2022-23 Metro East Conference Preview

This is the 9th preview in my 2022-2023 season preview series.  This preview is for 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 (2021-22 season 5-22, 4-12 Conference, 7th)
Hastings is looking at another year of building toward the future.  Senior Kelvin Maher and junior guard Owen Bernatz (13.2 PPG) are the top returnees.  Junior forward Kellen Nuytten will also be an offensive option. 

Hill-Murray Pioneers (2021-22 season 2-25, 0-16 Conference, 9th)
The Pioneers rebuild continues as they have to replace 4 starters.  That includes 12 PPG from center Eddie Reece.  Soph wing Xavier Daniels (11.7 PPG) will be the focus of the offense.  Guards Bennett Nicholson and Joe McGurran will also be counted upon for scoring.  Junior Gavin Berg also returns to the rotation.

Mahtomedi Zephyrs (2021-22 season 18-8, 11-5 Conference, tie 2nd)
Mahtomedi is poised to make some noise this season.  They return their top 5 scorers from last season.  That includes Owen Carlson (23 PPG) and Cole Armitage (13.5 PPG).  Plus PG Will Underwood (23.6 PPG in 20-21) returns from injury after he basically missed all of last season.  They are loaded at the perimeter spots with shooting and experience.  Size would be the 1 question for this roster.

North Polars (2021-22 season 4-23, 3-13 Conference, 8th)
NSP has to replace most of the roster after a down season.  That includes 6 top scorers led by Jevon Jackson's 10.8 PPG.  Junior Aidan Hammond is part of that list after transferring to Stillwater.  Junior Jazayah Gate (3.9 PPG) is about the only piece remaining.  Doreon Ceaser will be an interior option.

St. Thomas Academy Cadets (2021-22 season 16-12, 9-7 Conference, 5th)
Big man Nathan Johnson and his team high 16.4 PPG is the lone loss.  There are guards upon guards upon guards for coach Khalid El-Amin.  Michael Kirchner (15.1 PPG) and Jack Chamberlain (11.7 PPG) are the 2 who averaged double digits last year.  Michael Thompson is the 3rd of that group of senior guards who will be seeing their 4th year on varsity.  Soph guard Isa El-Amin came up huge in their playoff game vs arch rival Two Rivers.  Junior guard Luke Dobbs averaged 8.7 PPG.  Tate Hinkemeyer is the lone returnee with size.

Simley Spartans (2021-22 season 18-8, 10-6 Conference, 4th)
The Spartans have to replace guards RJ Jioklow (17.3 PPG) and Devin Robinson plus their top interior forward Kevin Wormer (10.3 PPG).  Senior lefty Kayden Reid (13.5 PPG) and junior Deoviez Williams (10.7 PPG) are the top returnees.  Connor Binley and Dezmond Smith saw reserve roles with JV time last year.  They'll have increased roles this season.  Justin Klint gives them a shooter in the rotation.

South St. Paul Packers (2021-22 season 28-1, 16-0 Conference, 1st)
Assistant Darren Edwards took over the program midway thru last season and he keeps the job.  That's after the in-season resignation and then offseason death of former coach Matt McCollister.  So its with a very heavy heart that the Packers replace almost their entire rotation.  Forward America Fitch returns along with a talented and young JV squad.  Junior Gavin Pendergast leads that group.  They also pickup Elonzo and De'Vaun Simmons who were double figure scorers at St. Agnes last season.

Tartan Titans (2021-22 season 21-7, 11-5 Conference, tie 2nd)
The Titans have to replace all 5 starters including 3 double figure scorers.  That means a trio of juniors will lead the way.  Forwards Brody Radtke and Elijah Barrett will be the main scoring threats.  Radtke is a stretch 4 while Barrett is more of an interior threat.  Marino Porter will run the show and be the typical Tartan defensive pest on the ball.

Two Rivers Warriors (2021-22 season 16-10, 8-8 Conference, 6th)
The double figures perimeter duo of Jaden Morgan (14.4 PPG) and Tre Michaels (11 PPG) needs to be replaced.  Morgan is now at De La Salle.  Junior forward Max Mogelson (9.8 PPG) and wing Carson Christiansen (8.5 PPG) return to the starting lineup.  Thomas Lutz and Keesaun Powell were rotation players last year as well.  Center Davion Long provides length and a defensive presence inside.  Soph Ramzi Rislove will see plenty of time at the point guard spot.

Predicted Order of Finish

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

Conference Overview
Mahtomedi is the heavy favorite here with a ton coming back and getting Will Underwood back for a full season.  Tartan gets my nod for 2nd with 3 solid juniors coming back and their tradition.  St. Thomas Academy will give them a run with their experience.  South St. Paul is talented enough, but will experience be an issue for them?  Adding the Simmons brothers is a huge boost to that question plus their perimeter defense.  Simley will be a solid middle team.  Then Two Rivers needs to find scoring with the loss of Jaden Morgan.  The bottom 3 are in rebuild mode.

Conference MVP: Will Underwood - Mahtomedi

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Kyan Esterby, Lukas Foss - Hastings 
• Xavier Daniels - Hill-Murray
  
• Jerror Borsay - North St. Paul
  
• Terry Carter, Devin Sutherland, Keishon Jarman, Sincere McCampbell - South St. Paul
  
• Isa El-Amin - St. Thomas Academy
  
• Ramzi Rislove, Mason Boyken - Two Rivers

Conference Games to Watch

• St. Thomas Academy at Mahtomedi - Jan 10th
• Tartan at Mahtomedi - Jan 31st
• Mahtomedi at St. Thomas Academy - Feb 7th
• Mahtomedi at Tartan - Feb 28th
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Tartan at Richfield - Dec 9th
• Mahtomedi vs Stewartville - Dec 10th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
• Mahtomedi at Stillwater - Dec 20th
• Mahtomedi at Minnehaha - Jan 14th