Welcome to the Czar's 16th annual season preview series. This is the first preview in the 3 week 2022-2023 series. The previews will once again be done starting with small schools and working up to the big schools. When its all done, a final high-level preview will complete the series. That means the we'll start with the tiny independent charter schools. For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.
INDEPENDENTS
Chesterton Academy Knights (2021-22 season 2-10)
The Knights look to have another rebuilding year ahead.
Christ's Household of Faith Lions (2021-22 season 7-15)
The Lions need to replace leading scorer Jared Harms. But they'll have a couple of returning pieces that can step in. Wing Sloan Eckman and junior guard Henry Bluhm should lead the offense. Landon Strandlund returns inside and Skyler Alleman returns on the wing. That means 4 starters return. Juniors Jestin Bluhm and Erro Harms return to the rotation as well.
Hiawatha Colliegiate Wolves (2021-22 season 20-7, 10-1 EMAC, 1st)
This is the season the Wolves have built towards. The reigning EMAC champs upgrade the schedule and move to the independent ranks this season. PG Jessye Lewis and his 19.9 PPG once again is the engine that drives them. Romelle Bell (16.1 PPG) does the dirty work as an undersized forward. Nehemiah Davis (12.2 PPG) is another scoring guard. They'll need to replace the shooting of MD Daud (15 PPG and 70 3s). Size is a major question as they look to be a factor in tough section 5AA.
Hope Academy Lions (2021-22 season 13-14)
Hope needs to replace the high-powered guard duo of Elijah Wade (21.1 PPG) and Jordan Brown (20.2 PPG). A couple of double figure options do remain with guard Dez Jones (14.2 PPG) and Zak Ruhland (12.5 PPG). Junior Kieran Dietsche and soph Guta Temesgen should see much expanded roles in their return to the rotation.
Kaleidoscope Comets (2021-22 season 11-15)
The Comets will have a new coach this season with Chris Buerman taking the Coon Rapids girls job. Forward Matthew Aasen (17 PPG/15 RPG and wing AJ Kargel (14.2 PPG) need to be replaced from this high-tempo squad. Aasen is just 1 member of the crew lost due to the breakup of the Kaleidoscope basketball co-op with Holy Spirit Academy of Monticello. Holy Spirit is now with Maple Lake for basketball. PG Michael Jude (23.3 PPG) was last year's engine. He may also be lost due to the co-op change.
Twin Cities Academy/Great River Tigers (2020-21 season 11-6)
Minnesota Magic director and former Eagan assistant Cornell Pillow takes over the program. He has the tall task of replacing Carmelo and Carrington McNeal who combined for 40 PPG last season. Those 2 were the main offense in the program for years. Now a couple of young pieces will have to step up into bigger roles. Soph Jamal Randle averaged 12.2 PPG and is the leading returning scorer. Frosh Jacob Stiele should see a bigger role after seeing bench minutes last season. Giovanni Alonso and Andrew Emelife return as interior players. Kensen Yang (7 PPG) returns on a wing.
Ubah Medical Academy (2021-22 season 3-6)
No information available
CITY CONFERENCE
This is a new conference of metro charter schools. Five of them are in Minneapolis. Two are in St. Paul with Prairie Seeds Academy in Brooklyn Park. The league will be similar to the EMAC but I think you'll see a slightly higher level of play.
Exploration (2021-22 Season, no varsity team)
This charter school in northeast Minneapolis joins the varsity ranks this season.
High School for Recording Arts Falcons (2021-22 season 2-2)
No information available
Lincoln International Eagles (2021-22 season 0-3)
No information available
Metro Deaf School Cheetahs
Did not play in 2021-22 season. They've recently moved to a new location in St. Paul. That ruined the shortest road trip on record from the days when they were right next door to Hmong Academy. They had the rare 2nd floor gym in their old building.
Metro Schools College Prep Lions (2021-22 season 6-7)
They will press and play fast. Very dependent on turnovers to produce offense. Streaky shooting team.
Minnesota Transitions Wolves (2021-22 season 3-3)
No information available
Prairie Seeds Academy Lycans (2021-22 0-0)
No information available
Venture Academy (2021-22 season 1-5)
They will have some athletes but are still developing the program.
Overview
A couple of new coaches in the independent ranks plus a new conference. Don't confuse this City Conference with the St. Paul City or Minneapolis City. While these are city schools, they are small charter schools. Quality wise I'd evaluate it as being between the EMAC and the MCAA. Hiawatha is the class of the teams listed with their core coming back for yet another season. Twin Cities Academy has some nice young pieces as well.
MVP: Jessye Lewis - Hiawatha
Underclassmen to watch:
- Jamal Randle, Jacob Stiele - Twin Cities Academy
- Minneapolis Washburn at Hiawatha - Dec 2nd
- Hiawatha at Maranatha - Dec 5th
- St. Paul Johnson at Hiawatha - Dec 10th
- Hiawatha at St. Paul Central - Dec 16th
- Hiawatha at Minnehaha - Jan 17th