By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
The 2008 Minnesota boys basketball season is heating up. Here are some storylines to watch;
The Starting Five
1. High Expectations at Hopkins: Hopkins is the top-ranked team and favorite in Class 4A, and it’s no surprise. The team has four Division I recruits, and got a big boost when Royce White transferred to the West Metro school from DeLaSalle. White has committed to Minnesota. Other standouts and their college commitments for Hopkins: Guard Ray Cowels (Santa Clara), guard Trent Lockett (Arizona State) and forward Mike Broghammer (Notre Dame).
2. High Expectations, Part II: Or should it be height expectations? Henry Sibley has the tallest front line in the state. The Warriors are led by 6-foot-8 Chris Halvorsen, a Valparaiso recruit, 6-7 Mike Bruesewitz, a Wisconsin recruit, and 7-foot junior Jake Kreuser. The Warriors, who lost to Minnetonka in the big school state finals last season, also have two 6-7 players to come off the bench.
3. Williams Watch: It’s not a “watch” as in watch to see where Cooper standout Rodney Williams will play in college (he has signed with Minnesota), but a “watch” as in he is someone you must watch play this season. The 6-6 forward ranks right up their with the best leapers in the country and looks to help Cooper return to the state tournament. The team went 23-9 last season and all five starters are back.
4. Guards Galore: While many of the above players and teams are led by talented big men, there are many guards who will put up big numbers and play key roles for their teams this season. Among the top guards are: Aaron Anderson of Osseo, Eric Olson of Buffalo, Devon Knopke of Burnsville, Jordair Jett of St. Bernard’s, Zach Towle of Concordia Academy and Marc Sonnen of Tartan, who has signed at Northern Iowa.
5. Washburn Watch: In the past the Minneapolis City Conference has been dominated by Henry and North, but Minneapolis Washburn hopes to change that this season. Washburn is ranked No. 1 in the state in the AAA poll, and is led by 6-6 Division I football recruit Ra’shede Hageman and 6-2 senior guard Cedric Martin.
Three to Watch
1. Josh Figini, Chisago Lakes: The 6-9 senior forward went over the 1,000-point mark in his career in style. Figini scored 46 points and had 22 rebounds in a season-opening 78-69 win over Princeton. Figini sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer at the buzzer, and made two more free throws with 1.1 seconds left to send the game into another overtime before CL prevailed. The big man should be a big force this season.
2. Muresuk Mena, Simley: Mena was the quarterback of the Spartans’ back-to-back Classic Suburban Conference championship football teams, and appears to be as talented on the court. The 5-9 Mena scored 19 points in a 76-51 loss to Fridley, and 23 points in a 53-46 win over D.C. Everest of Wisconsin.
3. Nathan Fiscus, CHOF: Fiscus was consistent in the first two games of the season – consistently good. He scored 29 points in the season opener against New Life Academy and 29 points in a game against Orono.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Jordan Hughes, Minneapolis Henry: Hughes didn’t show any early season rust in a 77-59 win over Totino-Grace Friday. He made 10 of 16 three point attempts on his way to 36 points. Not a bad start to the season.
2. Zach Towle, Concordia: Towle showed why he is in the group of the best guards in the state. Like Hughes, he was red hot from beyond the arc against Mahtomedi last week. Towle scored 47 points and made 10 of 17 three-point attempts. Unfortunately for Towle and the Beacons, it was in a losing effort, as Mathomedi won 81-80.
Inside the Numbers
93 – Points scored by Eagan in a win over Park of Cottage Grove Friday. Charlie Baker led the Wildcats with 30 points in the win. Baker also had 8 assists and 5 steals in the win.
31 – Points in two games for Southwest Christian forward Caleb Pakert. Pakert also has 25 rebounds in those two games for a two-game average of 15.5 points per game and 12.5 rebounds
12 – Minnesota seniors committed to Division I programs to play college basketball next season.
7 – Steals by Mac Johnson of Lake of the Woods High in a 66-37 loss to Tri-County last week. Johnson also added 14 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds in the loss.
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