This is the 7th preview in my 2024-2025 season preview series.
Week 2 of this season's preview series begins 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 (2023-24 season 6-21, 3-13 Conference, tie 7th)
Jimmy Mireri comes over from the Wayzata staff to take over the top chair. He has to replace his lone double figure scorer and will have a relatively young lineup. Junior wing Blake Nixon and senior forward Damian Devine are the top returnees. 3 juniors look to round out the lineup. Anderson Stark returns at the point. Daniel Devine and Dalton DeBoer are interior options. Who becomes the go to option with no double figure scorer returning.
Bloomington Kennedy Eagles (2023-24 season 4-23, 3-13 Conference, tie 7th)
Former AHA star Troy Bell leaves his alma mater after 1 season to take over at Kennedy. The entire lineup returns including 4 senior starters. Forward Malik Johnson (15.3 PPG) was the top scorer last year and only one in double figures. Ryan Sheehan, Lamarrius Starr and Sonte Lajeunesse-Wood are other scoring options. Junior Marlon Seahorn returns at the point. Junior Girley James is the main size inside.
Brooklyn Center Centaurs (2023-24 season 3-24, 1-15 Conference, 9th)
Coach Brandon Krona will continue to build the program in his 2nd year. He'll have to replace a bunch of seniors from his starting lineup and rotation. That includes top pieces like forward Steven Nzimi and guard Deshawn Pongsak. Expect youth to be a major factor for them.
Columbia Heights Hylanders (2023-24 season 18-7, 13-3 Conference, 2nd)
Long time assistant Dedrick Jenkins takes over for Willie Braziel who left to take the Simley job. He'll have to replace the top 5 scorers. That includes the perimeter trio of Randy McClendon, Zy'lerre Stewart and Jency Davis who all averaged over 18 PPG. McClendon put up 25 points a night on the wing. Guard Julian Manjo and forward Camren Smith are the lone returnees to the lineup. The rest of the rotation will be very inexperienced.
De La Salle Islanders (2023-24 season 22-10, 14-2 Conference, 1st)
The Islanders have to replace 2 important pieces in wing Jaden Morgan and forward Ray James but the top 2 scorers return. That includes soph Jaeden Udean who's one of the top scorers in the class. PG De'von Irvin returns to run the show. Senior wings Dorian Pruitt, Andrew Apiagyei and Marcus Anderson all return to the lineup. Junior Evan Miller will need to play a bigger role inside.
Fridley Tigers (2023-24 season 19-8, 11-5 Conference, 4th)
The Tigers totally blew my prediction out of the water last season with 19 wins. Now they have to replace 4 starters. Forward Gideon Cooper and PG Antwan Smith are 2 of the 4 double figure scorers that have graduated. Trenton Woodall Jones looks to expand on his 12.3 PPG from last season. Guard Brevon Robinson returns to the starting lineup. Wayzata transfer Jamichael Ollie could join him. Osuman Miller will also see rotation time.
Richfield Spartans (2023-24 season 16-12, 12-4 Conference, 3rd)
Richfield has to replace versatile wing/forward Zavier Hayes (17.3 PPG). But they return one of the top scorers in the state in CJ Armstrong at 32 PPG. He had a couple of 50+ point outbursts last season. Sophs Dre Collins and Tyrece Hagler join him in the returning rotation along with junior Adin Inda. Cristo Rey transfer Omar Whittaker joins the roster too. They will get up and down and be very entertaining to watch. Fun stat for the Spartans along those lines. They lost 4 games last year where they scored over 90 points.
Robbinsdale Cooper Hawks (2023-23 season 12-13, 8-8 Conference, 5th)
The Hawks have to replace both their double figure scorers. One of those, Rylan McPipe is off to prep school so that's a critical loss. Yusuf Hussein and Jahnial Jones are the top guys coming back. Tae'shawn Cumber-Ficken, Emmanuel Karmo and Noah Lease return as well. Senior David Daniels provides experience and size.
St. Anthony Huskies (2023-24 season 11-16, 7-9 Conference, 6th)
St. Anthony needs to replace 3 starters and 4 of their top 5 scorers. Junior SG Brett Siroin returns after leading the team with 14.5 PPG. Ethann Piekarski returns at a guard spot. Junior Isaan Kitila should see an expanded role. Tenzin Gyaltsen should also get rotation minutes.
Predicted Order of Finish
- De La Salle
- Richfield
- Robbinsdale Cooper
- St. Anthony
- Columbia Heights
- Fridley
- Bloomington Kennedy
- Holy Angels
- Brooklyn Center
Conference Overview:
A third of the league will have a new head coach this season. I see a 2 team race at the top with De La Salle and Richfield. Can't pick against De La Salle with their tradition but Richfield did win both matchups last year and the style difference between the teams just adds to the entertainment. After that a drop off to a down year for the rest of the league. Heavy losses at Cooper, St. Anthony, Fridley and Columbia Heights drag the league down and the other 3 combined for only 13 wins. Cooper by default gets the 3rd spot. St. Anthony, Heights and Fridley battle in the middle. Kennedy has enough returning to want to be in that group, but I need to see it first. Holy Angels and Brooklyn Center are rebuilding.
Underclassmen to watch:
- Phillip Moita - Academy of Holy Angels
- Khalil Wertz-Copeland - Bloomington Kennedy
- Jaeden Udean, Kamar Thomas - De La Salle
- Tyrone Washington - Fridley
- Dre Collins, Tyrece Hagler, Ben Heidgerken - Richfield
- Richfield at De LaSalle - Jan 3rd
- De La Salle at Richfield - Feb 4th
- Richfield at Benilde-St. Margaret's - Dec 5th
- De La Salle vs Park Center - Dec 7th (Tip-Off Classic at Hopkins)
- Richfield vs Hopkins - Dec 14th (Big Stage at Totino-Grace)
- Benilde-St. Margaret's at De La Salle - Dec 20th
- Orono at Richfield - Dec 20th
- De La Salle at Cretin-Derham Hall - Feb 15th
- De La Salle at Wayzata - Feb 25th
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