2023-24 Metro West Conference Preview

This is the 10th preview in my 2023-2024 season preview series.  Its now time for the big schools with the mostly class AAAA leagues are now on the list of previews.  In this preview, a look at the Metro West Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.

Benilde St. Margaret's Red Knights (2022-23 season 24-5, 12-2 Conference, 1st)
Coach Damien Johnson and his Red Knights look to make a state trip this season. 4 double figure scorers are back.  One of the state's top juniors, forward Jalen Wilson, leads the way with 18.2 PPG.  Junior lefty PG Jaleel Donley (13.8 PPG) is also a game changer.  Junior Abu Keita (10.6 PPG) returns on the wing.  Guard Ron Lee is another returning rotation option.  They do lose 3 rotation players due to transfers including Christian Wiggins, Kayden Wells and Colin Kirk so keep an eye on their depth.

Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars (2022-23 season 14-13, 7-7 Conference, 5th)
Wisconsin commit and league MVP Daniel Freitag (28.5 PPG) is now at Breck.  That might be the single biggest loss for any team in the state.  Junior guard Marcus Horton (9.6 PPG) leads the returnees.  Junior wing Thomas Rowland (5.2 PPG) will be another one of the limited scoring options.  Jonathan Weber will also give them backcourt minutes.  The roster has limited size too.

Chanhassen Storm (2022-23 season 15-14, 8-6 Conference, 4th)
The Storm is brewing with 3 top scorers coming back.  Senior PG Max Woods (22.6 PPG) appears poised for another monster season.  He ended last season with 30 point 2nd half outburst against Minnetonka in the section finals.  He has a couple of sharpshooters around him in Riley Johnson (14.6 PPG) and Evan Murray (10 PPG).  Junior Mikan Pelowski will be one option to clean up inside.

Chaska Hawks (2022-23 season 9-18, 5-9 Conference, 6th)
Three double figure scorers depart for the Hawks.  Junior forward Tray Lenzen (14.6 PPG) and freshman PG Tyler Forrest (9.6 PPG) are the top 2 returnees and guys they can build around.  Junior guard Jimmy Coddington and forward Carson Vollbrecht will also see major roles.  Senior guard Jameson Boyle is another ball handling option.

New Prague Trojans (2022-23 season 7-20, 4-10 Conference, 7th)
Junior wing Evan Weichart (20 PPG) is the top returnee for the Trojans.  He's joined by Henry Novak with 7.2 PPG.  George Songe (6.4 PPG) looks to pick up some scoring slack too.  PG Noah Washa (11.9 PPG) will be missed in the backcourt.

Orono Spartans (2022-23 season 26-6, 11-3 Conference, 2nd, AAA State 3rd place)
Isaiah Hagen with his 23.2 PPG and clutch play need to be replaced.  They'll also miss the backcourt experience of Kyle Kallenbach (11.9 PPG) and Grant Gunderson (9.4 PPG).  Juniors Nolan Groves (13.4 PPG) and Brady Wooley (5.9 PPG) will be the top guys.  Groves can shoot it or take you off the bounce.  Wooley has a versatile face up forward game.  Riley Nelson and Mitchell Kauch are other options in the backcourt.  Logan Chappell will be another up front option.

St. Louis Park Orioles (2022-23 season 2-25, 0-14 Conference, 8th)
Former Oriole Arsenio Richardson takes over the program after a very long season.  He returns junior twins Micah (13.1 PPG) and Marley Curtis (10.4 PPG) on the wing.  They originally were looking to transfer to Hopkins.  Guards Javaris Ellis and Keegan Hartford also return to the lineup.

Waconia Wildcats (2022-23 season 13-15, 9-5 Conference, 3rd)
Waconia has their top 5 scorers coming back.  Soph PG Will Kirsch (14.6 PPG) leads 4 double figure scorers.  Lefty wings Gavin Olson (12.4 PPG) and Tate McDonald (6.1 PPG) return with him on the outside.  Chris Fulford (11.3 PPG) returns to man the interior.  Jackson Hayes (10.3 PPG) returns to play either spot.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Benilde-St. Margaret's   
   
2. Orono
   
3. Chanhassen   
   
4. Waconia
5. Chaska 
   
6. New Prague
   
7. Bloomington Jefferson
   
8. St. Louis Park
   

Conference Overview
You have Benilde-St. Margaret's and Orono who played in the 6AAA section final last year.  Then you have Chanhassen who made a run to the 2AAAA final.  Plus a Waconia roster that returns a ton.  Not to mention Chaska, New Prague and St. Louis Park all are returning top guys.  So its a tough year to be in the league.  Benilde- St. Margaret's gets my vote as the defending champ with all their stars coming back.  Orono, Chanhassen and Waconia will be an absolute battle and any could end up winning the title too.  Orono always well coached.  Then there's Chanhassen (run) and Waconia (defend and execute) that are opposite styles but will win lots of games.  It may be another year of it looking like nobody wants to win the league with everybody getting beaten up by the schedule.  Chaska clearly stuck in the middle.  Then a big drop to the bottom 3 who will all struggle against this meat grinder of a schedule.  Need proof of tough schedules?  Look no further than the lists of games below for a bunch of games that will have major seeding impacts.
 
Conference MVP: Jalen Wilson - Benilde-St. Margaret's

Underclassmen to watch:  

• Tyler Forrest, Kalin Jochum - Chaska
• Ryan Oleisky, Jacob Natzel - St. Louis Park
• Will Kirsch - Waconia
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Chanhassen at Orono - Jan 16th
  
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Chanhassen - Jan 23rd
• Orono at Waconia - Jan 23rd
• Waconia at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Jan 26th
• Benilde St. Margaret's at Orono - Jan 29th
• Waconia at Chanhassen - Feb 1st
• Orono at Chanhassen - Feb 9th
• Waconia at Orono - Feb 16th
• Chanhassen at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Feb 16th
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Waconia - Feb 20th
• Orono at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Feb 23rd
• Chanhassen at Waconia - Feb 26th

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Orono at Hopkins - Nov 30th
  
• Alexandria at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 1st
• Minnehaha at Orono - Dec 5th
• Eden Prairie at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 7th
• Holy Family at Chanhassen - Dec 7th
• Waconia at Shakopee - Dec 7th
• Orono vs Eastview - Dec 9th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
• Lakeville South at Waconia - Dec 12th
  
• Orono vs Eden Prairie - Dec 16th (Big Stage at Park Center)
  
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Park Center - Dec 16th (Big Stage)
• Chanhassen at Buffalo - Dec 19th
• Delano at Orono - Dec 19th
• De La Salle at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 22nd
• Chanhassen at Lakeville North - Dec 29th (Lakeville North tourney)
• Chanhassen at Eden Prarire - Jan 3rd
• Eden Prairie at Waconia - Jan 5th
• Lakeville South at Chanhassen - Jan 6th
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Totino-Grace - Jan 6th
• Alexandria at Orono - Jan 6th
• Waconia at Delano - Jan 9th
• Hopkins at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Jan 9th
• Chanhassen at Shakopee - Jan 11th
• Eastview at Waconia - Jan 13th
  
• Homestead (WI) at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Jan 20th (Border Battle)
  
• Delano at Chanhassen - Jan 27th (Community Clash)
• Minnetonka at Chanhassen - Feb 28th