HS Update: The Boys

Well, the boys are already underway. I saw part of Hopkins' (not unanticipated) demolition job on Braham (AAAA vs. AA, and all of that), and it reinforced the idea that Hopkins is the undisputed heavyweight champeen of Minnesota until somebody proves otherwise. They don't appear invincible as in past years but for now they're merely invinced, which carries the same weight. So, anyway, on with the final pre-season predictions.

The Hot Dozen


AAAA

1. Hopkins--like I said

2. Eastview--Eastview, Osseo? Osseo, Eastview? Well, Eastview beat 'em (Hopkins) in the Sweet Sixteen and Osseo didn't. It's not much, what with summer rosters not being the same as they are in-season, but there you have it.

3. Osseo
4. Apple Valley
5. Cretin--3 more that could make it to the state final

6. Tartan
7. Eden Prairie
8. Duluth East
9. Lakeville North
10. Maple Grove
11. Edina
12. White Bear Lake--all a half-a-cut to a cut below the top 5

AAA

1. Benilde-St. Mary's--could be the #2 team in the state
2. Grand Rapids--Alex Ilikainen a name to remember
3. DeLaSalle
4. St. Thomas--making this pretty much the private division
5. St. Paul Johnson
6. Mpls. Washburn
7. Rocori
8. Marshall
9. Zimmerman
10. Mankato East
11. Princeton
12. Columbia Heights

AA

1. Perham
2. Pelican Rapids--the AP poll has the Pelicans 1st; again, Perham is the best until somebody else proves otherwise

3. Braham
4. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
5. St. Peter
6. Watertown-Mayer
7. Redwood Valley
8. St. Cloud Cathedral
9. Montevideo
10. Minnehaha Academy
11. Worthington
12. Plainview-Elgin-Millville

A

1. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrose--trying to make up for last year's championship game meltdown
2. MCCRAY
3. Maranatha
4. Ellsworth
5. Southwest MN Christian
6. Rushford-Peterson
7. Lakeview Christian
8. Dawson-Boyd
9. Spring Grove
10. Ada-Borup

Section Favorites


AAAA


I'm not aware that seeding all 64 teams is an option for 2012, or am I missing something? So we stay with our traditional sections for now.

1 Lakeville North
2 Eden Prairie
3 Eastview over Apple Valley and Cretin #2 seed
4 Tartan #4 seed
5 Osseo #3 seed
6 Hopkins #1 seed
7 Duluth East
8 St. Michael-Albertville

AAA

1 New Prague
2 Marshall
3 DeLaSalle #3 seed
4 St. Thomas #4 seed
5 Rocori
6 Benilde-St. Margaret's #1 seed
7 Grand Rapids #2 seed
8 Mankato East

AA

1 Byron
2 Waterville-EM over St. Peter #3 seed
3 Redwood Valley over Montevideo
4 Minnehaha
5 Watertown-Mayer over St. Cloud Cathedral #4 seed
6 Pierz over Litchfield
7 Braham #2 seed
8 Perham over Pelican Rapids, though AP has Pelican #1 and the defending state champs #2 Perham #1 seed

Oh, wait, there are no seeds. The actual brackets are Section 2 vs. 7 (Braham advancing), 3 vs. 6 (Redwood Valley advancing), 1 vs. 8 (Perham advancing) and 4 vs. 5 (Watertown-Mayer advancing). Then Braham over Redwood, and Perham over Watertown and then Braham in the final.

A

1 Rushford-Peterson
2 Lester Prairie
3 MCCRAY over Ellsworth and Southwest MN Christian and Dawson-Boyd; maybe we oughta be seeding Class A?
4 Maranatha
5 Barnum over Upsala and Nevis
6 Belgrade-BE
7 Lakeview Christian
8 Cass Lake-Bena

Again it's 2 vs. 7 (Lakeview), 3 vs. 6 (BBE), 1 vs. 8 (RP) and 4 vs. 5 (Maranatha).

All-State

Here I'm sticking with the picks I made previously.

Tyus Jones, Apple Valley, soph., G. Based on his play this summer for the U.S. 16U national team, now the pre-season Player of the Year.

Siyani Chambers, Hopkins, sr., G

Joey King, Eastview, sr., F. Led the Eagles to Sweet 16 final win over Hopkins. Mr. Basketball.

Isaiah Zierden, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., F

Michael Busack, Redwood Valley, sr., F-G-C. A stud, will be a superstar at Mankato State.

Coach of the Year: Mark Gerber, Eastview

2nd

Casey Schilling, Ellsworth, sr., G. He's no Cody, but quietly put together a hell of a career.

Sanjay Lumpkin, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., F

Tyler Vaughan, Braham, sr., G

Johnny Woodard, Duluth East, sr., G. The catch is he's hurt right now.

Riley Dearring, DeLaSalle, jr., F. Formerly Hopkins.

3rd

Zach Stahl, Hopkins, sr., F. Do not underestimate Stahl or Hopkins.

Cortez Tillman, Cretin-Derham Hall, sr., G. One of Cretin's 3-headed monster.

Thomas Sjoberg, St. Thomas, sr., C

Anders Broman, Lakeview Christian, jr., G. Will be state's all-time scorer by the time he's done.

Marcus Marshall, St. Paul Johnson, sr., G. Will try to replace Estan Tyler.

One of These Days, Alice

Alex Illikainen, Grand Rapids, fr., C. Played all-stater Shelby Moats to a draw last March.

Iam Theisen, Osseo, soph, C

Rashad Vaughan, Robbinsdale Cooper, soph., F

Reid Travis, DeLaSalle, soph., F

Tyus Jones, soph.