High school preview: Fearless predictions for 2024-25

It's a new year and nobody has a losing record. Optimism runs high in November, and everyone likes to believe that their team has a chance to do something special. After two days of actual practice, however, it's tough to predict exactly what's going to happen in the months ahead, but we're going to give it our best shot. Now that the crystal ball has spit out some semi-logical prognostications, one thing is obvious: The more things change the more they stay the same. Yep, there are plenty of familiar faces among our selections to win the big one. Let's see if you agree.   Without further ado, here are my fearless predictions for the 2024-25 high school basketball season.   Class 4A State Champion: Hopkins   Losing a Miss Basketball finalist like Liv McGill (Florida) would be a huge hurdle to overcome for most programs, but Hopkins isn't most programs. Enter Winona transfer and top 10 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] in the point guard spot and Hopkins is right back in position to win. Returnees [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='296531' first='Tatum' last='Woodson'], [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='453753' first='Lauren' last='Hillesheim'], [player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] and [player_tooltip player_id='339206' first='Maliyah' last='White'] form the base. Newcomers [player_tooltip player_id='644912' first='Amari' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='644107' first='Inarah' last='Nesbitt'] are icing on the cake.   Last year: Hopkins was our choice one year ago, as well, and they almost got the job done before falling to Minnetonka 64-56.   Class 3A State Champion: Alexandria   Even with the graduation of Olivia Olson (Michigan), it's difficult to bet against the defending champions from Benilde-St. Margaret's. The return of a healthy [player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'] puts the Red Knights in position to repeat but we're going out on a limb to suggest that this could be Alexandria's year. Coach Wendy Kohler's Cardinals are loaded with standout seniors, including South Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] and a supporting class that includes [player_tooltip player_id='396428' first='Allie' last='Haabala'], [player_tooltip player_id='346183' first='Chloe' last='Scholl'], [player_tooltip player_id='453771' first='Macee' last='Linow'] and Camree Miller plus underclassmen [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='502537' first='Kate' last='Hennessy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='502547' first='Hope' last='Stark']. Now is the time if Alex is going to get the job done.   Last year: We chose Benilde-St. Margaret's and the Red Knights came through as Olson led BSM to an 81-58 win over DeLaSalle.   Class 2A State Champion: Providence Academy   Providence Academy is on a roll and that's putting it mildly. Even losing elite freshman [player_tooltip player_id='565312' first='Ari' last='Peterson'] to Minnetonka, the Lions still have to be considered the favorites in Class 2A. Yes, Minnehaha Academy will present a challenge. New London-Spicer is always a threat. And Crosby-Ironton, now with both [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='296516' first='Regan' last='Juenemann'], will be a quality squad. But any team with [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] running the show is the team to beat.   Last year: We picked Providence Academy – again – and the Lions won it all – again – defeating their rivals from Albany 81-78.   Class 1A State Champion: Goodhue   Goodhue defeated Mountain Iron-Buhl in dramatic fashion last spring and the Wildcats have to be the favorites this time around, as well. Both teams lost elite point guards – Jordan Zubich of MIB to North Carolina, Elisabeth Gadient of Goodhue to MSU-Mankato – but Goodhue returns the core of its lineup while MIB will be younger. Although Hancock and others might have something to say, we're picking Goodhue but only by the slimmest of margins.   Last year: Mountain Iron-Buhl was our favorite to repeat in Class A. Led by Jordan Zubich (North Carolina) and Hali Savela (Jamestown), the Rangers almost did it before Goodhue prevailed 70-65.   Sleeper team: Wayzata   It has been a seemingly endless climb up a very steep hill for the Trojans, who have yet to get by Hopkins in a section final to make it to the promised land. Maybe this will be the year. Certainly the loss of starter [player_tooltip player_id='478350' first='Kate' last='Amelotte'] to a torn ACL will hurt, but the rest of the starting lineup returns and the Trojans will be strengthened by the addition of transfer [player_tooltip player_id='600748' first='Kaja' last='Nash']. Led by standout seniors like Sophie Hawkinson (North Dakota State), Allison Berns (Jamestown) and Katie Kelzenberg, coach Julie Stewart's team is talented. Maybe this is the year they execute an upset in Class 4A.   Last year: We selected Lakeville North under returning coach Andy Berkvam as our sleeper team. The Panthers had a great year but lost a 56-55 heartbreaker to Maple Grove at state.   Who wins Miss Basketball?   The transfer of top-ranked senior and University of Texas commit Aaliyah Crump from Minnetonka to the state of Florida has swung the door wide open for any number of contenders to make their case. We'd put Maple Grove's [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] (Michigan State) and Minnehaha Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] (Maryland) at the top of the favorites list. Either one would be a terrific choice. We think [player_tooltip player_id='296527' first='Aneisha' last='Scott'] of DeLaSalle (Richmond), [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] of Eden Prairie (South Dakota) and [player_tooltip player_id='296528' first='Sam' last='Wills'] of Visitation (Harvard) should be in the mix, as well. We'll choose boldly, however, and predict that the committee selects [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] of Alexandria (pictured above) as the winner. They've always had a fondness for outstate candidates.   Last year: We chose Olivia Olson of Benilde-St. Margaret's, who ultimately won the award.   Going out on a limb   It's always fun to take a flyer and go way out on a limb at least once in our preseason prognostications. This time around we'll predict that a complete dark horse will emerge from the shadows to win one of the four state titles. We saw upstart Totino-Grace do it in Class 3A not so long ago, and we think it could happen again. Who will it be? Perhaps Eastview in Class 4A, Hill-Murray in 3A, Proctor in 2A or Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's in Class A. Don't bet the farm on it, but maybe make a friendly wager with your cat is in order.   Last year: We took a chance on Prior Lake sneaking out of section 2 to become the Cinderella of the state tournament, but the Lakers were eliminated by the eventual Class 4A champs from Minnetonka.

It's a new year and nobody has a losing record. Optimism runs high in November, and everyone likes to believe that their team has a chance to do something special. After two days of actual practice, however, it's tough to predict exactly what's going to happen in the months ahead, but we're going to give it our best shot. Now that the crystal ball has spit out some semi-logical prognostications, one thing is obvious: The more things change the more they stay the same. Yep, there are plenty of familiar faces among our selections to win the big one. Let's see if you agree.