2024-25 Independents Preview

Welcome to the 18th annual season previews!  This is the 1st preview in the 2024-2025 season preview series.  As per the tradition here, I'll start from the small class A schools and move all the way to the class AAAA schools in this series.  A couple of bonuses this year.  This year the previews will span 4 weeks leading right up to the start of practice rather than the 3 weeks of recent years.  Last year I added in the Wright County East, this year there are also additions.  The Wright County East stays and the Mississippi 8 will be added.  I'm also adding a separate preview for the 10 AAAA schools that don't play in the metro.  That means this will be the largest preview series I've ever done with over 150 teams included.  So let's get started with a look at the small local independents.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are done, click here.

Christ's Household of Faith Lions (2023-24 season 13-7)
Guards Erro Harms and Henry Bluhm were the main offensive weapons and need to be replaced.  Evan Alleman returns as the main guard option to pick up some of that offense.  Junior forward Sawyer Okerstrom returns to the front line.  River Eckman and Connor Gustafson are other options who look to step into bigger perimeter roles.  Parker Harms will also see minutes for the Lions.

Hiawatha Colliegiate Wolves (2023-24 season 16-13)
Hiawatha will be an interesting team to watch.  Guard Domonick Watkins and his 20 PPG is a significant graduation loss but scoring won't be a problem for the Wolves.  They feature one of the top scorers in the metro in senior wing Kam Solomon (27 PPG).  He's capable of going off for 40 on any given night.  Soph forward King James returns as a double figure guy up front.  Junior Ludy Webster returns to run the show.  Liban Dima, Melvin Anderson and Dwon'ta Lowry also return to the rotation.

Higher Ground Academy Panthers (2023-24 season 20-9)
Higher Ground will need to replace a couple of top guards in Suhayb Abdi and Yasir Abdisabur.  They combined for over 31 points per game last year.  A couple of juniors will lead the way this year.  Abdiaziz Abdi is the top returnee at 17.7 PPG.  He can play inside or out but as the tallest player returning will see plenty of inside responsibility.  Guard Sakariya Admed should expand on his 13 PPG from last season.

Hope Academy Lions (2023-24 season 8-20)
3 starters have graduated so the Lions will start a major youth movement.  Brian Moss and his 18 PPG on the wing are the biggest loss.  Sophomores Gideon Horne (14.2 PPG) and Jordan Moss (6.9 PPG) will be the main options.  Frosh Tyriek Martin will see time at the point.  Soph Eli Samuel will see plenty of time as well.  Senior Guta Temesgen provides experience.

International School of Minnesota Huskies (2023-24 season 10-11)
Chesterton Academy Knights  (2023-24 season 5-20)
According to the MSHSL site, ISM and Chesterton have combined programs this season with ISM hosting.  Soph PG Emmitt Wuebben is the top Chesterton returnee.  Junior Ryan Cooley is another returning guard.  Forwards Spencer Tupper and Josh Robin also return to the program.  On the International School side, guards Ruhaan Singh, Rubaine Singh return with forward Derek Bush.  It will be a young group.

Parnassus Prep Olympians (2023-24 season 5-11)
Parnassus will need to replace at least a couple of starters.  Senior PG Ray Ogunti is undersized at the lead spot but don't be fooled.  He's the engine for this roster.  Junior Ayoub Komara is an acttve forward who can finish dump offs.  This is a junior laden roster with no real size.

Twin Cities Academy/Great River Tigers (2023-24 season 10-13)
Forward Gio Alonso is a significant loss from the roster but everybody else returns.  Junior Princeton Normil should step into that interior spot.  Wings Jamal Randle and Jacob Stiele return after leading the team in scoring last season.  They won't be very deep but will be able to score.

Ubah Medical Academy (2023-24 season 8-8)
No infomation available about this roster.  Last season they did have a little size and some athletes.  They did have 2 double figure wins over Prairie Seeds and a blowout win over ISM.

Overview
Hiawatha is the top team in this group but their game against Twin Cities Academy at the end of the year has the chance to change that.  CHOF is always respectable.  Hope's youngsters and their up and down style will make them fun to watch.

Underclassmen to watch: 

• King James - Hiawatha
  
• Gideon Horne, Jordan Moss - Hope
• Emmitt Wuebben - ISM/Chesterton
  

Games to Watch

• Hiawatha at St. Paul Central - Dec 12th
  
• Hiawatha vs St. Croix Lutheran - Dec 20th (Hutton Winter Classic at Hamline)
• Hiawatha vs St. Paul Johnson - Dec 21st (Hutton Winter Classic at Hamline) 
• Hiawatha at St. Paul Harding - Dec 27th (Harding Holiday Tournament)
• Spectrum at Hiawatha - Jan 16th
  
• Hiawatha at Blake - Jan 23rd
  
• Hiawatha at Twin Cities Academy - Feb 27th