Class AAAA looks to be pretty wide open this year though I would agree with most of the rankings I've seen--and this is, Park Center and Eden Prairie look like #1 and #2. But a number of teams will be breathing down their necks, most notably Prior Lake, Wayzata and Cretin, and can you ever really count Hopkins out? Let's take a look at the sections.
Section 1 looks like a 2-team race, though Lakeville South can probably surround juniors Riley Mahlman and Reid Patterson with a better supporting cast than Rochester Mayo can surround senior twin guards Gabe and Mason Madsen.
Section 2 also looks like a 2-team race though the gap behind Eden Prairie and Prior Lake to #3, #4 and #5 (Shakopee, Chaska and Edina) is a lot smaller. EP has everybody back but Prior Lake has the top player in Class AAAA in 6-11 Dawson Garcia.
Lakeville North moves to Section 3, where we think arch-rival Eastview will have the edge this year with 6-11 Steve Crowl.
Section 4 looks like another 2-team race, but defending champion East Ridge lost a transfer in Kendall Brown, while Cretin gained one in 6-6 senior wing J'Vonne Hadley. Advantage Cretin.
Section 5--Park Center is big and strong and athletic everywhere you look. Osseo has a super sophomore class but their time is not yet in 2020.
Geez, another 2-team race in Section 6. Wayzata edged Hopkins in 2017 and 2018 and looks to do so again. Each team is likely to start 4 sophomores and juniors. Wayzata's might be a little bit ahead, but Hopkins has the best senior in guard Kerwin Walton.
Section 7--Anoka has a great group of youngsters, if it can keep them together. Cambridge has guard Henry Abraham back for one more go. Coon Rapids and Duluth East have some talent and some depth. I like Anoka.
Section 8--Buffalo or Moorhead, your pick.
State Tournament Matchups
#1 Park Center vs. Anoka
#4 Hopkins vs. #5 Eastview
#2 Eden Prairie vs. Buffalo or Lakeville South
#3 Cretin vs. Lakeville South or Moorhead
Class AAAA All-State
Steven Crowl, Eastview, 6-11, senior, PF, 20 pp
Dan Dainja, Park Center, 6-9, senior, C
Dawson Garcia, Prior Lake, 6-11, senior, PF
Gabe Madsen, Rochester Mayo, 6-5, senior, CG
Kerwin Walton, Hopkins, 6-5, senior, PG, 17 peg
Henry Abraham, Cambridge, 6-0, senior, PG, 23 ppg
Ben Carlson, East Ridge, 6-8, senior, PF, 17 ppg
Drake Dobbs, Eden Prairie, 6-0, senior, PG
Tre Holloman, Cretin, 6-3, soph, PF, 12 ppg
Riley Mahlman, Lakeville South, 6-9, junior, C, 14 pp
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