Tournament preview: They'll save the best for last at Hamline's Pat Patterson event when Hopkins meets Stillwater

It’s only a couple of months but the gap between the conclusion of the AAU summer and the beginning of the high school basketball season seems to last forever for us diehards. Well wait no more, because the 2018-19 season officially began on Wednesday afternoon when Delano visited Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted for contest #1. The big launch day is Friday, but if you are planning to attend the Pat Patterson tournament at Hamline University you’ll need to wait 24 more hours for the marquee matchup. The best game of all will be the last game of all when Hopkins plays Stillwater at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. Here’s a rundown of the top games at Hamline:

Sophomore forward Kendall Coley of St. Louis Park is a high D1 prospect.

Kennedy vs Roseville – Saturday at 11:15 a.m.

Linger over a second cup of coffee Saturday morning if you wish but make plans to arrive in time for the second game of the day between Roseville and Bloomington Kennedy. The post matchup is most intriguing in this one as Kennedy now features 6’2 senior Destinee Oberg (Arkansas), the #2 player in the class of 2019, who recently transferred from Holy Angels. The Eagles also have two talented senior guards in Zaraya March and Samantha Husting. Oberg will face off against 6’3 center Tamia Ugass of Roseville, a top 10 player in the sophomore class (Stars 2021 Hersch). Roseville also features #21 senior Kaylee Nelson (UM-Duluth), #10 junior power forward Jayda Johnston (North Tartan EYBL) plus talented sophomore Rai’Janee Meadows (Suns Long).

St. Louis Park vs Lakeville South – Saturday at 4:45 p.m.

St. Louis Park is a team that is going to make some noise in 2018-19. With a nice mix of senior experience and quality youngsters, it’s time for the Orioles to deliver. The lineup features D2 commit Lindsey Olson (MSU-Mankato) and another scholarship-level player in junior guard Shayla Miller. The real star of the team this season, however, should be 2021 forward Kendall Coley, the #8-ranked player in the class and a gifted athlete with numerous high D1 offers. SLP also has another elite prospect in sophomore forward Reagan Alexander. Lakeville South is led by point guard Anna Harvey, a top-30 senior (Lehigh), who is an outstanding floor general. She’s joined by top-40 junior guard Annie Guentzel, 6-foot junior post Haylee Wheeler, and talented freshman guard Allie Schulz.

Eastview senior guard Macy Guebert has committed to the University of South Dakota. (photo courtesy of Pioneer Press)

White Bear Lake vs Eastview – Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The Hamline tourney will offer the first look of the year at the defending state champions from Eastview. Gone is all-everything forward Megan Walstad (Milwaukee), and a pair of athletes who were crucial in the Lightning’s title run – Andrea Abrams and Mariah Alipate (St. Cloud State). Eastview is led by D1 commit Macy Guebert (South Dakota), D2 commit Emma Carpenter (UM-Crookston) and high D1 prospect Cassidy Carson. That’s a formidable core. White Bear Lake features senior guard Courtney Crouch, junior guard Ella Janicki, senior guard Anna Sanders and senior forward Claire Odmark. If Jeremy Post’s Bears can produce the type of smothering defense his teams have long been known for, White Bear might give Eastview a run.

Freshman forward Maya Nnaji of Hopkins is being pursued by a variety of power conference programs including Minnesota coach Lindsay Whalen.

Hopkins vs Stillwater – Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

There’s no question in my mind that the game to see features the loaded Hopkins Royals against an enhanced Stillwater lineup that now includes one of the best posts in the state. That would be junior Liza Karlen, a 6’2 inside/outside force who is ranked #6 in the class of 2020. She comes to Stillwater from St. Paul Central, adding a new dimension to an already strong team. The Ponies’ roster includes the state’s #2 senior in point guard Sara Scalia, a University of Minnesota commit who runs the show for Stillwater. She’s complemented by sophomore guard Alexis Pratt (18.5 ppg), who can light it up from distance, and blossoming forward Grace Cote.

Hopkins, of course, requires very little advance billing. Their lineup features the #1 player in the class of 2020 in Paige Bueckers, and the #1 and #2 players in the class of 2022 in Maya Nnaji and Amaya Battle. Top 15 senior Dlayla Chakolis (Hampton) will also be among the starters, along with either of two juniors in Jaide Pressley or Kayhla Adams. Perhaps the most interesting additions to watch for at Hopkins are 8th graders Nunu Agara and Taylor Woodson. Both are very long, very athletic and very much high D1 prospects.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Schedule: Friday, Nov. 23