PPG) return to the starting lineup.  Juniors AJ Burns, D'Marco Chelley and Marko Vukomanovich also saw significant rotation minutes. 

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Tartan 
   
2. South St. Paul
   
3. Simley  
4. North 
   
5. Hastings  
6. Mahtomedi 
   
7. St. Thomas Academy    
8. Henry Sibley 
9. Hill-Murray 

Conference Overview
Tartan and South St. Paul are clearly the top tier of the league.  You have 1 team that is a grind it out, defensive minded and maybe offensively challenged squad. The other is a run up and down, create and outscore you to 100 type of team.  Tartan's defense gives them the nod here in a fun contrast of styles.  Simley takes advantage of major losses from the rest to move up.  North has enough coming back to stay top half.  Hastings and Mahtomedi will rely on their execution to drive teams mad.  The bottom 3 continue to build for future years.  St. Thomas Academy gets a nod there with their returning sophomore class.

Conference MVP: Alonzo Dodd - South St. Paul

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Jayden Morgan, Maxwell Mogelson - Henry Sibley
• Will Underwood - Mahtomedi
• Ishmael Powell - North St. Paul
  
• Max Wilson - South St. Paul
  
• Jack Chamberlain, Michael Kirchner, Michael Thompson, Anthony Bickford - St. Thomas Academy

Conference Games to Watch

• South St. Paul at Tartan - Jan 21
• Tartan at South St. Paul - Feb 18th
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• None