Top 25 Minnesota high school boys basketball rankings (12/18/2023)
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The Minnesota high school boys basketball 2023-24 season continued with a handful of notable results last week.
No. 1 Wayzata dispatched Shakopee and Prior Lake, both ranked in last week's Power 25.
Minnetonka makes a leap to No. 3 in this weeks' Power 25 after wins over Osseo and Chaska.
Here is the Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25:
Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25
No. 1 Wayzata (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 1
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Chaska (3-3), Dec. 21 vs. Burnsville (1-1)
Ranking rationale: Wayzata continues its unbeaten season and has only been tested once, an 83-81 neutral court win vs. No. 4 Totino-Grace (3-2). Last week saw the Trojans roll over previous No. 7 Shakopee (4-1) 96-80 and at previous No. 12 Prior Lake (2-3) 96-67. The Trojans are an offensive machine, averaging 87.6 points per game. Creighton commit senior forward Jackson McAndrew has thrived in an increased role this season.
He had a game-high 27 points against Shakopee and was one of five players in double figures with 13 against Prior Lake. Park Center has been equally impressive, but defending Class 4A champ Wayzata gets the nod at No. 1 until someone knocks it off.
No. 2 Park Center (6-0)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at No. 4 Totino-Grace (3-2), Dec. 21 at Park of Cottage Grove (2-2)
Ranking rationale: It’s neck and neck for the top spot once again with Wayzata getting the slight advantage. Park Center has still been awfully good, posting a 2-0 week last week with a 74-65 win vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (2-3) and a 77-60 win vs. previous No. 5 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (3-1).
Chiang Ring went for 30 points vs. Armstrong and added 19 vs. B-SM in a Big Stage Classic game. He provides a presence in the post to go with dynamic guard Casmir “Cash” Chavis, who had 19 vs. B-SM. There’s already beginning to be a gap between the top two or three teams in the Power 25 and the rest.
No. 3 Minnetonka (4-0)
Last week’s ranking: 8
This week’s games: Dec. 20 vs. Andover (2-2) at Hamline
Ranking rationale: Only five unbeaten teams remain in Class 4A. Minnetonka is one of them. The Skippers have won by double digits in every game and three came against Power 25 opponents. They went 2-0 last week with an 89-64 win vs. Chaska (3-3) and a 99-78 drubbing of previous No. 9 Osseo (3-1) at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School.
Jordan Cain put up 31 points vs. Chaska in a game Minnetonka led by 22 at the half. Greyson Uelmen had 26 and Andy Stefonowicz 23 vs. Osseo. With several other top-10 teams losing, Minnetonka is the big mover of the week.
No. 4 Totino-Grace (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. No. 2 Park Center (6-0)
Ranking rationale: Totino-Grace posted a 2-1 week last week with two dominant wins and a 10-point loss to one of the top teams in the midwest. Starting with the good, the Eagles rolled 89-63 at Spring Lake Park (1-4) and 90-43 at Coon Rapids (3-2). Four players were in double figure scoring vs. SLP led by Isaiah Johnson-Arigu with 16.
T-G welcomed Bellevue West, Nebraska, to Fridley for a Saturday matinee. The Thunderbirds won 84-74. T-G’s only other loss was by two points to No. 1 Wayzata (5-0).
No. 5 Lakeville North (2-2)
Last week’s ranking: 4
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. No. 8 Shakopee (4-1), Dec. 22 vs. Prior Lake (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Lakeville North ventured east over the weekend for the 60Eight Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, to take on two Wisconsin teams. The Panthers got off to a great start, winning 105-74 in round one vs. Verona before falling 68-63 in the championship the next day vs. Wisconsin Lutheran. Jack Robison led with 25 points and Matt Drake had a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists vs. Verona.
Drake had 20 points and Robison 17 in the loss, which was a two-point game at halftime. There’s not much shame in the loss coming to an 8-0 team and one ranked No. 2 in last week’s Wisconsin Division 2 coaches poll.
No. 6 Benilde-St. Margaret's (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 5
This week’s games: Dec. 22 vs. DeLaSalle (1-2)
Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s dropped its lone game last week, 77-60 at No. 2 Park Center (6-0) at the Big Stage Classic. The Pirates were in control throughout, leading 33-20 at halftime. It spoiled a 24-point night for the Knights’ Jaleel Donley, one of three on the team in double figures. B-SM has three wins over Class 4A schools and has a good shot at having just one loss heading into 2024.
No. 7 Hopkins (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 6
This week’s games: Dec. 21 vs. No. 22 Minneapolis South (4-0)
Ranking rationale: Hopkins piled up the points in a 2-0 week, rolling 103-64 vs. St. Louis Park (1-5) and 89-78 on neutral court vs. previous No. 10 Lakeville South (3-2). Four Royals had 17 or more points vs. SLP, led by 20 for J.J. Semanko.
Anthony Smith had 31 vs. South in a game Hopkins erased a two-point halftime deficit at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School. Its only loss this season was a close one to No. 4 Totino-Grace (3-2). The Royals have nice wins vs. current No. 9 Orono (3-1) and No. 10 East Ridge (2-2).
No. 8 Shakopee (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 7
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at No. 5 Lakeville North (2-2)
Ranking rationale: Shakopee went 1-1 last week, falling 96-80 at No. 1 Wayzata (5-0) and winning 68-29 vs. Chaska (3-3). Shakopee was within nine at defending Class 4A champ Wayzata but couldn’t make a second half comeback. Northwestern College (Iowa) commit Jalen Langsy had 25 points, topped only by future Creighton Bluejay on the other side, Jackson McAndrew, with 27.
Langsy led again with 20 in a very impressive road win over a Chaska team that started the season 3-0 and was within single digits of previous No. 12 Prior Lake (2-3).
The Sabers have the team to win what looks like a wide open South Suburban Conference.
No. 9 Orono (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 11
This week’s games: Dec. 18 vs. Richfield (3-1), Dec. 19 vs. Delano (4-2)
Ranking rationale: Orono made the most of its only game on the schedule last week. The Spartans rolled over previous No. 19 Eden Prairie (1-4) 92-72 at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School. Nolan Groves scored a game-high 25 points and was one of five Spartans in double figures.
Orono led by 12 at halftime. After an eye-opening 93-75 loss at No. 7 Hopkins in the season opener, the Spartans have won three straight. Two came against Power 25 foes and the other was against Class 2A power, Minnehaha Academy (3-2).
No. 10 East Ridge (2-2)
Last week’s ranking: 12
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at No. 16 Cretin-Derham Hall (3-1), Dec. 22 vs. Edina (1-3)
Ranking rationale: After a couple hard-fought losses to top-10 teams in week one, East Ridge righted the ship with a pair of impressive wins last week. The Raptors demolished conference rival White Bear Lake (0-4) 81-48 on the road before winning 77-50 at home vs. previous No. 18 Mounds View (4-2). Cedric Tomes led with 21 and 23 points the two outings. He’s one of the top sophomores in the state.
No. 11 Lakeville South (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 10
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at No. 14 Farmington (5-0), Dec. 22 at Burnsville (1-1)
Ranking rationale: The Cougars have challenged themselves with a tough early non-conference schedule and have come out of it with a solid record. Last week saw them split a pair of games away from home. Lakeville South pulled out a 59-53 win at a Waconia (2-2) team that went out and pounded St. Michael-Albertville (1-3) in its next game.
Hudson Greene led with 16 points vs. Waconia. South dropped 89-78 vs. current No. 7 Hopkins (4-1) at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School. The Cougars notched a two-point halftime lead but could not hold down an explosive Hopkins offense for long as the Royals scored 57 second-half points. Keaton Ressler led South with 20 points.
No. 12 Mankato East (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 14
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Rochester Century (2-2), Dec. 22 at Big Lake (3-2)
Ranking rationale: Mankato East routed a solid New Ulm (3-2) team in its only game last week, 99-69 in Mankato. It was a 54-34 game at halftime. Three Cougars posted 20-plus points with Brogan Madson leading with 25, followed by Carson Schweim with 23 and Ganden Gosch with 20.
Mankato East can prove itself against one of the top teams in its conference next week vs. Century. After that, five of the next six games are on the road or neutral court. The Cougars have more room to continue rising if they handle that stretch well.
No. 13 Osseo (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 9
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Robbinsdale Armstrong (2-2), Dec. 21 at Rochester John Marshall (2-3)
Ranking rationale: The Orioles take a slight fall in this week’s Power 25 not for who they lost to, but how it went down. Osseo opened last week with a 91-73 win vs. Blaine (0-5), its third in a row by double digits. A few days later, the orange and black suffered their first loss of the season, 99-78 vs. Minnetonka at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School.
The Skippers led 44-34 at halftime in an impressive performance that helped them climb five spots to No. 3 this week. Shining in the loss was De’Maari Larkins, who scored a game-high 28 points. If Osseo can improve on defense, it has an offense that has consistently scored at a high level (79.5 ppg).
No. 14 Farmington (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: 16
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at No. 11 Lakeville South (3-2), Dec. 22 vs. Rochester Mayo (1-2)
Ranking rationale: Farmington hasn’t played the toughest of non-conference schedules thus far, but the Tigers have handled who’s been in front of them. They won both games last week over then-Power 25 teams 64-61 vs. No. 20 Edina (1-3) and 83-68 at No. 19 Eden Prairie (1-4).
Brandon Hrncir is averaging 22.2 points per game for the Tigers, who also own quality wins vs. Rochester Century (2-2) and current No. 20 Cretin-Derham Hall (3-1).
No. 15 Woodbury (4-0)
Last week’s ranking: 24
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at White Bear Lake (0-4), Dec. 21 vs. Hastings (3-3)
Ranking rationale: Woodbury is one of five teams in Class 4A still standing with zero losses. The Royals are also in a fairly wide open Section 6 this season, so this team could make a run to the state tournament for the first time since 2013. It still might be too early to deem them as one of the state’s best, though.
Woodbury’s feasted on a light schedule so far, beating teams with a combined 8-11 record with no opponents in the Power 25. Last week, it swept a pair of home games 81-65 vs. Irondale (1-3) and 72-67 vs. Roseville (2-1). Marquivion Beasley dropped 33 points in the Irondale win as his team came back from a one-point halftime deficit. He also led with 23 vs. Roseville. The Royals led that one by 15 at halftime.
No. 16 Cretin-Derham Hall (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 23
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. No. 10 East Ridge (2-2), Dec. 23 vs. Eden Prairie (1-4)
Ranking rationale: Cretin-Derham Hall is on a three-game win streak and its only loss in the season opener has appreciated in value. Last week, the Raiders swept their three games, winning 81-66 at Park of Cottage Grove (2-2), 78-46 vs. Irondale (1-3) and 64-53 vs. Maple Grove (3-4) at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School.
C-DH is a well-balanced team with six players scoring more than six points a night led by 17.2 for Joe Mitchell. The Raiders’ loss was 74-65 vs. current No. 14 Farmington (5-0) on neutral court.
No. 17 Breck (3-0)
Last week’s ranking: 25
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Minneapolis North (3-0)
Ranking rationale: Less than a week after beating one of the top teams in Class 3A, current No. 23 Alexandria (4-1), 2A Breck stepped up to not only beat a good 4A team, Apple Valley (3-2), but pummel it on the road, 79-47. Miles Newton led the way with 20 points, followed by 14 for DeAngelo Dungey. Future Wisconsin Badger Daniel Freitag joined Hanif Muhammad with 11 points.
That was the Mustangs’ only game last week. They have one more 4A opponent on the schedule Feb. 14 at No. 19 Eastview (1-2).
No. 18 Eagan (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 19 at Rosemount (3-1), Dec. 22 vs. No. 14 Farmington (5-0)
Ranking rationale: The Wildcats have had their share of white knuckle games so far on the young season. Overtime has giveth and taketh as Eagan pulled out a 75-70 double-overtime neutral court victory over current No. 19 Minneapolis Washburn (4-1) and in its last game lost 64-59 in single overtime at St. Thomas Academy (2-2).
Eagan’s only game decided by double digits was last week, 75-52 vs. Minneapolis Southwest (2-2). Charlie Birk leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game. He’s one of four Wildcats averaging double figures.
No. 19 Minneapolis Washburn (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 18 vs. Minneapolis Roosevelt/Heritage Academy (2-1), Dec. 19 at St. Thomas Academy (2-2), Dec. 20 at Robbinsdale Armstrong (2-3)
Ranking rationale: Minneapolis Washburn makes its Power 25 debut after a 3-0 week with each win coming away from home. The Millers won 76-65 at Mound Westonka (3-2), 65-57 at previous No. 21 Tartan (2-1) and 64-59 vs. previous No. 15 Eastview (1-2) at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School. Charlie Gustafson led with 21 points at Mound Westonka, followed by 19 for Kyle Jorgenson and Cooper Carlson.
Jorgenson dropped 34 vs. Eastview. Washburn’s only loss was 75-70 in double overtime vs. No. 17 Eagan (3-1) at the Southside Showcase at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
No. 20 Buffalo (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Chanhassen (0-3), Dec. 21 vs. Sartell (2-3)
Ranking rationale: It’s been a bit of an odd season so far with more highs than lows for Buffalo. The one low was a big one, an 83-51 loss vs. current No. 12 Mankato East (5-0) a couple weeks ago at the Tip-Off Classic at Hopkins High School. On the bright side, East has been rolling over everyone. All four of the Bison’s wins have come by 20-plus.
The biggest resume booster was a 76-54 win last week at previous No. 22 Rogers (5-1). Buffalo graduated one of its top players in program history last season, Nate Dahl. He averaged 24.1 points per game to lead his squad to a 23-8 record and a state tournament berth. Grady Guida has taken the baton, averaging 20.8 points per game.
No. 21 Eastview (1-2)
Last week’s ranking: 15
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Prior Lake (2-3), Dec. 22 vs. No. 8 Shakopee (4-1)
Ranking rationale: The Lightning have not gotten off to the start they hoped, but all is not lost after a pair of single-digit losses to Power 25 teams. Eastview played just once last week, losing 64-59 to current No. 19 Minneapolis Washburn at the Big Stage Classic at Park Center High School.
It took a superhuman 34-point performance by Washburn’s Kyle Jorgenson to get the job done. The Lightning’s other loss was also on neutral court, coming 74-68 vs. current No. 9 Orono (3-1).
No. 22 Minneapolis South (4-0)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 18 at Minneapolis Edison (1-2), Dec. 21 at No. 7 Hopkins (4-1)
Ranking rationale: Minneapolis South is scoring at an NBA rate without letting its defense slip. The Tigers are leading Class 3A averaging 92 points per game and allowing 54.2. No one has hung closer than 28 points. Poet Davis is leading the charge averaging 25.8 points per game with four made threes per night. Their last three wins have all come against 4A competition.
South won 86-51 vs. St. Louis Park (1-5) at the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Southside Showcase, 89-61 vs. Anoka (3-2) and 88-57 at Bloomington Jefferson (2-3). It hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row, but the Tigers can validate their ranking by beating, or at least hanging with, Hopkins this week.
No. 23 Alexandria (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 21 at Moorhead (2-4)
Ranking rationale: Alexandria was one of my top teams on the outside looking in last week. The Class 3A Cardinals’ only loss of the season was 71-68 on a neutral court to the early 2A title favorite, current No. 17 Breck (3-0). Otherwise, Alex has looked solid.
It handed Sauk-Rapids Rice (3-1) its only loss, 76-67. The Cardinals throttled Willmar (0-6) by 56 points and won 91-78 vs. a Delano team (4-2) that likely would have jumped into the Power 25 had that game gone the other way.
No. 24 Fridley (2-0)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. St. Paul Harding (4-1), Dec. 21 at Anoka (3-2)
Ranking rationale: In a game where I had the winner earning its way into the Power 25, Fridley picked up an 83-74 victory on home court against Richfield (3-1). The Tigers jumped on the Spartans early, getting out to a 44-28 halftime lead.
Trenton Woodall-Jones scored 25 and Jordan Foster added 21. Fridley opened the season with an 88-74 win vs. Two Rivers (1-4). This is a great start for a program that finished 7-18 last season.
No. 25 Mounds View (4-2)
Last week’s ranking: 18
This week’s games: Dec. 19 vs. Roseville (2-1), Dec. 21 vs. Chisago Lakes (4-1)
Ranking rationale: Mounds View has hit a bit of a skid after a 3-0 start. The Mustangs pulled out an 82-79 win in the Suburban East Conference opener vs. Stillwater (1-3). However, it was sandwiched by a 58-47 loss vs. a decent Wisconsin team, New Richmond.
The Mustangs also lost 77-50 at current No. 10 East Ridge (2-2). There were a lot of teams in consideration for the final spot in this week’s Power 25, but the Mustangs get the last slot.
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