This is the 12th preview in my 2026-2027 season preview series. This preview is for the Metro East Conference. For a list of all the season previews and an explanation of how the previews are generated, click here.
Hastings Raiders (2025-26 season 13-14, 9-7 Conference, Tie 3rd)
Hastings has to replace 4 starters. Junior guard Brady Hendrickson (14.5 PPG) is the lone starter coming back. Guard Liam Bernatz and forward Zander McVicker will join him in the rotation. Wing Seth Leary is another experience returnee. Soph Daniel Foss is a candidate to replace the size of Landon Miska inside.
Hill-Murray Pioneers (2025-26 season 9-18, 6-10 Conference, 6th)
Kevin McKenzie comes over from Eagan to take over the program. The Pioneers had their most conference wins and best league finish in a season since 2014-2015. He has a couple quality of pieces to build around. Forward John Omoyeni (16.3 PPG) handles the post. Junior wing Koa Fuller (11.4 PPG) has started the last 2 years as a major offensive threat. Junior Ridley Hayes returns at the point. Connor Halverson can play on or off the ball. Trig Mackley is another option up front.
Mahtomedi Zephyrs (2025-26 season 25-4, 13-3 Conference, 2nd)
Point guard and top shooter Mark Graff (19.6 PPG) is one of 4 starters that need to be replaced. Forward Willie Roelofs (22 PPG) will have to carry a heavy load inside. Sophomore wing Joey Wright (6.1 PPG) is the only other returnee to average more than 1.4 PPG. Expect a breakout season from him. Seniors Tony Longen, Gavin Bifulk and Logan Hargrove are just a few of the candidates to fill out the rotation.
North Polars (2025-26 season 1-25, 0-15 Conference, 9th)
Assistant Chris Pierce takes over full time after the Polars hit rock bottom last season. Wing Dwayne Gibson, guard D'Andre Walton, De'Jaun Keaton and Andre Scarver are juniors that should lead this team. Losing point guard Terence Horton to South St. Paul leaves a big hole in the lineup.
St. Thomas Academy Cadets (2025-26 season 13-15, 9-7 Conference, Tie 3rd)
Former Burnsville head coach and St. Olaf assistant Matt Eppen is the new head coach. Do everything star Lars Osteraas (20.2 PPG) is 1 of 4 starters that have graduated. Wing Max Hayes (12.7 PPG) is the top returnee and lone starter coming back. Jack Wills figures to take over inside. Reagan Mulcahy will be in the guard rotation. Scoring is a question for this group.
Simley Spartans (2025-26 season 11-14, 5-10 Conference, 7th)
Simley has to replace 3 important pieces on the front line. But they have a ton of guard play. Soph Nulf Flores, Andre Glass and Christian Urbina can all handle it. Senior Tre Lovelace can score it. Junior Meech Williams is another scorer who came over mid-season from Benilde-St. Margaret's. Nathan Elachi is a solid big man inside. Justin Runge also returns on the wing. Junior wing Acaurii Clark transfers in from Two Rivers as another option. There is plenty of talent on hand but can they put it together this season.
South St. Paul Packers (2025-26 season 18-11, 8-8 Conference, 5th)
Sam Esboldt moves over from St. Paul Humboldt. Fun story there as he led Humboldt to a historic season and now joins the program that his mentor Matt McCollister once ran. While he loses leading scorer Donte Branch (21 PPG) to Tartan, picking up Terence Horton from North St. Paul and Taurean Williams from Humboldt will help offset that.. How the rest of the lineup looks will be worth watching but at least its the same system they've run for years.
Tartan Titans (2025-26 season 31-1, 16-0 Conference, 1st)
The Titans have won 57 straight regular season games including 38 in a row in Metro East play. They have to replace 3 valuable seniors but the cupboard is still loaded. Junior stars Kevin Wilson (22 PPG) and Emmanuel Oyesanmi (14.3 PPG) will again lead the roster. South St. Paul transfer Donte Branch will be a productive wing after being their leading scorer. Soph Justus Dayee can provide a presence on the frontline. Joe Varner is a solid defensive minded guard off their bench.
Two Rivers Warriors (2025-26 season 9-18, 5-11 Conference, 8th)
Former White Bear Lake head coach Aaron Turner takes the reins this season. He has to replace 5 of the top 6 scorers and 7 of the top 9 in the rotation. Soph guard Jaylen Greer (8.4 PPG) will have to carry the offense. Junior guard Sol Mogelson (4.4 PPG) is the other experience coming back. Sean O'Connor and Anthony Breseno-Ivory are options for front court minutes.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Tartan
- Mahtomedi
- Simley
- Hill-Murray
- Hastings
- St. Thomas Academy
- South St. Paul
- Two Rivers
- North
After a down year in the league, we have 5 new coaches this season. Expect even more of a down year. Tartan will contend for a state title. Huge dropoff after them. Mahtomedi is the best of the rest by default. With the league being so bad, I'm going to take Simley and Hill-Murray to surprise with the most coming back. Hastings and St. Thomas Academy will grind it out in the middle. South St. Paul will take a year to adjust. Two Rivers and North have rebuilding years ahead.
Conference MVP: KJ Wilson - Tartan
Underclassmen to watch:
- Daniel Foss, Tommy Schommer - Hastings
- Brody Schmidt - Hill-Murray
- Joey Wright - Mahtomedi
- Nulf Flores - Simley
- Adonis Williams - South St. Paul
- Justus Dayee, Jevon Foote - Tartan
- Jaylen Greer - Two Rivers
- Tartan at Mahtomedi - Jan 21st
- Mahtomedi at Tartan - Feb 23rd
- Orono at Mahtomedi - Dec 8th
- Tartan vs Buffalo - Dec 12th (Tipoff Classic)
- Mahtomedi vs Anoka - Dec 12th (Tipoff Classic)
- Tartan at Rochester Century - Feb 1st
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