You may recall that we pick a Player of the Year at the end of the season. We picked the top 10 contenders for that award back in October (pre-season) and updated the list on December 1. So, now here's our second update of the top 10 contenders for Player of the Year after two months. It seems increasingly likely that our Player of the Year for 2018-2019 will come from this list.
1. Jordan Murphy, Minnesota Gophers, senior, forward. Became the Gophers all-time leading rebounder this month and the 14th Big 10 player ever to exceed 1,000 rebounds. He was Player of the Month in November and moved up to the #1 contender at that time. He was #2 on our pre-season list.
2 (tie). Matthew Hurt, Rochester John Marshall, senior, forward. Started the year as the #1 contender. His season only started in December by which time he had dropped to #2. He is averaging 35 ppg with a high of 55.
2 (tie). Paige Bueckers, Hopkins girls, junior, guard. The 3-time gold medal winner with Team USA is scoring 23 ppg while leading the Royals to a 10-0 start, with an average win of 84-54. She has moved from #4 to #3 to a tie for #2.
3. Kenisha Bell, Minnesota Gopher women, senior, guard. Led the Gophers to a 12-1 start, scoring 19 mpg with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. She has gone from #3 to #5 and back up to #3.
4. Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha, junior, guard. Suggs is averaging 27 ppg with 5 assists and 8 steals for the 6-2 RedHawks, and remains one of the most highly recruited 2020s in the nation. He started at #5, moved up to #4, and remains at #4.
5. Karl Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, center. Towns has reasserted himself as the leader of this team again with the departure of good old what's-his-name. He has averaged nearly a 30-20 over the past ten days. Now if the Wolves could just surround him with a couple guys who can defend the 3.... Towns was #7, then #7, now moves up to #5.
6. Amir Coffey, Minnesota Gophers, junior, guard. Not a great shooter and he's been somewhat inconsistent this year. He started at #6, then dropped out of the top 10 last month, but now all the way back up to #6. Because when he is at his best, attacking the rim and dishing off, he pulls the Gophers up to another level.
7. Taiye Bello, Minnesota Gopher women, junior, forward. One of the greatest offensive rebounders I have ever seen. She is averaging 13 boards per game, 5.5 on the offensive end, 7.5 on the defensive, to go with 11 ppg and a 59 shooting percentage. She was not on our pre-season list, then moved all the way up to #6, now back down to #7.
8. McKenna Hofschild, Prior Lake girls, senior, guard. Scored that all-time state record 63 points on December 1, is averaging 28 ppg for the season. Just 5-3, but headed to Seton Hall. New to this listing.
9. Hannah Spaulding, St. Thomas women, senior, post. Also new to the list. Averaging 17-9-2-2-2 for the 11-1 Tommies.
10. Zeke Nnaji, Hopkins, senior, forward. Started the year at #8 and remained there in November. He is now scoring 22 ppg including 29 in a recent win over Minnehaha.
Top 10 Team of the Year Contenders
1. Minnesota Gopher women (12-1) remain the favorite. They were #6 pre-season, #1 last month, #2 this month, still #1 overall.
2. St. Thomas women (11-1). Like the Gophers they suffered their 1st defeat the last night or 2 of last year but remain a contender for a national championship. They were #1 pre-season, #2 in November, #3 in December, and #2 overall.
3. Hopkins girls (10-0) are demolishing people and are the heaviest favorite in any of the 8 MSHSL classes for next March. The were #4 pre-season, #5 in November, #1 in December.
4. Gopher men (11-2). This is part wishful thinking, I suppose, but if they get to the NCAA and win a couple of games, they will create a bit of a sensation. If they land Michael Hurt, well, that would also be sensational. They were #2, then #4, then #7.
5 (tie). D1 boys and North Tartan girls, the 2 best AAU teams last summer. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess, as they've dropped from #3 and #3 to, now, #5 without losing another game.
6 (tie). St. John's and St. Thomas men. Both are 4-0 and 8-1. The Johnnies were #8 last month, the Tommies #10.
7. MSU Moorhead women are 6-0 and 10-2 and are poised to repeat as the North division champs in the NSIC. They were #7 in the pre-season, #8 in December.
8 (tie). Hopkins and Minnehaha boys. Hopkins has defeated the RedHawks twice, but Minnehaha is an overwhelming favorite to win a state title in Class AA, while Hopkins faces any number of challengers in AAAA. Minnehaha was #6 last month.
9 (tie). Alexandria girls and Park Center boys are both newcomers to the list. Both are still unbeaten and rated #1 in their respective classes.
10 (tie). Minneota boys and girls. Both remain undefeated and ranked #1 in Class A. Both are new to this list.
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