This is the 12th preview in my 2025-2026 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 (2024-25 season 20-8, 11-5 Conference, Tie 3rd)
Point guard Weston Schult (11.6 PPG) and forward Lukas Foss (11.4 PPG) are a valuable inside out duo that need to be replaced. Guard Matthew Foss (15.2 PPG) returns after leading the team in scoring last season. Junior wing/forward Marlowe Strain (10.4 PPG) figures to have another big burst of production. Soph guard Brady Hendrickson (7.9 PPG) also returns to the starting lineup. Carter Lundstrom, Liam Burnatz and Caleb Gudissa also will see guard time. Landon Miska will see minutes inside.
Hill-Murray Pioneers (2024-25 season 8-19, 3-13 Conference, 8th)
Dustin Hayes takes over as Cam Jones took the St. Paul Central job. He spent many years on the White Bear Lake staff and was a head coach at St. Croix Central just across the river. He'll have to replace most of the lineup. Soph Koa Fuller leads the returning squad. Soph Jacob Dornan and Noah VanWychen return at guard spots. Alex Reid and John Omoyeniwill be the primary interior players. A youthful roster looking toward the future.
Mahtomedi Zephyrs (2024-25 season 18-10, 13-3 Conference, 2nd)
The Zephyrs should be poised for another strong season. They return 3 of their top 4 scorers. That includes the duo of combo guard Mark Graff (19.2 PPG) and junior forward Willie Roelofs (16.5 PPG). Wing Noah Carlson (7.2 PPG) also returns to the starting lineup. Andrew Russell will see more minutes inside. Joe Sevenich returns to the guard rotation.
North Polars (2024-25 season 12-12, 6-10 Conference, Tie 5th)
Three seniors graduating and a pair of transfers to district rival Tartan mean a rebuilding year. Leading scorer Duke King (16 PPG) and soph forward Kenny Brown are those transfers. The duo of Terrence Horton (10.3 PPG) and point guard Elijah Ernwein (8.1 PPG) leads the way. Zach Evgen, Montaeo Jarvis and AJ Scarver join them in the guard rotation. Junior Elijah Benepe mans the middle.
St. Thomas Academy Cadets (2024-25 season 19-10, 11-5 Conference, Tie 3rd)
Pat Sjoberg takes over the Cadets program. Forward Andrew Nolde (19.7 PPG) will be a major loss inside. Senior Lars Osteraas (13.3 PPG) will be the do everything guy for the Cadets with the rest of the starters graduating. Guard Dominic Baez is defensive minded. Senior wings George Anderson and Todd Rogalski (5.1 PPG) also return to the rotation. Junior guard Max Hayes looks to have a bigger role.
Simley Spartans (2024-25 season 6-20, 1-15 Conference, 9th)
Simley returns most of their lineup. But they lose star freshman forward Justus Dayee to Tartan. Soph Andre Glass is a 3rd year point guard. Christian Urbina will also handle it a ton. Junior Tre Lovelace and senior Connor Streiff lead the offense from the wings. Senior Lyric Groth provides a ton of experience with them. Kaynen Zein and Nathan Elachi are the main inside options.
South St. Paul Packers (2024-25 season 11-16, 5-11 Conference, 7th)
Star forward Mustafa Mohamed (14.7 PPG) is another top guy transferring. He's off to Texas. Lots returning to the lineup though. Junior wing Dante Branch (13.5 PPG) had a breakout season and is poised for big numbers this season. Marco London, Keishon Jarmon and Sincere Casarez-McCampbell and soph Keli Marik are all experienced guards coming back. Forward Addison Tereau (10.6 PPG) returns to his interior dump off guy role.
Tartan Titans (2024-25 season 27-1, 16-0 Conference, 1st)
Coach Mark Klingsporn looks to have another elite group. He has Duke King and Kenny Brown coming in from North St. Paul and Justus Dayee from Simley. Tyrel Pride returns after a year at Johnson. Not to mention he returns 2 of the top sophs in Minnesota and 2 other rotation guys. KJ Wilson (16.8 PPG) runs the point and Emmanuel Oyesanmi (10.6 PPG) can move out to the wing with Duke King. Pride will fit right in at the 2 with King at the 3. Dayee can slot in at the 5. That's a lineup that can make some real noise. Jaylen Goergen is a veteran who knows how to play within the system.
Two Rivers Warriors (2024-25 season 12-16, 6-10 Conference, Tie 5th)
The Warriors return most of their lineup and will be a senior laden group. Ramzi Rizlove (13.6 PPG) leaves after a career running the point. Guards Lamont Michaels (14.2 PPG) and Martevious Allen (9.3 PPG) provide some scoring punch. Rory Schuler (7.8 PPG) joins them on the wing. Forward Julian Greer (13.6 PPG) plays inside and out with the ability to fill it up in a hurry. Frosh Jaylen Greer will see plenty of minutes too.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Tartan
- Mahtomedi
- Hastings
- St. Thomas Academy
- Two Rivers
- South St. Paul
- Simley
- North
- Hill-Murray
Tartan is far ahead of the pack here with their additions. Mahtomedi returns a most of a 2nd place roster and I think they stand out above everybody else. The bottom 3 of Simley, North and Hill-Murray are their own group with Simley being the most talented but they also have really struggled to put it together the last 3 seasons. South St. Paul is too talented to be 6th but losing Mustafa Mohamed is a ton to ask for a roster that underacheived last season. Two Rivers with a ton back will give rival St. Thomas Academy a run. But I think Lars Osteraas builds on a great summer and puts the Cadets on his back. Hastings was a pleasant surprise last year and has 2 nice pieces coming back. I'll take them for the 3rd spot.
Conference MVP: KJ Wilson - Tartan
Underclassmen to watch:
- Brady Hendrickson - Hastings
- Koa Fuller, Jacob Dornan - Hill-Murray
- D'Wayne Gibson, AJ Scarver, DJ Walton - North St. Paul
- Andre Glass - Simley
- Keli Mark - South St. Paul
- KJ Wilson, Emannuel Oyesanmi, Justus Dayee, Kenny Brown - Tartan
- Jaylen Greer, Sol Mogelson - Two Rivers
- Tartan at Mahtomedi - Dec 22nd
- Mahtomedi at Tartan - Feb 4th
- Mahtomedi vs Hudson (WI) - Dec 2nd
- Tartan at Hopkins - Dec 6th (Big Stage)
- Tartan vs Alexandria - Dec 13th (Tipoff Classic at Edina)
- Mahtomedi at Orono - Dec 17th
- Tartan vs Maple Grove - Dec 27th (Capitol City Classic at Bethel)
- Brainerd at Tartan - Dec 30th
- Mahtomedi vs Anoka - Jan 10th (Southside Super Showcase at Minnehaha)
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