2019-20 Tri-Metro Preview

This is the 5th preview in my 2019-2020 season preview series.  Week 1 of the 6 week long series concludes with a look at the Tri-Metro Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Academy of Holy Angels Stars (2018-19 season 26-5, 9-3 Conference, 2nd West)
The Stars were a big improvement story of last season going from 9 wins to 26 wins and a trip to state.  Three double-figure scorers from a very balanced lineup need to be replaced including interior presence Thor Holien (14.5 PPG) and defensive ace Charles Johnson (11 PPG).  Wing Matt Banovetz (14.2 PPG) and star soph guard Emmett Johnson  (13 PPG) return to the starting lineup.  3 members of the 4 man bench mob return as well.  Aaron Engel is one of those and will be a very productive replacement for Holien inside.
 
Brooklyn Center Centaurs (2018-19 season 10-17, 4-8 Conference, 5th West)
Justyn Burgess comes over from the Tartan girls to take over a program in major flux.  With Matt McCollister taking the South St. Paul job, there's been an exodus from the program so who knows what's left from last year's youth movement.  2 major pieces of the movement, Maxamus Wilson and De'Mari Larkins are definitely gone.  Ben Wehyee is one of the notable returnees after averaging 5.7 PPG last season.

Columbia Heights Hylanders (2018-19 season 10-15, 5-7 Conference, Tie 3rd West)
Coach Willie Braziel has to replace 3 members of his rotation.  That includes forward Jarvis Wright and his 11.3 PPG.  Leading scorer Jordan Jones and his 14 PPG return at the point.  Then you add in the talented sophomore trio of W Muja Burton  (12.3 PPG), F Spencer Alvarez and Jamez Garner.  Elijah Williams (8 PPG) also returns to the rotation.
 
De La Salle Islanders (2018-19 season 27-5, 12-0 Conference, 1st West, AAA State Champs)
De La Salle returned the AAA title to the island last year.  Now they have to replace a pair of 21+ PPG scorers in Tyrell Terry (Stanford) and Jamison Battle (George Washington).  While the offense may not have a clear go to guy, the Islanders reload and will look to make another run.  Seniors Amir Whitlock, Andrew Irvin and Semaj Hart will combine with talented juniors Keijuan White and Cade Haskins on the perimeter.  Those juniors could very well be  their top offensive options. Jalen Travis returns in the middle after almost averaging double figures last year.

Fridley Tigers (2018-19 season 9-17, 5-7 Conference, Tie 3rd West)
New Hall of Fame coach Jim MacDonald needs to replace 5 of his top 6 scorers.  That includes star soph Hassan Kamara (15.8 PPG) who transferred to Osseo.  Lefty guard Isaac Burns (15.4 PPG) will be the focus of the offense.  Junior guards Micah Niewald and Christian Crockett along with soph guard Eli Nelsen will see bigger roles as well.  No real obvious size option to replace Harrison Blum  (6.9 PPG) inside.

Richfield Spartans (2017-18 season 6-21, 1-13 Conference, 8th Metro West)
Richfield will open their Tri-Metro run in rebuilding mode.  They added 5 wins last year and they have some young pieces to build with.  Junior wing Ryan Miles returns after leading the team with 13.7 PPG last year.  Fellow junior Lamar Grayson is also a top scorer for the Spartans.  Junior Isaiah Casey Hammond provides size.  Sophomores Mitchell January at the point and Jaden Wollmuth will be big contributors as well.

St. Anthony Huskies (2018-19 season 13-14, 4-7 Conference, 2nd East)
Chris Satterlie returns to Minnesota to take over the program after coaching in Arizona.  He'll have a small shooting backcourt of Tait Nelson and Max Kachman to build around.  Nelson averaged 20.9 PPG and Kachman 8.9 PPG.  Dylan Manning is another guard who will see time.  Junior Luke Omodt will man the middle.

St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders (2018-19 season 15-13, 8-3 Conference, 1st East)
St. Croix Lutheran returns 4 of their top 6 scorers from last season.  That includes the talented perimeter trio of PG Zach Longueville and wings Xavier Garcia and Owen Bushaw.  They combined for 37 PPG last year.  Mert Cula provides defense and another perimeter shooter for this 3 point reliant sharp-shooting squad.  Last year's JV squad will provide solid depth.

Predicted Order of Finish
  1. De La Salle
  2. Holy Angels
  3. St. Croix Lutheran 
  4. Columbia Heights
  5. St. Anthony 
  6. Fridley
  7. Brooklyn Center    
  8. Richfield     
Conference MVP: Matt Banovetz - Holy Angels

Conference Overview:
The league is now at a nice even number of 8 teams.  Concordia and St. Agnes moved to the new Skyline Conference.  Richfield joins from the Metro West to make a league that is now almost all AAA schools..  The schedule returns to a standard 1 division round-robin format after being a 2 division setup in recent years.  De La Salle is too deep for the rest and have to be the pick until they are knocked off.  Holy Angels and St. Croix Lutheran will battle not only for 2nd but for the top seed in section 3AAA.  Columbia Heights is another year or 2 away from a high level season but they'll make you work for it.  St. Anthony's solid guards put them in a battle with Fridley for the next spot.  Brooklyn Center and Richfield continue with youth movements and will battle each other to stay out of the cellar.

Underclassmen to watch: 
  • Muja Burton, Spencer Alvarez, Jamez Garner - Columbia Heights
  • Eli Nelsen, Daniel Pobuda - Fridley
  • Emmitt Johnson Aidan Smith - Holy Angels 
  • Mitchell January, Jaden Wollmuth, Joe Miller - Richfield
Conference Games to Watch
  • De La Salle at St. Croix Lutheran - Jan 16th
  • Holy Angels at St. Croix Lutheran - Jan 21st
  • De La Salle at Holy Angels - Jan 31st
  • St. Croix Lutheran at De La Salle - Feb 11th
  • St. Croix Lutheran at Holy Angels - Feb 14th
  • Holy Angels at De La Salle - Feb 25th
Non-Conference Games to Watch
  • De La Salle vs Waseca - Nov 30th (Big 12 at Champlin Park)
  • St. Croix Lutheran at Mound-Westonka - Dec 3rd
  • De La Salle at North St. Paul - Dec 5th
  • De La Salle vs Mankato East - Dec 7th (Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
  • Holy Angels at Cristo Rey - Dec 12th
  • De La Salle at Minneapolis North - Jan 7th
  • De La Salle at Hopkins - Jan 10th 
  • Eden Prairie at De La Salle - Feb 1st 
  • De La Salle at Cretin-Derham Hall - Feb 15th
  • De La Salle at Minnehaha - Feb 22nd

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