By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
The Fab Five
1. Five Players to Watch: If you are looking for a game to watch and a player to check out, these five are among the top players in the Twin Cities this year: Royce White, a 6-foot-7 forward from DeLaSalle; Rodney Williams, a 6-7 swingman from Robbinsdale Cooper; Andrew Brommer, a 6-9 center from Rosemount; Armond Battle, a 6-7 senior from Benilde-St. Margaret's; and Anthony Tucker, a 6-4 senior guard from Minnetonka.
2. Five Teams to Watch: Tucker, who has signed with Iowa, leads a Minnetonka team that returns everyone, and is among the talked about title contenders in Class 4A. Rival Hopkins, which has won the most big school state titles this decade (three), is another top team. Making it more interesting is the fact that both of these teams are in Section 6 - only one can make it to state. Battle leads a Benilde-St. Margaret's team that has three starters back from last year's AAA runner-up squad. Henry Sibley, led by 6-1 guard Peter Leslie and a frontline that features five players 6-6 or taller, will be a team watch despite the loss of 6-8 forward Trevor Mbwake, who is now at Marquette. Cretin-Derham Hall isn't only a power in football. Led by Michael Floyd and John Nance, the Raiders are a potent team in the Suburban East and a contender in 4A.
3. Best of the Big Men: Among the top players in the state this year is 6-10 senior center Jared Berggren of Princeton High School. Berggren has committed to Wisconsin and his early season performances have proved why the Badgers coveted the big man. He had 27 points as the Tigers defeated Sauk Rapids 70-56, and the next game he had 28 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Look for Berggren to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the season.
4. Defending Champs: Ellsworth (Class A), Holy Family Catholic (2A), St. Thomas Academy (3A) and Buffalo (4A) are all hoping to defend their 2007 state titles. For Ellsworth, Holy Family and Buffalo, those titles were the first in school history. For St. Thomas, the title was the second in school history. St. Thomas Academy, with three starters back, has the most talent back of all defending state champs, and will look to contend for the Classic Suburban Conference title and another berth in the state tournament. Bufffalo is led by Dee Broadnax, a 6-0 senior guard who is among the top players in the state.
5. New Rule: A 35-second shot clock will be implemented this year for the first time in Minnesota boys basketball history. The clocks will only be allowed in regular season non-conference or tournament games, so it won't be a factor come tournament time. Coaches have had mixed reactions to this new rule. Time will tell how it plays out.
Three to Watch
1. Mike Schramm, Mounds View: Schramm is off to a good start to the season and a big reason Mounds View won three of its first four games. Schramm averaged 19 points and 5.8 rebounds in those four games.
2. C.J. Erickson, Minnetonka: Tucker isn't the only Division I signee on that loaded Minnetonka squad. Erickson, a 6-6 forward, has signed to play at Evansville next season.
3. Dion Suggs, St. Paul Johnson: The 5-11 junior guard is one of the most electrifying players in the St. Paul City Conference, and a key player in a Johnson team that hopes to contend for a City Conference title.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Aaron Anderson, Stillwater: Anderson, a senior guard, was the MVP of the S&C Bank Classic. He helped the Ponies to the championship game with 13 points in a 43-34 win over North St. Paul in the semifinals, and scored 19 points in an exciting 85-83 win over Andover in the finals. In the two games he totaled 13 rebounds, made 50 percent of his three-pointers (4-for-8) and was perfect at the stripe, connecting on all nine free throw attempts.
2. Michael Floyd, Cretin-Derham Hall: Floyd wasn't able to lead Cretin past Eden Prairie in the state football title game, but he got a form of revenge against Eden Prairie in an early season basketball tilt. Floyd scored 38 points to lead the No.6 Raiders over the 9th-ranked Eagles, 71-55.
Inside the Numbers
150 - The number of points scored by First Baptist High School guard Dexter Wilson through six games, a 25 points per game average. Wilson has scored 34, 24, 29, 21, 16 and 26 points in those six games.
104 - The number of rebounds Wilson has in those six games, an average of just over 17 rebounds per game.
74.3 - The number of points scored per game for Osseo through its first three games - all wins. Osseo is considered a favorite for the Northwest Suburban Conference title.
36 - The number of assists by Triton of Doge Center's Colton Thiemann in the first five games, an average just over 7 assists per game.
22 - The per game average of Zach Towle of Concordia Academy of Roseville through the first three games.
0 - The number of starters that return for 2007 Class 4A state qualifiers Andover, Lakeville South, Apple Valley and Armstrong.
