2020-21 Minneapolis City Conference Preview

This is the 8th preview in my 2020-2021 season preview series.  We stay in city boundaries with the Minneapolis City Conference.  For a list of all the season previews, click here.

Edison Tommies (2019-20 season 12-12, 6-6 Conference, 4th)
Edison will be strong on the wings.  Seniors Johnny Spencer, Jabari Langely and Jeremiah Thompson all return to the lineup there.  Soph Micah Young is another forward who saw time last year.  Guard play will be a question mark.  Frosh Hanif Muhammad has transferred after seeing time the last 2 seasons.

North Polars (2019-20 season 21-8, 12-0 Conference, 1st)
North should continue to dominate the league.  Center Quientrail Jamison-Travis (10.8 PPG) is a significant loss.  The Polars return everybody else including league MVP Davon Townley (17.1 PPG) at his power forward spot.  Guard Willie Wilson (15.8 PPG) will handle the ball a ton.  They also add top wing prospect Andre Gray as a transfer from Hopkins.  Plenty of perimeter depth behind them for a team that should make plenty of noise in class AA.

Patrick Henry Patriots (2019-20 season 17-11, 8-4 Conference, 2nd)
The Patriots are hit hard by graduation with their top 3 scorers graduating.  The double figure scoring guards Mark Campbell (12.4 PPG) and Glentrell Carter (11.8 PPG) are the biggest losses.  A couple of the juniors who were expected to step up have transferred.  So I expect to see a totally overhauled lineup.  Juniors Karon Abdullah and Ajani Mcrae are the top returnees.  Robbinsdale Cooper transfer Denzil Walker could also be an impact player.

Roosevelt Teddies (2019-20 season 1-26, 0-12 Conference, 7th)
The top 2 scorers graduate from a thin roster that struggled to score.  Forward Dennis Holte (9.7 PPG) leads the front line.  Lefty guard Lakarion Moore (8.6 PPG) leads the guards.  Expect another long season.

South Tigers (2019-20 season 8-18, 4-8 Conference, 6th)
PG Jaylen Blakley (12.5 PPG) is the most significant graduation loss.  The Tigers return high scoring guard Anthony Martin who can go for 30 on any given night in the league. The add reinforcements with an incoming freshman class of transfers.  Athletic forward Chiang Ring and PG Demari Larkins were impact starters at Brooklyn Center last season.  PG Jerome Williams comes over from Minnehaha.

Southwest Lakers (2019-20 season 12-15, 5-7 Conference, 5th)
The Lakers have a couple of wings to replace in Christo Polydorou (17 PPG) and junior Cam Holter (13.5 PPG).  Holter is now at Holy Angels.  But the junior class will still lead the way.  Forwards Hakeem Ford (8 PPG) and Gabe Senseman-Cassidy (9.3 PPG) form the current core.  Senior Marcus Mattox returns to a guard spot.  Seniors Jaden Reed and Franklin Wolfe also return to the rotation.

Washburn Millers (2019-20 season 10-15, 7-5 Conference, 3rd)
Star wing Josh Rogers (16.8 PPG) and banger David Worman (8.2 PPG) are the main losses from the rotation.  Plenty returns for the Millers.  Seniors Jamar Nelson (9.6 PPG) and Sir'vell Miller are experienced ball handlers.  Nyle Dickel (7 PPG) and Will Kuelbs also return to the lineup.  Junior Cass Ramberg returns up front.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. North
2. South  
   
3. Southwest    
   
4. Edison
5. Washburn  
6. Henry  
   
7. Roosevelt

Conference Overview
North is no doubt the class of the league.  With the league being down this year, let's bank on the youth at South for the next spot.  The rest is up in the air.  I like the discipline and improvement of Southwest.  Edison and Washburn should be similar.  Henry always has talent so picking them 6th is criminal but with nobody of note returning, I couldn't go higher.  Roosevelt clearly brings up the last spot.

Conference MVP: Davon Townley - North

Underclassmen to watch:  

• Micah Young - Edison
• Datrell McCrimmon, Zashon Rich - North
• Chiang Ring, Demari Larkins, Jerome Williams - South

Conference Games to Watch

• North at South - Jan 27th
• South at North - Feb 16th
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Minneapolis South at St. Paul Central - Dec 4th
  
• Richfield at Minneapolis North - Dec 10th
• Minneapolis North at De La Salle - Dec 12th
• Minneapolis South at Wayzata - Dec 15th
  
• Minneapolis North at Minnehaha - Dec 30th
• Minneapolis North at Hopkins - Feb 22nd