2023-24 Skyline Conference Preview

This is the third preview in my 2023-24 season preview series.  Moving up to AA schools, the Skyline Conference is next.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.

Concordia Academy Beacons (2022-23 season 19-10, 11-4 Conference, 3rd)
The best dressed coach in the metro has to replace all 3 double figure scorers from last season.  Do everything guard AJ Greene and his 23.3 PPG is the biggest loss.  Wings Ben Raymond (15.6 PPG) and Luc Swanson (12.3 PPG) will be missed for their shooting.  Junior Noah Quiggle (6.1 PPG) should step right in for Josh Ortiz inside.  Luke Olson (8.1 PPG) is the top returning scorer and guard.  Kellen Quast should also see an increased backcourt role.

Cristo Rey Jesuit Pumas (2022-23 season 6-21, 2-13 Conference, 8th)
The Pumas have been a hard team to figure out the last 2 seasons.  They're more talented than the record shows.  Last season they were 1-6 in league games decided by 4 points or less.  The entire rotation returns and that includes 3 double figure scorers.  Patrick Akoussan leads the team at 18 PPG.  Guards Corey Dotson (13.1 PPG) and Miles Nelson (11 PPG) lead the backcourt.  All 3 are experienced seniors.  Junior Omar Whittaker (7.9 PPG) also returns to the starting lineup.

Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs (2022-23 season 25-4, 15-0 Conference, 1st)
Last year's JV coach Matt Shepard takes over with the departure of Ervin Bryant after 1 season.  A large chunk of the rotation needs to be replaced.  Wing Bailey McDonald (14.1 PPG) was the leading scorer last season. Nick Anderson (9.7 PPG) was the top interior option and there's very few other options in the program.  Both have graduated.  The backcourt will still be a strength though undersized with Datrell McCrimmon (11.8 PPG) and Greyson Rennie (11.4 PPG) coming back.  Drew Balentine (9.1 PPG) returns on the wing.

New Life Academy Eagles (2022-23 season 26-6, 12-3 Conference, 2nd, state class A runner-up)
Head coach Robbie Whitney moved on to a grad assistant position at Augustana.  Assistant Charlie Hoaglund takes over the program.  Most of the rotation needs to be replaced from last year's state class A runner up.  That includes Minnesota walk-on Erick Reader (14.7 PPG) and PG Max Briggs (13.4 PPG).  They'll be strong on the wing.  Seniors Colter Stone (10.7 PPG) and John Kirschling (8.6 PPG) both saw major minutes last year.  Senior Parker Moseman will step into the rotation there as well. Junior Noah Hahn and soph Dylan Wall look to move up from JV roles.

Nova Classical Academy Knights (2022-23 season 6-21, 0-8 Conference, 9th)
The Knights return their entire roster from last season.  With only 4 seniors, it will still be a relatively young roster.  Junior guard Mason Engelking led the team in scoring at 15.4 PPG.  Soph wing Caleb Taylor put up almost 10 PPG.  Center Silas Revenaugh returns in the middle at 8.8 PPG.  He's battled injuries the last 2 seasons.  Seniors Miles Aamodt and Alex Ehlebracht return to the starting lineup as well.

St. Agnes Aggies (2022-23 season 16-12, 8-7 Conference, 4th)
St. Agnes needs to replace 3 seniors including 12.4 PPG from wing Paul Plasch.  Junior forward Nolan Davis (12.9 PPG) and senior guard Andrew Weber (15.1 PPG) return to lead the offense.  Senior guard Cegan Flood (9.4 PPG) also returns to the perimeter rotation.  Senior Joe Skidmore returns on a wing.

St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders (2022-23 season 12-15, 6-9 Conference, 6th)
The Crusaders need to replace 4 of their top 5 scorers.  A major loss is point guard Jaiden Neish (14.2 PPG).  He is off to prep school.  Senior guard Elias Blumer (9.3 PPG) is the only returnee who averaged more than 4.5 PPG.  Juniors Mateo Garcia, Robert Carlson and Ole Skiren will need to evolve into their increased roles.

St. Croix Prep Lions (2022-23 season 11-17, 7-8 Conference, 5th)
Coach Keven Seim loses 3 members of his rotation.  The main loss is Christian Nelson (10.5 PPG) who was their only double figure scorer last season.  2nd leading scorer Ben Myers (9.2 PPG) and his brother Thomas are now at Hill-Murray.  Junior guard Chase Hanson (7.9 PPG) is the top returnee.  Brady Harbinson (7.1 PPG) is the other guard in that group.  Senior Brady Nelson (5.7 PPG) returns to start in the middle.  Seniors Patrick Brown (7.7 PPG) and Elliot Gremmels will also see major perimeter minutes.  Junior William Weeldreyer will be the other interior option.

Trinity Tri-Hawks (2022-23 season 8-20, 3-12 Conference, 7th)
Trinity went very young last year with 5 sophomores.  This year they return all but 1 player.  Senior Justin Groppel (13 PPG) is one of 3 double figure scorers coming back.  He's the main interior threat.  Junior guards Nathan Adbebe (12 PPG) and Isaac Rudquist (10.6 PPG) are the top outside options.  Not much scoring punch from the rest of the roster though.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Maranatha
   
2. St. Agnes 
   
3. New Life
   
4. Concordia
   
5. Cristo Rey 
6. St. Croix Prep
   
7. St. Croix Lutheran 
   
8. Trinity   
   
9. Nova Classical

Conference Overview
The Skyline goes back to standard round-robin scheduling this season after having a year or 2 of Nova only going around the league once.  Expect a down year in the league as you have heavy losses for all of last year's top teams.  Its really hard to pick a top team here but Maranatha has quality guard play and tradition.  But they have a new coach.  St. Agnes has their top 2 guys coming back plus another couple guys coming back to give them a battle.  Then group 2 all has its questions.  New Life has a new coach and mostly new rotation guys.  The best dressed coach in the metro loses his top 3 but keeps them in the top half.  Cristo Rey with athletes and a ton back should be no worse than the middle spot and with a down year in the league, is this the year they make a run?  The bottom 4 all play slow and have major concerns about how they'll generate their offense.  St. Croix Lutheran and Trinity with their pack line defenses will get the benefit of the shot clock being in place.

Conference MVP: Colter Stone - New Life

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Dylan Wall - New Life
  
• Caleb Taylor - Nova
• Isaac Garcia - St. Croix Lutheran
  
• Cooper Bekmann, Logan Eiselt - St. Croix Prep
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Maranatha at New Life - Dec 12th 
• New Life at St. Agnes - Jan 12th
  
• St. Agnes at Maranatha - Jan 22nd
  
• New Life at Maranatha - Jan 26th 
• St. Agnes at New Life - Feb 13th
  
• Maranatha at St. Agnes - Feb 22nd
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• St, Agnes at Heritage - Dec 1st
  
• Avail at New Life - Dec 7th
• CHOF at New Life - Dec 14th
  
• Maranatha at Holy Family - Jan 5th
• Maranatha at Lake City - Feb 3rd
• Breck at St. Agnes - Feb 7th
  
• Minnehaha at Maranatha - Feb 10th
• New Life at Heritage - Feb 20th
  
• Maranatha at Breck  - Feb 26th