OK, this one is simple. DeLaSalle or Minnehaha? Minnehaha or DeLaSalle? Minnehaha won 3 straight Class AA titles and so they did the courageous thing, the right thing, moving up to Class AAA. Courageous for themselves, seeking tougher competition. The right thing for everybody else in Class AA, who now has a chance to win a state title.
Meanwhile, those of you who are regulars to this blog don't need me to say much about DeLaSalle. Eight straight section titles, 9 of 10. 7 of 8 state titles. And moving up. doing the right thing, doing the courageous thing would be the furthest thing from their mind.
So if it's gonna be DeLaSalle or Minnehaha, Minnehaha or DeLaSalle, well, all's a person can say is, Go Hawks! But, if anybody else has a snowball's chance, it would appear to be Austin or Mankato East from the Big 9. Same conference, different sections, so both could make it to the state semis against the 2 very big dawgs.
Center--In the post, it is advantage Minnehaha all the way with 7-foot junior Chet Holmgren, Minnesota's top junior and one of the top 3 to 5 juniors in the nation. As Chet himself says, "I'm really good at being tall." Coach Lance Johnson says he's a shot-blocking machine, who can also handle it like a guard. DeLaSalle counters with 6-7 Jalen Travis and Mankato with 6-5 Jordan Merseth, while Austin really doesn't have what you'd call size. 1) Minnehaha, 2) De and Mankato, 4) Austin.
Forwards--Again, Minnehaha looks pretty awesome with 6-7 soph Prince Aligbe, one of the top 3 sophomores in the state; 6-3 senior defensive whiz Kaeden Johnson; and 6-4 sophomore Chase Carter, a transfer from Maranatha. De loses Jamison Battle and so their forwards and wings will be a work in progress, though no doubt there are some great athletes in the wings. Mankato 6-4 sophomore B.J. Omot is a riser, while Austin has 6-2 senior Moses Idris. 1) Minnehaha 2) De 3) Mankato 4) Austin.
Point Guard--Three words: Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha. One of the top seniors in the country. De loses Tyrell Terry but returns 6-footers junior Keijuan White and señior Amir Whitlock. One or both is gonna be very good. Mankato has Joich Gong and Austin has Agwa Newesh. 1) Minnehaha 2) DeLaSalle 3) Mankato 4) Austin.
Shooting Guards--Minnehaha has Terry Lockett and Donovan Smith, while De answers with Evan Boyd and Andrew Irvin. Mankato has Jax Madsen, and Austin has several athletes competing for minutes. 1) Mankato 2) Minnehaha 3) DeLaSalle 4) Austin.
Only Mankato among the 4 will get a serious challenge in the section--that from Marshall. But, it says here that Minnehaha, De, Mankato East and Austin will be the #1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds at state next March.
#5 should be Holy Angels, though they'll face a stiff test in Section 3AAA from St. Croix Lutheran.
The non-seeds should be Delano from 5AAA, Hibbing from 7AAA, and St. Cloud Tech in 8AAA. Tech goes 6-8, 6-8, 6-7, 6-4 in a section without an obvious powerhouse, so that size is the deal-maker for now.
State Tournament Matchups
#1 Minnehaha vs. Delano
#4 Austin vs. #5 Holy Angels
#2 DeLaSalle vs. Hibbing
#3 Mankato East vs. St. Cloud Tech
Class AAA All-State
P.J. Hayes, Waconia, 6-6, senior, CG, 24 ppg
Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha, 7-0, junior, C, 17 peg
Jax Madsen, Mankato East, 6-2, senior, SG, 20 ppg
Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha, 6-5, senior, PG, 24 ppg
John Sutherland, Grand Rapids, 6-6, senior, PF, 27 ppg
Prince Aligbe, Minnehaha, 6-7, soph, F, 11 peg
Mekhi Collins, Mankato West, 6-4, soph, F, 14 ppg
Emmett Johnson, Holy Angels, 5-11, soph, SG, 14 ppg
Ayden McDonald, Hibbing, 6-3, soph, PG, 16 ppg
Agwa Nywesh, Austin, 6-3, senior, PG, 16 ppg
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