2021-22 Metro West Conference Preview

This is the 10th preview in my 2021-2022 season preview series.  Its now time for the big schools with the mostly class AAAA leagues are now on the list of previews.  In this preview, a look at the expanded Metro West Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.

Benilde St. Margaret's Red Knights (2020-21 season 8-9, 4-7 Conference, 4th)
Coach Damien Johnson has a strong perimeter group.  Bemidji State commit Daniel Ijadimbola (12.7 PPG) and Sam Best return on the wings.  PG Maddox Alipate (11.6 PPG) returns to run the show.  They were the top 3 scorers a season ago.  That group also adds transfer Ryan Warren from Eden Prairie.  On the inside, freshman Jalen Wilson comes over from Breck to be the top interior option.

Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars (2020-21 season 11-9, 7-5 Conference, 3rd)
Jefferson loses most of their thin rotation including 2 of their 3 double figure scorers.  Soph Daniel Freitag (10.2 PPG) leads the offense.  He picked up offers from Minnesota and Wisconsin in the offseason.  Senior Aidan Atkins (8.2 PPG) is the only other returnee of note.  They again rely on slow tempo and execution.

Bloomington Kennedy Eagles (2020-21 season 2-16, 1-11 Conference, 7th)
PG Amarion Hanspard  (13.5 PPG) is a big loss from last season.  They also lose freshman Jaleel Donley (7.1 PPG) to Hopkins.  Senior post Christopher Martin (8.9 PPG) returns to lead the offense.  Juniors Marques Monroe and  Tajon Pearson returns to the lineup.  Seniors Ramone Walker and Dalton Smazal will also see significant minutes.

Chanhassen Storm (2020-21 season 3-10, 3-7 Conference, 5th)
Soph PG Max Woods leads the returning roster with 10.3 PPG last season.  Seniors Will Schleicher, Patrick Brick, Jaxon McDonald and Eli Sweeney return to the rotation.  Juniors wings Grant Muffenbier and Braden Barger also return and should be other main scoring options.  Eden Prairie transfer Christian Batchlor could also see minutes.

Chaska Hawks (2020-21 season 14-4, 11-1 Conference, Tie 1st)
Chaska has to replace the league's top scorer Luke Strazzanti (14.2 PPG) and 2 other double figure scorers.  The Hawks will be strong up front with center Brady Nicholson (9.2 PPG) and forward Jakobe Lyles (7.2 PPG) as the top returning scorers.  Matt Kallman and Cameron Walle figure to see time as the perimeter replacements.  But there is no real experience returning there.

New Prague Trojans (2020-21 season 5-14, 3-11 Wright County East Conference, 8th)
Leading scorer Andrew Nerud (14.1 PPG) graduated taking away the top scorer and main interior option.  Guards Ethan Chromy (11.4 PPG) and Matthew Kudrle man the guard spots.  Soph Carter Wilson backs them up.  Jaxon Short figures to take over Nerud's duties inside.

Orono Spartans (2020-21 season 9-9, 7-6 Wright County East Conference, Tie 3rd)
The Spartans lose their leading scorer Graham Beltrand (12.6 PPG) and a couple of solid interior options in Connor Chappell and Andrew Mandel.  They still have a strong core coming back though.  Senior shooter Sebastian Loder (8.6 PPG) is the top returning scorer.  Senior PG Cohen Kellogg also joins that strong group transferring in from Minnetonka.  Juniors Isaiah Hagen (8.5 PPG), Kyle Kallenbach and Grant Gunderson add to the strong perimeter group.  Seniors Jack Kopesky and Jake Farrell also return to the rotation.  Size is a question mark.

Robbinsdale Cooper Hawks (2020-21 season 15-3, 11-1 Conference, Tie 1st)
Cooper loses 3 important pieces from last year's roster including PG Bo Powell (10.2 PPG).  Davion Evans (13.3 PPG) was the team leader in scoring last season.  He leads a strong group coming back.  Prince Appiah, Joseph Russell and David Connors all also return as athletic forwards.  Point guard play and outside shooting are questions.  But they'll use their pressure defense to generate offense.

St. Louis Park Orioles (2020-21 season 3-13, 3-8 Conference, 6th)
Wing Paris Johnson (14 PPG) is the league's top returning scorer.  Blake Anderson and Will Dvorak also return to the starting lineup.  Evan Donesky and junior Stefano Giovannelli also return to the rotation.  Last year's 2 primary ballhandlers have graduated so keep an eye on point guard play.

Waconia Wildcats (2020-21 season 12-7, 8-5 Wright County East Conference, 2nd)
Former De La Salle assistant Dan Rubischko gets another crack at running a program.  Forward Spencer Swanson (20.1 PPG) and his interior presence will be sorely missed.  Joe Meath looks to be a primary candidate to replace his spot.  The scoring will be picked up by a solid group of perimeter returnees.  Noah Bonick (9.9 PPG), junior Ty Miller (8.2 PPG) and Wally Wisniewski (6.8 PPG) all return to the starting lineup with the ability to knock down shots.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Benilde-St. Margaret's  
   
2. Robbinsdale Cooper  
   
3. Chaska
4. Orono
5. Waconia
6. Bloomington Jefferson
7. Chanhassen  
   
8. St. Louis Park
   
9. New Prague
10. Bloomington Kennedy 

Conference Overview
The largest set of league changes in the metro happens here.  New Prague, Orono and Waconia all join from the Wright County with dominoes falling from there.   I think Benilde St. Margaret's guards plus the addition inside of Jalen Wilson give them the most complete package in the league so I'll take them at the top.  That breaks the streak of Hawks winning the league every year which is only fitting with the new era of the league being ushered in.

Behind them you have a large group of quality teams with Chaska, Cooper, Orono and Waconia.  Chaska on the strength of their bigs.  Cooper on the strength of their athletes.  Orono has experience and can score it.  Waconia has to figure out inside play too but their strong perimeter play keeps them in the top half.  Then a drop off to everybody else.  Jefferson has the system and a star in Daniel Freitag so I'll take them next.  Chanhassen and St. Louis Park will battle them for that spot.  Then New Prague and Kennedy fight to stay out of the cellar.
 
Conference MVP: Maddox Alipate - Benilde-St. Margaret's

Underclassmen to watch:  

• Jalen Wilson, Xavier Lumpkin, Jayden Daisy - Benilde-St. Margaret's
• Daniel Freitag - Bloomington Jefferson
• Max Woods -  Chanhassen 
• Carter Wilson - New Prague
  
• Anthony Jones - Robbinsdale Cooper
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Chaska at Robbinsdale Cooper - Jan 4th
• Chaska at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Jan 11th
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Robbinsdale Cooper - Jan 27th
• Robbinsdale Cooper at Chaska - Feb 4th
  
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Chaska - Feb 11th
• Robbinsdale Cooper at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Mar 1st
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Mound-Westonka at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 7th
• De La Salle at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 21st
  
• Benilde-St. Margaret's vs Richfield - Dec 30th (Capitol City Classic)