2021-22 St. Paul City Conference Preview

This is the 7th preview in my 2021-2022 season preview series.  Now that the private schools are mostly covered, its on to public schools.  We start with the city leagues and St. Paul goes first.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Central Minutemen (2020-21 season 11-3, 10-2 Conference, Tie 1st)
Central needs to replace 3 double figure scorers.  That includes wings Kaden Doram (13.1 PPG) and Gavin Gothard (10.6 PPG).  Senior PG Gideon Musabyimana (14.7 PPG) returns after leading the team in scoring.  Wing Jaylen Cardenas and Jakobe Baer-Taki are also seniors returning to the rotation.  Freshman Allan Lankford (4.4 PPG) and junior Ka'jon Jordan provide quality depth.

Como Park Cougars (2020-21 season 2-11, 2-10 Conference, 6th)
The Cougars return the league's top scorer in forward Donavan Clinton (21.1 PPG) along with just about everybody else from last year.  Amir Plair (12.9 PPG), Dylan Aarness and soph Mason Aarness provide the size.  The guards are small but quick led by Donnell Gibson and Jountay Kibble.

Harding Knights (2020-21 season 5-8, 5-7 Conference, 5th)
Harding has to replace their entire starting lineup.  That includes wing Salmen Ahmed (13.8 PPG) and power forward Alex Addai (13.4 PPG).  Adnaan Mohamed is the top returning scorer at 5.2 PPG.  Junior guards Veli Benjamin (5.2 PPG) and Robert Htoo also return to the rotation.  Jahaud Brown is the top returning option inside.

Highland Park Scots (2020-21 season 10-3, 10-2 Conference, Tie 1st)
Highland Park has to replace almost everyone from last year's conference champions.  That was a very successful group that won the Twin Cities freshman game and then finished with a league title.  They'll also have a new coach with Jesse McCann moving on to be the AD at Washington.  Junior Dillon Foster and senior Aden Langer are the 2 players returning.

Humboldt Hawks (2020-21 season 7-7, 6-6 Conference, 4th)
It looks to be a rebuilding year for Humboldt.  Guard Xavier Garcia (19.9 PPG) and wing Brian Williams (15.2 PPG) were the 2 big scoring threats.  They've both graduated along with most of the roster.  Unknown what they have returning but it looks like experience will be a major concern.

Johnson Governors (2020-21 season 9-4, 9-3 Conference, 3rd)
The Govs lose their top 2 scorers including guard Julian Hodges (12.9 PPG).  Seniors Ishmael David (10.9 PPG) and Christian Jones (10.5 PPG) are the top returnees.  Guard Rickhi Graham also returns.  Soph forward Daejohn Thomas provides an option inside.  Fellow sophomore Jalani Mays will also see rotation time.

Washington Eagles (2020-21 season 1-13, 0-12 Conference, 7th)
Washington loses 2 of their 3 double figure scorers.  That includes center La'Kendrick Reed (13.8 PPG) and guard Ka'von Trotter (11.8 PPG).  Junior guard Tyquan Allen (12.5 PPG) leads the returning roster.  Hamza Kadir (7.3 PPG) will see time on a wing.  Soph guard Jonathan Santiago will see an expanded role.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Central 
2. Johnson
3. Como Park
   
4. Highland Park 
   
5. Harding  
6. Washington 
   
7. Humboldt
   

Conference Overview:
Central has won or shared the last 3 league titles.  Johnson dominated the league before that.  These 2 are far and away the top 2 in the league.  Then a significant dropoff to the rest of the league.  Como Park has the most talent coming back out of the rest of the teams.  But the only team they've beaten the last 2 season was last year's Washington team that was winless in the regular season.  Then the graduation losses hit everybody else and make the bottom of the league really ugly.  The next group of 3 could go in any order.  I'll pick Humboldt at the bottom as they have the least returning. 

Conference MVP: Gideon Musabyimana - Central

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Allan Lankford - Central
• Mason Aarness - Como Park
  
• Daejohn Thomas, Jalani Mays - Johnson
• Johnathan Santiago - Washington
  

Conference Games to Watch

• Johnson at Central - Jan 7th
  
• Central at Johnson - Feb 1st
  

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Park at Central - Dec 3rd
• Twin Cities Academy at Johnson - Dec 14th 
• Minneapolis South at Central - Dec 21st
  
• Central vs Mound-Westonka - Dec 29th (Capitol City Classic)
• Twin Cities Academy at Central - Jan 20th