2024-25 Suburban East Conference Preview

This is the 16th preview in my 2024-2025 season preview series.  In this preview, I continue my look at the local big schools with a look at the Suburban East Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they were generated, click here.

Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders (2023-24 season 25-6, 17-1 Conference, 1st)
Coach Jerry Kline has one of the most talented rosters of his tenure.  Notre Dame commit Tommy Ahneman transfers in after being the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Dakota last year.  He had a great summer in the middle for Howard Pulley.  Monteff Dixon (13 PPG) provides additional size in the front court.  They are loaded below the senior level too.  Junior guard JoJo Mitchell (19 PPG) is the catalyst.  They also add the state's top soph Ty Schlagel from Eden Prairie.  Juniors Isaiah Thom and PG Jason Johnson saw big minutes last year.  Plus they'll have no fewer than 7 more underclassmen from last year who will compete for minutes.  That doesn't even include a couple of incoming freshmen.

East Ridge Raptors (2023-24 season 20-8, 16-2 Conference, 2nd)
The Raptors will be very strong in the backcourt.  Junior guard Cedric Tomes (19.1 PPG) can play on or off the ball.  James Martin is another ball handler who can hit open shots and Bennett Skinner can shoot it.  Add in frosh Ben Koch for depth and you have a very nice group.  Kyle Frendt will see a much expanded role up front with Charlie Theis and Charlie Bern graduating.  Graham Sanneh is another front line option.

Forest Lake Rangers (2023-24 season 16-13, 9-9 Conference, tie 5th)
Forest Lake has to replace all 5 starters and 6 of their top 7 scorers.  That includes star forward Owen Waldoch (22.2 PPG).  He's now at Concordia-St. Paul.  Junior guard Soph DJ Westman (6.1 PPG) is the top returnee.  Tommy Kari will join him in the backcourt.  Beyond that there's no experience.

Irondale Knights (2023-24 season 4-23, 2-16 Conference, 10th)
Irondale had a big drop off last year but they do return 2 productive pieces.  Senior guard Jake Dedominces (22.3 PPG) and junior forward Cameron Cramble (9.1 PPG) lead the roster.  Juniors Fisher Killins and Mason Broussard will compliment them.  Riley Albertson and Randall Dwuye will also see rotation time.

Mounds View Mustangs (2023-24 season 19-9, 11-7 Conference, tie 3rd)
The Mustangs have to replace the forward duo of Eli Roe and Joey Fretheim who combined for almost 30 PPG.  Senior wing Alex Kriauciunas (11.6) is the leading returning scorer and should step into the goto role nicely.  Guards Cody Loegering (9.1 PPG) and Jacob Sampson also return to the starting lineup.  Jack Dahl, Royce Kytola and Ben Arnold will be returning rotation guys.  Nate Edelman (5.2 PPG) will be the main size guy.

Park Wolfpack (2023-24 season 13-14, 11-7 Conference, tie 3rd)
Former Simley head coach Isaiah Walfred is the new leader of the pack.  He has to replace 3 of the 4 double figure scorers from last year's roster.  Perimeter Seniors Anthony Giadyu (13.1 PPG) and Miskir Esayas (7.2 PPG) are the top options.  Dom Batts and junior Brandon Bihm also return from last year's rotation.  Adrian Davis is another option.  Expect a short rotation of no more than 1 or 2 guys.

Roseville Raiders (2023-24 season 15-12, 9-9 Conference, tie 5th)
The Raiders have a strong guard rotation coming back with the return of Noah George (13.6 PPG), Kellen Little (10 PPG) and soph Micah Wiskus.  Tyler Thompson also returns with that group.  They'll miss the slashing of Ataa Mensah (10.3 PPG) to create points.  He's one of 7 graduated seniors from the rotation.  Dylan Hageman will be the main size option. 

Stillwater Ponies (2023-24 season 13-14, 7-11 Conference, 7th)
Leading scorer Henry Zollar (15.5 PPG) returns at a guard spot.  Joe Fredkove (6.8 PPG) is the other returning starter at a forward spot.  Soph AJ Taban (5.8 PPG) should jump into the starting lineup and be a double figure scorer.  Seniors Ryan Silbernagel and West Dell will likely see guard minutes.

White Bear Lake Bears (2023-24 season 3-24, 3-15 Conference, 9th)
Guards Rithy Sain (11.3 PPG) and Korey Raheem (5.6 PPG) lead the returning guard corps.  They have a group of other returning senior guards to play with them.  Junior forward Colin Piper (11.1 PPG) leads the front line.  No other notable size besides him on the roster though.

Woodbury Royals (2023-24 season 9-18, 5-13 Conference, 8th)
Senior guard Marquivion Beasley (13.6 PPG) has led the team in scoring in the last 2 seasons.  Forward Finn Norman (6.7 PPG) will be the other primary offensive option.  But the loss of 8 seniors will make the rest of the Royals roster very inexperienced.  Senior Gabe Rosinski looks to be one of those replacement guys on the front line.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Cretin-Derham Hall
   
2. East Ridge     
   
3. Mounds View
   
4. Stillwater 
   
5. Park 
   
6. Roseville
7. White Bear Lake  
   
8. Woodbury
   
9. Irondale   
10. Forest Lake   
    

Conference Overview:
Cretin-Derham Hall is the class of this group and they'll look to make a run for a state title.  East Ridge is the clear #2 here.  A notch behind them is Mounds View who I expect will reload as always and rack up a bunch of wins vs those behind them.  The rest of the league is very mediocre and had important losses but outside of Forest Lake everybody has a piece or 2.  Stillwater and Park will battle for that next spot.  Very interested to see how the trio of sophs for Stillwater develops.  White Bear Lake looks to make a jump with 3 pieces coming back.  Forest Lake having to replace just about everything puts them at the bottom.

Conference MVP: JoJo Mitchell - Cretin-Derham Hall

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Ty Schlagel, Judah Mitchell, Anthony Armstrong, Julian Smith, Dre Frierson-Hollie - Cretin-Derham Hall
  
• Ben Koch - East Ridge 
• Micah Wiskus - Roseville
  
• AJ Taban, Carter Zollar, Zack Krusemark - Stillwater
  
• Ethan Studer - Woodbury
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Cretin-Derham Hall at East Ridge - Dec 18th
• East Ridge at Cretin-Derham Hall - Feb 7th

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Cretin-Derham Hall  vs Alexandria - Dec 7th (Tip-off Classic at Hopkins)
• Cretin-Derham Hall vs Orono - Dec 14th (Big Stage at Totino-Grace)
  
• Totino-Grace at East Ridge - Dec 20th
• Totino-Grace at Cretin-Derham Hall - Jan 3rd
• De La Salle at Cretin-Derham Hall - Feb 15th
  
• East Ridge at Wayzata - Feb 19th