2020-21 South Suburban Conference Preview

This is the 13th preview in my 2020-21 Season Preview Series.  In this preview, we head south for a look at the South Suburban Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Apple Valley Eagles (2019-20 season 8-20, 4-14 Conference, Tie 9th)
Former Mayer Lutheran head coach Pat Buchanan takes over for Zach Goring.  The top 3 scorers have graduated including guard Davy Hosea (13.9 PPG) and forward Mason Klett (10.5 PPG).  Wing Kortland Johnsen (7.5 PPG) and forward Noah Friedt (7 PPG) are the top returnees.  R'Moni Warner, Nick Deluca and Bobbie Jackson are guard options. 

Burnsville Blaze (2019-20 season 8-19, 4-14 Conference, Tie 9th)
Former Concordia-St. Paul assistant and Winona State star Jonte Flowers is a late replacement for Rob Mestas as the head coach of the program.  PG Ibo El-Amin (18 PPG) is now at Minnetonka.  Forward Daniel Rosenbur (17.7 PPG) has graduated.  That costs the Blaze their top 2 scorers which cause them to rely on youth.  Junior forward Yarin Alexander (13.3 PPG) and soph forward Khalif Bettis (6.7 PPG) are the top returnees.  The rest of the lineup is a big question mark.

Eagan Wildcats (2019-20 season 9-15, 5-13 Conference, Tie 6th)
Kurt Ohlhues (15 PPG) is the lone double figure scorer graduating.  Soph Emmanuel Schmitter is the top returning scorer with his 10.1 PPG on the wing.  Cole Nelsen's defense returns in the lineup.  Junior Logan Schmidt and Ryan Madigan return to man the middle.  They'll miss the shooting of players like Cam House, Sammuel Davis and Finn O'Malley

Eastview Lightning (2019-20 season 24-4, 15-3 Conference, Tie 1st)
The Lightning have to replace all 5 starters including Wisconsin recruit Steven Crowl's 26.5 PPG and 14.8 PPG from sharpshooting wing Ryan Thissen.  Eastview will plug in plenty of talent though.  Jackson Purcell and Grayson Stalboerger are the wings.  Purcell's 7.3 PPG leads the returnees.  Kenji Scales (5.1 PPG) takes over the point.  Jumping jack Zach Spann (5.5 PPG), Henry Shannon and developing center Jamal Ambrose are a solid front line.

Farmington Tigers (2019-20 season 11-16, 5-13 Conference, Tie 6th)
Forward Carter Huschka's 10.9 PPG is the lone starting value that needs to be replaced.  4 other starters plus 2 rotation members are back.  That doesn't include talented guard Eli Green who should be fully back from injury after missing almost all of last season.  Point guard Isaac Ask led the team with 14 PPG.  Juniors Kyle Hrncir (11.1 PPG) and Zach Cochnauer handle the interior duties with senior Max Darrington.  Jake Cochnauer and shooter Gabe Bassett handle the wings spots.

Lakeville North Panthers (2019-20 season 17-11, 11-7 Conference, Tie 4th)
Guard Josh Kamara (12.3 PPG) and wing Noah Frechette (8.9 PPG) are major losses from the lineup.  Wing Will Blascziek returns after leading the the roster with 14.1 PPG last season.  Cooper Laufenburger (8 PPG) gives them a lanky inside presence.  Matt Miller, Noah Nephew and Landon Mohs are tough minded guards coming back.  I would not be shocked to see wing Nolan Winter break out during his sophomore season like Nate Reuvers did.

Lakeville South Cougars (2019-20 season 21-7, 11-7 Conference, Tie 4th)
Its a banner year in store for the Cougars.  The top 3 scorers are back in the lineup.  Clutch guard Reid Patterson (17.6 PPG) leads the way.  Junior Avery Mast averaged 11.5 PPG on the wing.  Wisconsin football recruit Riley Mahlman (9.6 PPG) is a huge target inside.  Sam Fliehe, Trystan Ressler and soph Jackson Ressler also return.  The experience of guard Joe Bachinski (8.6 PPG) and the size of Jack Leland are the biggest losses.

Prior Lake Lakers (2019-20 season 19-8, 15-3 Conference, Tie 1st)
Prior Lake has to replace their 2 double figure scorers who were D1 recruits.  Marquette recruit Dawson Garcia's 31.9 PPG and 9.7 RPG leaves a huge hole in the lineup.  Guard Tyree Ihenacho averaged 12.3 PPG and is now at North Dakota.  Junior Malcolm Jones looks to take over the load on the front line after putting up 9.4 PPG to lead the returning scorers.  Not much size with him though.  Tommy Mestnik (6.4 PPG) and Kyle McCullough return on the wings.

Rosemount Irish (2019-20 season 11-16, 5-13 Conference, Tie 6th)
Luck is with the Irish this season as they return their top 4 scorers.  Junior Caleb Siwek (19.6 PPG) is one of the top shooters around.  Noah Loehr averaged 11.4 PPG on the other wing.  Sean Sullivan (8.6 PPG) returns to run the show.  Zach Wenthe (8.9 PPG) sees another season in the post.  Forward Jared Gerke (7.7 PPG) and his size is the main loss from the rotation.

Shakopee Sabers (2019-20 season 23-5, 15-3 Conference, Tie 1st)
Shakopee has to replace 5 of their top 6 scorers.  Forward Charlie Katona, now at UMD, along with guards Caleb Druvenga and Will Cordes all averaged double figures and combined for 45 PPG.  Junior forward Nick Katona (6.7 PPG) is the top returnee.  Mick Wherley (4.1 PPG) returns on the front line.  Quinton Snell, Cade McGraw and Sam West are options to fill the guard positions.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Lakeville South 
   
2. Lakeville North 
3. Eastview 
   
4. Prior Lake
   
5. Shakopee
6. Farmington 
7. Rosemount
   
8. Eagan
   
9. Burnsville
10. Apple Valley

Conference Overview:
The league suffers heavy losses to its heavyweight tri-champions.  I think the Lakeville schools jump those 3.  Lakeville South has pieces at all 3 levels, I think they have a great year.  John Oxton has plenty coming back to see the Panthers get back to 20 wins.  Eastview is going to be right there too despite losing their entire starting group.  Their group has been very solid in AAU ball.   Then it gets interesting as you have to figure out how far to drop rivals Shakopee and Prior Lake.  Malcolm Jones and Nick Katona are fun juniors to watch in the league.  I think Jones has more help.  Behind those 2 you have Farmington and Rosemount who both return most of their lineups.  Farmington won at both Lakeville schools late last year and Rosemount beat Farmington twice.  But Farmington gets the nod here with the return of Eli Green.  Of course, teams like this are teams I often mess up in predictions (i.e. teams that struggled but return a truckoad of the lineup).  Therefore, that must mean that you can bet the family farm that one of them will have a breakout season and make me look foolish.  Then the bottom 3 remain the same as they all lose plenty.  Teams will play a full double round-robin schedule with no non-conference games.

Conference MVP: Reid Patterson - Lakeville South

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Khalif Bettis, Noah Murigi, Henry Saykeo - Burnsville 
• Emmanuel Schmitter, Oscar Khazon - Eagan
• Nolan Winter - Lakeville North 
• Jackson Ressler - Lakeville South
• Isaac Snell - Shakopee
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Lakeville South at Lakeville North - Jan 22nd 
• Eastview at Lakeville North - Jan 26th
  
• Lakeville South at Eastview - Feb 5th
• Lakeville North at Lakeville South - Feb 18th
• Lakeville North at Eastview - Feb 26th
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• None