Team Preview: St. Paul Central

Though last season's 16-9 regular season record may not be all that eye-catching, St. Paul Central set themselves up for future success, and proved that they'll be a tough match-up for anyone this season. Their non-conference schedule last year was among the toughest in the state, playing the AA, AAA, and AAAA state champions. They provided one of Cretin-Derham Hall's toughest tests of the season, losing in a hard fought battle 81-74. They only graduated one player from last season, and will be a legitimate force in the Twin Cities area this year.

Perhaps their top player in terms of college potential is 6'4 small forward Dion Ford. Dion put up 19.4 ppg last season and was one of the top players in the St. Paul City Conference. He is a long and athletic lefty who does well to get to the rim, and is a very good finisher. His length and quickness help him defend multiple positions and he is also a very good rebounder at the wing spot. Dion's individual performances will play a key role in Central's success this season, and he could make a strong case for conference player of the year.

Who will be Dion's main competitor for player of the year? That would be his own teammate, Daveonte Davis. Daveonte is the returning player of the year after putting up huge numbers with 23.5 ppg as a junior. At 6'3 Daveonte is a strong slashing guard who is very dangerous driving to the basket. His strength allows him to finish through contact with ease, and he has also shown the ability to post up on other guards. Daveonte is a solid shooter, so his ability to stretch the floor opens up opportunities for his teammates to score inside, and helps his driving ability as defenders cannot sag off of him. Watch out for another big season from Daveonte.

The third member of St. Paul Central's three headed monster is their point guard Ronelle Porter. Standing at 5'7, Ronelle is extremely shifty making him a very hard guard for opposing defenders. Despite his height, Ronelle is fearless attacking the rim where he has a very crafty layup package allowing him to score over taller players. Off the drive he has good vision to make the pass to his open teammates. Porter's scrappy defense also creates a lot of turnovers which allows this fast paced Central team to get a lot of open layups. Ronelle averaged 12 ppg as a junior, and will have another good season as a senior.

Though a majority of the scoring will be done by the three previously mentioned players, Central has a few key role players returning. Khai West returns for his senior season, after putting up 9 ppg as a junior. He's a great asset for Central. 6'3 forward Luke McElroy also comes back for his senior year. He was another 9 ppg scorer last year, and has the scoring ability to force teams to not be able to double Ford or Davis. Senior My'Kel Alexander (6'4) and sophomore Jaelen Thomas (6'5) both saw limited playing time last year, but return to provide good length off the bench. Caron Crowe and Terrell Fountain both averaged 5 ppg last season, playing key roles off the bench.

Perhaps no team in the state returns more of their lineup from last season than St. Paul Central does, and this experience will lead them to a lot of success. They are one of my favorite sleeper teams to make a case for a spot in the AAAA state rankings this season. Once again they play a very difficult non-conference schedule, which should prepare them for the playoffs.

Regular Season Record Prediction: 21-5

Predicted Scoring Leaders: Daveonte Davis 22 ppg
                                                Dion Ford 21 ppg
                                                Ronelle Porter 14 ppg

Sleeper Watch: Dion Ford (MN 2019)

Dion Ford- 6'4 2019 W, St. Paul Central, 44 Elite

In a once again loaded class in Minnesota, Dion Ford is one of the many talented players that often goes under-looked with all of the (well deserved) publicity surrounding the likes of Matthew Hurt, Zeke Nnaji, and others. In my first season observing Minnesota basketball last year, Dion impressed me in his season opener against eventual state champs Cretin-Derham Hall. He put up 23 points against four division one caliber players to keep St. Paul Central within striking distance for most of the game. That first impression of Dion has stuck with me to this day, as he remains one of my highest regarded wing prospects in the state.

Dion is a player who has an uncanny ability to find an opening in the defense, and will expose it to get to the rim. He is one of the best in the state at driving to the hoop, and finishes with ease with his left hand. A lot of Dion's points come off of pure hustle, as he always sprints up and down the floor, creating a lot of fast break opportunities. Dion was one of the top scoring threats in St. Paul, and is one of the favorites to win the City Conference's player of the year award as a senior. 

Dion put up 8 games with 20 or more points while averaging 19 ppg as a junior, which was a true testament to his offensive ability. However, Dion is more than just a scoring threat. His long arms and quickness for his height combine to make a good defensive player as well. Multiple times I have seen Dion meet opposing players at the rim and swat their shots. His length also makes him a solid rebounding guard, often grabbing a defensive rebound and immediately turning to run the fast break.

Every year, Minnesota seems to have a handful of prospects that blow up as seniors and get division one offers. With continued work in the offseason, Dion could very well be one of this year's stock risers. He looks the part of a scholarship level player, and could open up a lot of eyes in the winter.

Dion currently has interest from Northern Iowa, Winona State, St. Cloud State, and Concordia St. Paul.

Highlights:

Ten 2019's To Watch For Next Season

Carter Henry- 6'7 2019 PF, BOLD
2017-18 Stats: 16ppg and 8rpg
     An athletic power forward with good size, Carter Henry will be one of the top players in Class A next season. After leading BOLD into the state rankings last season, he expects to make a run to the state tournament as a senior. Carter holds the school record in blocks, and is productive on both ends of the court. With his elite athleticism and upside, don't be surprised if Carter has a Sy Chatman-like breakout year.
Schools of Interest: Minnesota State-Moorhead, Jamestown, and Winona State among others.

Cole Nicholson- 6'5 2019 SF, Chaska, Minnesota Fury
2017-18 Stats: 22 ppg and 41% 3P%
     Cole Nicholson has the size and scoring ability to be a major threat in the state of Minnesota next season. Once considered a post player, Cole has transitioned to the wing, where he has become a talented three point shooter. Nicholson has been using a solid AAU season running with MN Fury, in hopes of receiving a division one scholarship offer. With his talent and size, Cole has a real possibility of making that happen.
Offers of Note: St. Cloud State, Minnesota State-Moorhead

Malik Willingham- 6'2 2019 SG, Waseca, MN Select
2017-18 Stats: 21.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, and 5 rpg
     Malik Willingham is a player who flat out produces. Putting up big numbers for Waseca as a junior, he helped them finish the season stronger than expected, and will look to continue that success into the 18-19 season. A good shooter, Malik has been working on his driving and finishing to become a more balanced scoring threat. A tough and energetic player, Malik is also a talented defender. With his ability to score, distribute, and defend, Malik will have a large impact on every game he plays in.
Schools of Interest: North Dakota St., St. Cloud State, Winona State, and Sioux Falls among others.

Khari Broadway- 6'2 2019 SG, Park Center, TC Pirates
2017-18 Stats: 11.8 ppg
     Playing with a talented Park Center squad, Khari was one of five players averaging double figures. Khari is able to get to the hoop with ease, and finish with toughness through and around defenders. Broadway has very quick feet, and is a disruptive on-ball defender, using his quickness to create turnovers. Khari will be one of the top players on one of the top AAAA teams in the state as a senior.
Schools of Interest: Denver, Miami of Ohio, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Cloud State.

Jalen Justice- 6'2 2019 SG, Robbinsdale Cooper, Howard Pulley
2017-18 Stats: 17.3 ppg and 4 apg
     A gifted scorer, Jalen Justice was impressive as a junior at Cooper. While leading Robbinsdale Cooper into the Class AAA state rankings, Jalen gained the attention of multiple division one and division two programs. Jalen is a known threat from beyond the arc, but also possesses crafty handles and a nice layup package around the rim. With his offensive skillset it's no wonder that he scored over 20 points nine times as a junior. Justice has the potential to be a 20 ppg guy as a senior, and push Cooper towards a deep playoff run.
Schools of Interest: Northern Iowa, Denver, and Sioux Falls among others.

Eli Campbell- 6' 2019 PG, Minneapolis North, Grassroots Sizzle
2017-18 Stats: 12.1 ppg and 2.3 apg
     With a junior season cut short due to injury, Eli Campbell is a name to watch for as he bounces back for his senior year. A quick guard with a good outside shot, Eli was the third leading scorer for North before his injury. He shot over 40% from three, and put up a 30 point game against Minneapolis South. With North graduating their two leading scorers, and losing talented 2022 Tre Holloman due to transfer, Campbell will have big shoes to fill as a senior leader. Look for the shifty point guard to be putting up consistent 20 point games, catching the attention of college coaches.
College Interest Unknown

Desi Sims- 6'1 2019 PG, Minneapolis Roosevelt, 44 Elite
2017-18 Stats: 26.1 ppg
     Desi Sims is a walking bucket, and one of the elite scoring guards in the state of Minnesota. Known for his ability to get to the bucket, Desi has shown an improved jumpshot as well. Shooting 30% from three, and 55% from the field, Desi is an efficient scorer. He had 6 games of 30+ points, including 2 games above 40. His scoring helped Roosevelt gain a state ranking at one point during the season, and will look to make them a major threat during his senior season.
College Interest Unknown

Cade Goggleye- 6'1 2019 PG, North Woods, MN Comets
2017-18 Stats: 21 ppg, 8 apg, and 6 spg
     One of the elite players in Class A, Cade Goggleye was productive in leading North Woods to the state title game. Cade showed off a good all-around game, with the ability to score, distribute, and defend. He possesses a good outside shot, hitting around half of his shots from beyond the arc. Early in his junior season, Cade went off for 62 points in a big win, hitting 15 three pointers on the game. His balanced game will open up a lot of eye in the state next season.
Schools of Interest: Saint Johns, Minnesota-Duluth.

Nathan Brusseau- 6'10 2019 C, New Prague, D1 Minnesota
2017-18 Stats: 10 ppg
     The lone center on a list full of guards, Nathan Brusseau is a raw prospect with high potential. He possesses great size to succeed in high school and at the next level. Although not a big scorer yet, Nathan does have the abililty to step out and knock down threes. Playing with D1 Minnesota, Nathan has gained valuable experience practicing with elite players in the state and country, as well as playing against some of the top competition in the nation. With this experience under his belt, don't be surprised if Brusseau has a big senior year.
Schools of Interest: Air Force, Denver, UNC-Wilmington, and South Dakota among others.

Dion Ford- 6'4 2019 SF, St. Paul Central, 44 Elite
2017-18 Stats: 19 ppg and 7 rpg
     A smooth slasher on the wing, Dion Ford opened up a lot of eyes as a junior. Dion opened up his junior season with an impressive 23 points over the AAAA state champs Cretin-Derham Hall. Dion has an uncanny ability to get to the rim, and is a great finisher in traffic. The athletic wing plays with energy and effort on both sides of the ball, and never shy's away from top competition. Dion looks the part of a scholarship level player, and could very well make that happen with continued hard work.
Schools of Interest: Northern Iowa