2021 conference preview: It’s loaded in the Lake
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Can anyone beat Hopkins? It’s a question I am asked often, but even in a pandemic-tainted, topsy-turvy, stop-and-start kind of a high school basketball season that will likely require players to be masked, parents to stay home and teams to…
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Continue ReadingCan anyone beat Hopkins? It’s a question I am asked often, but even in a pandemic-tainted, topsy-turvy, stop-and-start kind of a high school basketball season that will likely require players to be masked, parents to stay home and teams to be in turmoil from beginning to end, my answer remains the same: Probably not. The Royals are that good.
Fortunately, even in this chaotic year, the games will still be decided on a basketball court and, as we all know, anything can happen on the hardwood. Still, the Royals haven’t lost a Lake Conference game in forever and even though they graduated a generational player in University of Connecticut freshman Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN , Hopkins is the prohibitive favorite once again.
Here’s a look at the Lake Conference in 2021, beginning with a reminder of how things ended up last spring.
2019-20 STANDINGS
- 12-0 – Hopkins
- 9-3 – Wayzata
- 8-4 – St. Michael-Albertville
- 6-6 – Eden Prairie
- 5-7 – Minnetonka
- 1-11 – Edina
- 1-11 – Buffalo
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Five graduates who will be missed
- Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN – #1, guard, Hopkins (UCONN)
- Mackenzie Kramer Mackenzie Kramer 5'9" | PG STMA | 2020 State MN – #4, guard, St. Michael-Albertville (Lehigh)
- Nneka Obiazor Nneka Obiazor 5'10" | PF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN – #8, forward, Eden Prairie (Youngstown State)
- Annika Stewart Annika Stewart 6'3" | PF Wayzata | 2020 State MN – #14, forward, Wayzata (Nebraska)
- Natalie Mazurek Natalie Mazurek 6'1" | PF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN – #16, forward, Eden Prairie (South Dakota)
THE FAVORITE
Hopkins
- Record – 12-0, 30-0
- Departed – Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN (UCONN), KK Adams KK Adams 5'8" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN (Hutchinson CC), Jaide Pressley Jaide Pressley 5'8" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN (Rochester CC)
- Returning – Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State #29 Nation MN , Alayna Contreras Alayna Contreras 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2022 State MN , Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN , Nunu Agara Nunu Agara 6'1" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #32 Nation MN , Kelly Boyle Kelly Boyle 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN
- New additions – #2 freshman Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN transfers from Park Center.
- Notable – Tara Starks replaces the legendary Brian Cosgriff as head coach.
THE CONTENDER
Wayzata
- Record – 9-2, 24-5
- Departed – Annika Stewart Annika Stewart 6'3" | PF Wayzata | 2020 State MN (Nebraska), Jasmine Smiley Jasmine Smiley 5'9" | SG Wayzata | 2020 State MN , Lydia Hay Lydia Hay 5'11" | PF Wayzata | 2020 State MN (MSU-Moorhead), Alivia Arnebeck Alivia Arnebeck 5'8" | SG Wayzata | 2020 State MN (UW-LaCrosse)
- Returning – Jenna Johnson Jenna Johnson 6'2" | PF Wayzata | 2021 State #52 Nation MN (Utah), Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (Minnesota), Brynn Senden Brynn Senden 5'6" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN
- New additions – Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN
- Notable – Top-20 sophomore Abby Krzewinski Abby Krzewinski 5'11" | PF Wayzata | 2023 State MN will miss the season with a torn ACL. Johnson returns after missing all of last season with the same injury.
IN THE HUNT
St. Michael-Albertville
- Record – 8-4, 20-9
- Departed – Mackenzie Kramer Mackenzie Kramer 5'9" | PG STMA | 2020 State MN (Lehigh), Lily Tennyson Lily Tennyson 5'9" | SF STMA | 2020 State MN (MSU-Moorhead), Vanessa Alexander Vanessa Alexander 6'0" | C STMA | 2020 State MN (Winona State)
- Returning – Kendal Cox Kendal Cox 5'9" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2021 State MN (Winona State), Emma Miller Emma Miller 5'1" | PG STMA | 2022 State MN , Piper Carlson Piper Carlson 5'11" | SF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN , Kaylie Cox Kaylie Cox 5'7" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2024 State MN
- New additions – Lauren Hoselton, Alycia Haus
- Notable – Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN , the #1-rated prospect in Minnesota’s class of 2023, suffered a broken femur in fall league and is expected to miss the season.
Eden Prairie
- Record – 6-6, 18-13
- Departed – Nneka Obiazor Nneka Obiazor 5'10" | PF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN (Youngstown State), Natalie Mazurek Natalie Mazurek 6'1" | PF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN (South Dakota)
- Returning – Nia Holloway Nia Holloway 6'0" | PF Eden Prairie | 2022 State #45 Nation MN (Minnesota), Molly Lenz Molly Lenz 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , Destinee Bursch Destinee Bursch 5'9" | CG Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN (MSU-Mankato), Savanna Jones Savanna Jones 6'2" | PF Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , Ashley Fritz Ashley Fritz 5'10" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , Allison Miranda Allison Miranda 5'10" | SG Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN
- New additions – Senior Katie Leisen Katie Leisen 5'11" | SF Eden Prairie | 2021 State MN (Augustana) is back from injury and will be important.
- Notable – Top 30 junior Myra Moorjani Myra Moorjani 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2022 State MN is out with a torn ACL which should open the door for Fritz to play a much bigger role.
MOST IMPROVED (and in the hunt!)
Minnetonka
- Record – 5-7, 17-10
- Departed – none
- Returning – Sophie Haydon Sophie Haydon 6'2" | PF Minnetonka | 2021 State MN (George Washington), Desiree Ware Desiree Ware 5'8" | CG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN (Alabama-Birmingham), Emma Dasovich Emma Dasovich 6'1" | PF Valley Vista | 2024 MN , Piper Terry Piper Terry 5'8" | CG Minnetonka | 2021 State MN , Tori McKinney Tori McKinney 6'1" | CG Minnetonka | 2024 State MN
- New additions – Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN (from DeLaSalle), Nora Francois Nora Francois 6'0" | PF Minnetonka | 2021 State MN (from DeLaSalle) (NIACC), Tootie Cade (Lewis) Tootie Cade (Lewis) 5'10" | PF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (from Cretin-Derham Hall)
- Notable – Minnetonka was the last team from the Lake Conference to win a state championship other than Hopkins when they took home the title in 2016.
NOT THIS YEAR
Edina
- Record – 1-11, 9-17
- Departed – Miriam Diaby, Caroline Murray
- Returning – Caiya Wulf Caiya Wulf 6'0" | PF Edina | 2021 State MN , Allie Murphy Allie Murphy 5'10" | SG Edina | 2021 State MN (Pomona-Pitzer), Ella Campbell Ella Campbell 5'10" | CG Edina | 2022 State MN , Dorothy Stotts Dorothy Stotts 5'8" | CG Edina | 2022 State MN
- Key additions – Abby Grussing Abby Grussing 5'10" | SF Edina | 2022 State MN (transfer from Minnetonka). Underclassmen Sierre Lumpkin Sierre Lumpkin 5'10" | SF Benilde-SM | 2023 State MN , Isabelle Nelson Isabelle Nelson 5'9" | CG Edina | 2023 State MN and Braziel Fairbanks Braziel Fairbanks 5'5" | CG Edina | 2023 MN should play more prominent roles.
- Notable – With the core of their lineup returning, the Hornets should be better. How much better remains to be seen.
Buffalo
- Record – 1-11, 8-19
- Departed – none
- Returning – Lauren Feddema Lauren Feddema 5'9" | CG Buffalo | 2022 State MN , Macie Guida, Brooke Gunderson, Lindsay Hartman, Jordan Anderson Jordan Anderson 5'11" | PF Buffalo | 2023 State MN , Emma Bjerke
- Key additions – To be determined
- Notable – Buffalo took a beating in its first year in the Lake Conference. With one more year of experience the Bison should be a lot better overall but still not ready for the Lake life.
TOP 10 AVAILABLE PROSPECTS
There’s a ton of talent in the Lake Conference. Every team has at least one Prep Girls Hoops Top-100 player on the roster, and there are nearly 50 in all. Hopkins has 11. Many of the top players are already spoken for including senior Jenna Johnson Jenna Johnson 6'2" | PF Wayzata | 2021 State #52 Nation MN #3 (Utah) and juniors #2 Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (Minnesota), #5 Nia Holloway Nia Holloway 6'0" | PF Eden Prairie | 2022 State #45 Nation MN (Minnesota) and #10 Desiree Ware Desiree Ware 5'8" | CG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN (Alabama-Birmingham). Junior Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN has already named her finalists. These are the best available regardless of class.
- Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN – #1 sophomore, guard, STMA
- Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State #29 Nation MN – #3 junior, guard, Hopkins
- Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN – #2 sophomore, forward, Hopkins
- Nunu Agara Nunu Agara 6'1" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #32 Nation MN – #3 sophomore, forward, Hopkins
- Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN – #2 freshman, guard, Hopkins
- Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN – #8 junior, guard, Minnetonka
- Emma Dasovich Emma Dasovich 6'1" | PF Valley Vista | 2024 MN – #3 freshman, forward, Minnetonka
- Molly Lenz Molly Lenz 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN – #7 sophomore, guard, Eden Prairie
- Alayna Contreras Alayna Contreras 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2022 State MN – #24 junior, guard, Hopkins
- Savanna Jones Savanna Jones 6'2" | PF Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN – #14 sophomore, forward, Eden Prairie
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Three outstanding transfers have arrived in time for the 2020 season and all three are likely to make a major impression.
- Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN – #8 junior, guard, Minnetonka (from DeLaSalle)
- Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN – #2 freshman, guard, Hopkins (from Park Center)
- Nora Francois Nora Francois 6'0" | PF Minnetonka | 2021 State MN – #34 senior, forward, Minnetonka (from DeLaSalle)
ABOUT TO BREAK THROUGH
- Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN – #60 sophomore, forward, Wayzata
- Piper Carlson Piper Carlson 5'11" | SF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN – #61 sophomore, forward, St. Michael-Albertville
- Isabelle Nelson Isabelle Nelson 5'9" | CG Edina | 2023 State MN – #97 sophomore, guard, Edina
MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
- Alayna Contreras Alayna Contreras 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2022 State MN – #24 junior, guard, Hopkins
- Sophie Haydon Sophie Haydon 6'2" | PF Minnetonka | 2021 State MN – #35 senior, forward, Minnetonka (George Washington)
- Lauren Feddema Lauren Feddema 5'9" | CG Buffalo | 2022 State MN – #66 junior, guard, Buffalo
UNDERAPPRECIATED TALENTS
- Jasmine Dupree Jasmine Dupree 5'8" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN – #38 sophomore, guard, Hopkins
- Alicia Bates Alicia Bates 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN – #79 junior, guard, Hopkins
- Ashley Fritz Ashley Fritz 5'10" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN – #25 sophomore, guard, Eden Prairie
NAMES TO REMEMBER
These players might not be quite ready for prime time simply because they are part of a loaded roster and need to wait their turn. When the time comes, however, they will have been worth the wait.
- Sidney Reed Sidney Reed 6'2" | SF Minnetonka | 2024 State MN – #15 freshman, forward, Minnetonka
- Ella Wolff Ella Wolff 6'2" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN – #82 sophomore, forward, Minnetonka
- Annika Anderson Annika Anderson 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN –#84 sophomore, guard, Eden Prairie
Top photo: Coach Tara Starks takes over at Hopkins where most of her AAU Metro Stars play. (Photo courtesy of Crissha Walton)