Conference preview: Best of the Northwest Suburban
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Everything is big in the Northwest Suburban Conference. With 14 teams and two divisions, it’s a big conference, and the schools themselves are almost all really big. And there are some big names, too, including the biggest name of all:…
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Continue ReadingEverything is big in the Northwest Suburban Conference. With 14 teams and two divisions, it’s a big conference, and the schools themselves are almost all really big. And there are some big names, too, including the biggest name of all: Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN , who is the #1-ranked senior in Minnesota. You’ll find the Illinois commit carrying the load at Park Center, which has undergone the biggest roster transformation among the traditional contenders in the Northwest Suburban Conference.
The Pirates have been one of the powers of the conference for a long time, a team full of talented athletes with a flair for the dramatic. And they have been a lot of fun to watch. This season, though, we don’t really know what to expect out of Brooklyn Park as the Pirates’ roster has been transformed by the graduation of starters Lauren Frost Lauren Frost 5'8" | CG Park Center | 2020 State MN (Omaha), Aaliyah Ragulen Aaliyah Ragulen 5'2" | PG Park Center | 2020 State MN (Seward CC) and Kayla Cox Kayla Cox 5'8" | CG Park Center | 2020 State MN (NIACC). Also departed is senior T’Naye Griffin T’Naye Griffin 6'0" | PF St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN (to St. Louis Park), sophomore Aniyah Reuben Aniyah Reuben 5'10" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2023 State MN (to Minnehaha Academy) and freshman sensation Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN (to Hopkins).
But there’s still Adalia, a dynamic offensive talent who can score the basketball pretty much any way you want. If she can get her teammates together – seniors Chloe Cink and Aliyah Wensel, and freshmen Helen Ben and Tiana Lloyd come to mind – and score at her usual torrid pace, anything is possible.
The Favorite
While there may be uncertainty at Park Center, there is no such thing at Maple Grove. The Crimson are the ‘Steady Eddies’ of the Northwest Suburban. Every year the Crimson play pretty much the same way – they defend hard, share the basketball, stick to the fundamentals and put in the work. This year should be no different, although they will definitely miss 2020 top 10 Abby Schulte Abby Schulte 5'10" | PG Maple Grove | 2020 State MN , whose collegiate career is off to a flying start at North Dakota State.
Maple Grove will be led by Jordyn Lamker Jordyn Lamker 6'0" | SF Maple Grove | 2021 State MN , a versatile athlete with a big motor and a Division 1 college commitment to St. Thomas in her back pocket. Running the show in the back court is Kylie Baranick Kylie Baranick 5'4" | CG Maple Grove | 2021 State MN , the diminutive point guard with the high IQ. Top-50 junior guard Ari Gordon Ari Gordon 5'10" | SF Maple Grove | 2022 State MN is one of the state’s best defenders. Shooting guard Kyla Overskei Kyla Overskei 5'11" | SG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN is one of the state’s most improved players, as is sophomore Audrey Kormann Audrey Kormann 6'2" | PF Maple Grove | 2023 State MN . And then there’s Becca White Becca White 5'8" | CG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN , Izzy Brant, Sophia Kormann, Kiera Albers Kiera Albers 5'3" | PG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN , Ella Edstrom Ella Edstrom 5'7" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN … you get the idea. Bottom line: the Crimson are very deep and there are a slew of talented youngsters waiting in the wings.
The Contenders
Elk River has been impacted significantly by the graduation of guards Lydia Haack Lydia Haack 5'3" | PG Elk River | 2020 State MN (Upper Iowa), Mikayla Kanenwisher Mikayla Kanenwisher 5'6" | CG Elk River | 2020 State MN (Anoka-Ramsey), Alexa Engebretson (UW-Eau Claire) and Abby Barschdorf Abby Barschdorf 5'8" | CG Elk River | 2020 State MN (Hamline). They’ll be replaced by understudies Ava Berg Ava Berg 5'7" | CG Elk River | 2022 State MN , Elly Bahr Elly Bahr 5'7" | CG Elk River | 2021 State MN (UW-River Falls), Hope Kanenwisher Hope Kanenwisher 5'6" | CG Elk River | 2022 State MN , Natalie Murphy Natalie Murphy 5'10" | CG Elk River | 2023 State MN and Jordan Langbehn Jordan Langbehn 5'11" | SG Elk River | 2023 State MN . Up front Elk River boasts St. Thomas commit Johanna Langbehn Johanna Langbehn 6'2" | C Elk River | 2021 State MN , a top-30 prospect, along with 2023 top-15 talent Ella Johnson Ella Johnson 6'2" | SF Elk River | 2023 State MN , who is poised for a breakthrough season. With a supporting cast that includes Ellie Maass and Mandy Christy you get the impression the Elks will be tough to handle once again.
Spring Lake Park loses outstanding point guard Joelle Talso Joelle Talso 5'7" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2020 State MN (North Central) along with regulars Julia Levahn, Ashlea Nienow and Taryn Richard, but they still have plenty to work with. D1 commit Macy Smith Macy Smith 5'10" | CG Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN (Cal State Northridge) is a top-30 talent who leads a strong core group that includes point guard Averi Dunbar Averi Dunbar 5'6" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2022 State MN , forwards Madi Ngene Madi Ngene 5'9" | PF Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN and Kylie Diaz Kylie Diaz 6'0" | PF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN , and guard Camryn Smith Camryn Smith 5'7" | SG Spring Lake Park | 2023 State MN . Freshman forward Mikayla Thomas Mikayla Thomas 5'11" | SF Spring Lake Park | 2024 MN is rated #6 in the class of 2024 and will probably be a major factor in 2021.
Centennial will be without point guard Grace Johnson Grace Johnson 5'2" | PG Centennial | 2020 State MN (St. Scholastica track), along with D1 prospect Hannah Herzig Hannah Herzig 6'0" | CG Totino Grace | 2022 State MN , a top-50 junior who moves over to Totino-Grace. Returning is big Jenna Guyer Jenna Guyer 6'2" | C Centennial | 2021 State MN (Green Bay), who is one of the premier posts in the state, along with wing Jodi Anderson Jodi Anderson 5'11" | CG Centennial | 2021 State MN (North Dakota), a top-20 performer. Guard Camille Cummings Camille Cummings 5'8" | CG Centennial | 2022 State MN has made tremendous strides over the summer. Senior Claire Johnson Claire Johnson 5'9" | CG Centennial | 2021 MN , juniors Sydney Kubes and Haley Mulberry, along with sophomore Megan Stacy Megan Stacy 5'7" | CG Centennial | 2023 State MN are players to watch. And then there’s freshman Marisa Frost Marisa Frost 5'8" | PG Centennial | 2024 State MN , who could make a very big splash if given the opportunity.
Champlin Park has a new coach in Arthur Crutch who has inherited plenty of talent. The Rebels lose guards Izzy Quick Izzy Quick 5'10" | PG Champlin Park | 2020 State MN (Gustavus) and Miyah DuBose Miyah DuBose 5'2" | CG Champlin Park | 2020 State MN (Seward CC) to graduation. They return a crew of standout guards, including junior Mikaelah Counce Mikaelah Counce 5'8" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN , senior Amaya Doree Amaya Doree 5'7" | CG Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (NIACC), junior Amelia Valentino Amelia Valentino 5'10" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN , and sophomores Nicole Lillard Nicole Lillard 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2023 State MN and Malayna Dille-Starks. That’s a strong group. Up front, seniors Gina Stefferud Gina Stefferud 5'10" | PF Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (Minot State) and Maya Fitzpatrick Maya Fitzpatrick 5'10" | SG Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (Wayne State) lead the way along with junior Izzy John Izzy John 5'10" | PF Champlin Park | 2022 State MN . Champlin Park has the cast to steal the show if it all comes together well.
One of the most intriguing teams in the conference is Andover, where coach Blake Nicols will have to replace four of his top eight players from one year ago. Among the graduates are Emily Diemer Emily Diemer 5'5" | CG Andover | 2020 State MN , Taylor Elynck, and Liz Donner along with all-everything guard Sydney White Sydney White 5'10" | CG Andover | 2020 State MN (Sioux Falls), whose 19 points per game will be missed. The Huskies boast a veteran core that includes seniors Alyssa Gerth Alyssa Gerth 5'9" | SG Andover | 2021 State MN , Kylie Scowcroft Kylie Scowcroft 5'9" | SF Andover | 2021 State MN and Annie Feine Annie Feine 6'0" | PF Andover | 2021 State MN , along with junior Jersey Castillo Jersey Castillo 5'8" | CG Andover | 2022 State MN . It is the freshman class that is most intriguing – it includes #27 Emma Frost Emma Frost 5'11" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN , #28 Morgan Miller Morgan Miller 6'2" | PF Andover | 2024 State MN and #31 Piper Engelby Piper Engelby 5'11" | SG Andover | 2024 State MN – and any of them might emerge as a significant factor this winter.
That brings us to the great enigma, the Rogers Royals. Over the past couple of seasons we have been excited about what might be possible in Rogers. With some elite-level talent, and a core of veterans, much was expected from the Royals but they weren’t able to put it all together on the court. Now, under new coach Patrick Bowlin, Rogers has a fresh start. Gone are graduates Alaina Brenning Alaina Brenning 5'9" | PG Rogers | 2020 State MN (Upper Iowa) and Ali Karels Ali Karels 5'5" | CG Rogers | 2020 State MN but the new coach has some tools at his disposal. Top-10 junior Ellie Buzzelle Ellie Buzzelle 5'9" | SG Rogers | 2022 State #60 Nation MN (Grand Canyon), top-10 sophomore Clara Glad Clara Glad 6'0" | SF Rogers | 2023 State MN , top-25 sophomore Katelyn Maciej Katelyn Maciej 6'2" | PF Rogers | 2023 State MN and top-75 senior Matlyn Jensen Matlyn Jensen 6'2" | PF Rogers | 2021 State MN (Colorado Christian) form a solid core. Veterans Alex Fuller and Mackenzie Matthies will be important, too, and sophomore Emily Glass is ready to step up. It’s an interesting combination of players. Win or lose the Royals will surely be entertaining.
Finally we look at Totino-Grace where new coach Mary Dengerud inherits a solid core, adds a standout prospect, and looks to parlay a team-first approach into an improved finish. There’s no doubt the Eagles will miss their four graduates, among them point guard Carla Meyer Carla Meyer 5'7" | PG Totino Grace | 2020 State MN (St. Ben’s), who was one of the conference’s mainstays for a very long time. The addition of top-50 prospect Hannah Herzig Hannah Herzig 6'0" | CG Totino Grace | 2022 State MN from Centennial is huge, as is the continued evolution of another top-50 performer in Leah Dengerud Leah Dengerud 5'9" | SF Totino Grace | 2022 State MN . Senior point guard Bianca Benson Bianca Benson 5'5" | PG Totino-Grace | 2021 State MN is much-improved and will be crucial. Giant junior post Grace Sikkink Grace Sikkink 6'0" | PF Totino-Grace | 2021 State MN is a handful in the paint. Sophomore Alex McGeehan Alex McGeehan 6'2" | PF Totino-Grace | 2023 State MN is a rising star up front and is poised for a breakout season.
With no slight intended to Blaine, Osseo, Armstrong, Anoka or Coon Rapids – they all have prospects to watch as you’ll see below – those are the teams we see as the upper echelon of the Northwest Suburban Conference. We would be happy, of course, to be proven wrong!
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR
North Division
- 11-1 – Maple Grove
- 8-4 – Andover
- 7-5 – Centennial
- 6-6 – Champlin Park
- 5-7 – Blaine
- 4-8 – Anoka
- 1-11 – Coon Rapids
West Division
- 10-2 – Elk River
- 10-2 – Park Center
- 10-2 – Spring Lake Park
- 6-6 – Totino-Grace
- 4-8 – Rogers
- 1-11 – Osseo
- 1-11 – Armstrong
THE D1 SENIORS TO SEE
- #1 Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN – guard, Park Center (Illinois)
- #15 Jordyn Lamker Jordyn Lamker 6'0" | SF Maple Grove | 2021 State MN – forward, Maple Grove (St. Thomas)
- #20 Jodi Anderson Jodi Anderson 5'11" | CG Centennial | 2021 State MN – guard, Centennial (North Dakota)
- #22 Jenna Guyer Jenna Guyer 6'2" | C Centennial | 2021 State MN – center, Centennial (UW-Green Bay)
- #29 Macy Smith Macy Smith 5'10" | CG Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN – guard, Spring Lake Park (Cal State Northridge)
- #30 Johanna Langbehn Johanna Langbehn 6'2" | C Elk River | 2021 State MN – forward, Elk River (St. Thomas)
TOP 6 JUNIORS TO WATCH
- #9 Ellie Buzzelle Ellie Buzzelle 5'9" | SG Rogers | 2022 State #60 Nation MN – guard, Rogers (Grand Canyon)
- #39 Ari Gordon Ari Gordon 5'10" | SF Maple Grove | 2022 State MN – guard, Maple Grove
- #41 Hannah Herzig Hannah Herzig 6'0" | CG Totino Grace | 2022 State MN – guard, Totino-Grace
- #46 Amelia Valentino Amelia Valentino 5'10" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN – guard, Champlin Park
- #48 Leah Dengerud Leah Dengerud 5'9" | SF Totino Grace | 2022 State MN – guard, Totino-Grace
- #56 Mikaelah Counce Mikaelah Counce 5'8" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN – guard, Champlin Park
READY FOR A BREAKOUT SEASON
- Kyla Overskei Kyla Overskei 5'11" | SG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN – junior guard, Maple Grove
- Jenny Ntambwe Jenny Ntambwe 6'1" | PF Coon Rapids | 2022 State MN – junior forward, Coon Rapids
- Savannah McGowan Savannah McGowan 6'2" | PF Armstrong | 2023 State MN – sophomore center, Armstrong
- Ella Johnson Ella Johnson 6'2" | SF Elk River | 2023 State MN – sophomore forward, Elk River
- Alex McGeehan Alex McGeehan 6'2" | PF Totino-Grace | 2023 State MN – sophomore forward, Totino-Grace
MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
- Gina Stefferud Gina Stefferud 5'10" | PF Champlin Park | 2021 State MN – senior forward, Champlin Park
- Bianca Benson Bianca Benson 5'5" | PG Totino-Grace | 2021 State MN – senior guard, Totino-Grace
- Camille Cummings Camille Cummings 5'8" | CG Centennial | 2022 State MN – junior guard, Centennial
- Camryn Smith Camryn Smith 5'7" | SG Spring Lake Park | 2023 State MN – sophomore guard, Spring Lake Park
- Molly Garber Molly Garber 5'11" | SF Blaine | 2023 State MN – sophomore forward, Blaine
MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED TALENT
- Alyssa Gerth Alyssa Gerth 5'9" | SG Andover | 2021 State MN – senior guard, Andover (South Dakota track)
- Elly Bahr Elly Bahr 5'7" | CG Elk River | 2021 State MN – senior guard, Elk River (UW-River Falls)
- Madi Ngene Madi Ngene 5'9" | PF Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN – senior forward, Spring Lake Park
- Amaya Doree Amaya Doree 5'7" | CG Champlin Park | 2021 State MN – senior guard, Champlin Park (NIACC)
- Lexi Imdieke Lexi Imdieke 5'8" | SG Blaine | 2022 State MN – junior guard, Blaine
FRESHMEN WE’RE FOLLOWING
There are 11 players in the class of 2024 top 50 who hail from the Northwest Suburban Conference, but we won’t see many of them playing varsity basketball for some time. If history is a good indicator, we would expect that Maple Grove prospects #8 Ava Cossette Ava Cossette 5'10" | CG Maple Grove | 2024 State MN and #18 Claire Stern Claire Stern 6'0" | SF Maple Grove | 2024 State MN will have to wait. Ditto for #41 Kayla Christy Kayla Christy 6'0" | PF Elk River | 2024 State MN of Elk River. There’s a pretty good chance that three Andover freshmen could make an impact this season, including #27 Emma Frost Emma Frost 5'11" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN , #28 Morgan Miller Morgan Miller 6'2" | PF Andover | 2024 State MN and #31 Piper Engelby Piper Engelby 5'11" | SG Andover | 2024 State MN . Here are five more up-and-coming talents you’ll likely see on varsity:
- #6 Mikayla Thomas Mikayla Thomas 5'11" | SF Spring Lake Park | 2024 MN – forward, Spring Lake Park
- #10 Marisa Frost Marisa Frost 5'8" | PG Centennial | 2024 State MN – guard, Centennnial
- #21 Ava Holman Ava Holman 5'9" | CG Champlin Park | 2024 MN – guard, Osseo
- #29 Lydia Lakanen Lydia Lakanen 5'10" | PF Anoka | 2024 State MN – forward, Anoka
- #38 Bella Sutch Bella Sutch 6'0" | SF Spring Lake Park | 2024 State MN – guard, Spring Lake Park
Top photo: Illinois commit Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN (right) of Park Center is the #1 player in the class of 2021.