This weekend kicks off the long string of weekend events throughout the 2025-26 season. Here's a look at this weekend's Southside Showcase at Minnehaha Academy. Opening season events are a terrific chance to see some high quality matchups that wouldn't normally be scheduled.
1:15 PM Hermantown vs Caledonia
The showcase traditionally brings in quality programs from outside the metro and this is a prime example. Caledonia is a traditional powerhouse in class AA playing out of traditionally tough section 1. They have to replace 4 double-figure scorers after winning 29 games last year. Junior Grant King is one of the top sophomores in the state. He looks to continue the King tradition for the Warriors.
Hermantown features a roster building for next year with no senior starters. Junior center Sawyer Senst looks like he's a prototype left tackle in football and has good touch inside. He's a big body that's hard to move. Point guard Ben Sundland runs the show for the inside out duo. Sophomore forward Corbin Petcoff is a youngster to watch for the Hawks.
2:45 PM St. Paul Central vs St. Thomas Academy
St. Paul Central is looking to repeat as league champions in the St. Paul City Conference. They feature one of the league's top players in guard Eli Moseman. He scored 33 points in the season opening win over Woodbury. Three other starters also return for the Minutemen. Coach Cam Jones is in his first year after leading the Hill-Murray program. He replaces long time coach Scott Howell who finished his coaching career second in conference wins and third in total wins all time amongst St. Paul City coaches.
St. Thomas Academy's new head coach is Pat Sjoberg. He also has a star to turn to in guard Lars Osteraas. The lefty can play on or off the ball and is their top option. The rest of the starting lineup will be new. Reserves like Dominic Baez will be stepping into bigger roles this season. Baez will likely be one of the guys tasked with slowing down Eli Moseman. The Moseman vs Osteraas matchup is one of the premier matchups of the day.
4:15 PM Stillwater vs Anoka
Anoka should be one of the better teams in the NW Suburban Conference this season. Guard Dre Ellis and freshman forward Keldon Johnson return to the lineup. Ellis is dynamic with the ball in his hands attacking the basket. Johnson is one of Minnesota's top prospects in the 2029 class. Forward Bryce Gaustad is a top addition who can play away from the basket in their offense. Those 2 big men carried the offense in the opener. Gaustad with the gaudy stat line of 24 points and 21 boards in that game.
Stillwater's strength is their front line so that makes for an interesting matchup. They may be down a critical piece from that group though. Carter Zollar didn't play in the season opening loss to rival Mahtomedi. That would cost them a top scoring option. He's part of a talented junior class for the Ponies. Henry Percic is the main option in the backcourt.
6:00 PM St. Louis Park vs Eden Prairie
St. Louis Park has to replace the high flying Curtis twins this season. They're now playing at North Dakota. They were part of a large senior class that graduated. Forward Matthew Johnson and shooting guard Tanner Rose are the main scoring options. Rose with 22 points and Johnson with 18 in an impressive opening win over Champlin Park.
Point guard Hamze Yusuf leads a high powered Eden Prairie attack. He led the Eagles opening night win over Washburn with 22 points. Eden Prairie features a bevy of shooters to go with him. Guards Carter Pulrang and Grant Sprute are on top of that list. Forward Cooper Fahning can also step out and shoot it. The Eagles record might be very deceptive this year because they play in the super difficult and very top heavy Lake Conference.
7:30 PM Minneapolis Southwest at Minnehaha Academy
Minneapolis Southwest is a disciplined and experienced group. They lost a number of seniors but also played a bunch of juniors who will now step into new roles. Dashiell Erickson and Owen Boarmen are a couple of wings who can shoot it but have good size and can play inside. Its a patient group that relies on execution and balance for success. The Lakers look like a top half team in the Minneapolis City Conference.
Minnehaha has won 9 straight section titles in section 4AA. They too have to replace a strong senior class. They'll reload with a young and talented roster. 8th grader Carter Cupito runs the show and freshman Mekhi Abner is a top 2029 prospect. If you recognize the name Cupito, you'd be right. Carter's father, Bryan, was a 3 year starting quarterback for Minnesota in the early 2000s. Junior forward Kellen Troup has a ton of upside with skill and size.
