Top 25 Minnesota high school boys basketball rankings (1/29/2024)
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The No. 6 Hopkins Royals (12-3) upset the No. 1 Wayzata Trojans (15-1) 89-80 last week to deal the Trojans their first loss of the season. Davie Hart, Anthony Smith and J.J. Semanko combined for 59 points to give the Royals the best win of the season.
This week, No. 2 Totino-Grace (14-3) and No. 3 Park Center (18-1) face off on February 2 in one of the top games of the year.
Here is the Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25.
Minnesota high school boys basketball Power 25
No. 1 Wayzata (15-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. St. Michael-Albertville (9-8), Feb. 1 at No. 5 Minnetonka (12-2), Feb. 3 at No. 18 DeLaSalle (9-6)
Ranking rationale: The Trojans’ unbeaten season is no more after last week, but their overall body of work still warrants them hanging on to the No. 1 spot. A case could be made for Park Center, which also has one loss and will not see Wayzata in the regular season. With that said, Wayzata has a win over No. 2 Totino-Grace (14-3), which beat Park Center. Wayzata was an 80-69 victim at a Hopkins team that was gunning for Wayzata after the Royals fell just short in last year’s meeting in the section championship.
The Trojans fell behind by as much as 20 in the second half. They made a run to make it a game late before the home team made one final spurt to put the game away. Wayzata bounced back a few days later with a 92-80 win vs. No. 10 Minneapolis Washburn (14-2) to improve to 6-0 at home. Jackson McAndrew led all scorers with 31 and Christian Wiggins added 25.
No. 2 Totino-Grace (14-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Eden Prairie (7-11), Feb. 2 at No. 3 Park Center (18-1)
Ranking rationale: Unless Wayzata loses another game or two, it’s tough for Totino-Grace to surpass a team it lost to early in the season. With that said, the Eagles have been playing incredible basketball and are the clear cut favorite to win the Class 3A title.
T-G is up to nine straight wins after rolling 83-60 at No. 13 Osseo (12-6) and 97-61 vs. Blaine (4-13). Isaiah Johnson-Arigu had 24 points and Dothan Ijadimbola 22 in a game vs. Osseo they led by 17 at halftime. IJA had an incredible week, pouring in 36 vs. the Bengals.
No. 3 Park Center (18-1)
Last week’s ranking: 3
This week’s games: Feb. 2 vs. No. 2 Totino-Grace (14-3)
Ranking rationale: Park Center has held steady at No. 3 due to a loss to the team directly above it and no opportunity to play No. 1 Wayzata until a potential rematch in the state tournament. However, the Pirates could still find a way before season’s end if they keep up their current pace.
This week, they could at least move up a spot with a win this week against Totino-Grace. The talented squad is up to 12 straight wins, adding wins last week 83-65 vs. No. 22 Maple Grove (9-7) and 66-65 at No. 13 Osseo (12-6). A third of Park Center’s wins on its streak have come against current Power 25 teams.
The Pirates jumped on Maple Grove early and took a 46-30 halftime lead. The Pirates led by 10 at the break against the Orioles before holding on. Casmir Chavis led four on the team in double figures with 21 points.
No. 4 Breck (18-0)
Last week’s ranking: 5
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Rockford (7-9), Feb. 1 vs. No. 21 Columbia Heights (11-1)
Ranking rationale: Is Breck truly the No. 4 team? It’s hard to say. They’ve played just two games against current Power 25 teams, but they looked awfully good in them. The Mustangs rolled 85-58 on neutral court against No. 13 Osseo (12-6) and beat No. 6 Hopkins (12-3) 87-80 on neutral court. Hopkins just beat No. 1 Wayzata (15-1).
There’s no doubt Breck is the class of Class 2A this season. It beat one of the teams that could stand in its way at the state tournament, Esko (10-4), 75-58 at the Community Clash in Chanhassen.
Esko entered at No. 8 in the 2A QRF ranking. Earlier in the week, Breck won 93-38 vs. Providence Academy (4-12) and 93-46 at Mounds Park Academy (5-8). Hanif Muhammad led with 28 vs. Providence.
No. 5 Minnetonka (12-2)
Last week’s ranking: 4
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at No. 6 Hopkins (12-3)
Ranking rationale: Minnetonka drops a spot after surviving a close one 94-89 vs. Eden Prairie (7-11) and dropping 83-80 to a red hot Edina (10-7) team that climbs five spots to No. 20 this week.
Jordan Cain had 26 points and Greyson Uelmen added 21 in what was their seventh straight win. The loss was the Skippers’ first at home this season. The other loss came 92-89 on neutral court vs. No. 3 Park Center (18-1). Uelmen led with 28 against Edina.
No. 6 Hopkins (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: 7
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. No. 5 Minnetonka (12-2), Feb. 2 vs. Buffalo (10-6)
Ranking rationale: Hopkins pulled off the best win of any team this season by being the one to end Wayzata’s undefeated season. The Royals led by as much as 20 en route to an 89-80 win vs. the Trojans (15-1).
Davie Hart led all scorers with 22 points to go with 20 for Anthony Smith and 17 for J.J. Semanko. More impressive was holding one of the state’s best players, Jackson McAndrew, to 14. Hopkins’ next game as a classic letdown spot hosting a solid team in St. Michael-Albertville (9-8) that’s capable of playing with anyone on a given night.
The Royals averted danger by escaping with a 92-91 win despite allowing a season high. Hopkins is fine winning a shootout and was led by 27 apiece from Jayden Moore and Smith. Hopkins could just as easily swap with No. 5 Minnetonka.
Fortunately for us, they’ll get to see who’s worthy of a top-five spot when they lock horns this week.
No. 7 Shakopee (11-3)
Last week’s ranking: 6
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at No. 12 Farmington (11-3), Feb. 1 vs. No. 9 Lakeville North (10-4)
Ranking rationale: Shakopee drops a spot after its eight-game win streak was snapped last week. The Sabers fell 77-76 vs. No. 16 Lakeville South (10-6). Jalen Langsy posted a co-game high of 22 points in a game his team led by two at halftime.
Shakopee won earlier in the week 67-54 at Burnsville (2-14). Not dominating a bad team by more than 13 seemed to be the precursor to the upset loss a few days later. The road doesn’t get easier this week against a pair of top-12 teams.
No. 8 Mankato East (15-1)
Last week’s ranking: 8
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Rochester Century (11-5), Feb. 2 vs. Rochester John Marshall (9-6)
Ranking rationale: Mankato East hasn’t done enough to quite be on Totino-Grace’s level, but the Cougars are the clear No. 2 in Class 3A thus far. The Cougars are on a 10-game win streak with three wins over ranked 3A teams.
Their only loss came to 4A Rochester Century, a team it is seeking revenge on this week. A win in that one would all but lock up the Big 9 Conference title. Mankato East won its only game last week 88-54 vs. Northfield (8-9).
No. 9 Lakeville North (10-4)
Last week’s ranking: 9
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Apple Valley (9-6), Feb. 1 at No. 7 Shakopee (11-3)
Ranking rationale: Lakeville North is on a six-game win streak. Only one of those six were against Power 25 competition, so it’s hard for the Panthers to climb much higher. The bright side is they’re rolling just about everyone.
Last week saw North win 79-45 vs. Eagan (9-7) and 76-42 at Burnsville (2-14). Andrew Quam led five Panthers in double-digit scoring against a former ranked opponent Eagan with 26 points.
No. 10 Minneapolis Washburn (14-2)
Last week’s ranking: 10
This week’s games: Jan. 29 at Minneapolis Edison (4-13), Jan. 31 vs. Minneapolis Southwest (9-7)
Ranking rationale: Moral victories don’t help in the standings, but they can at least help in the Power 25. Minneapolis Washburn did well to hang with No. 1 Wayzata (15-1) in a 92-80 road loss. The Trojans were a fired up bunch coming off their first loss of the season, making it a tough spot for the Millers. In a potential section championship matchup, Washburn was within striking distance at halftime trailing 48-41. Cooper Carlson led the Millers with 23 points. That snapped a 13-game win streak.
The week was not all for naught as Washburn remained unbeaten in Minneapolis City Conference play by handing Minneapolis North (12-5) its second conference loss. The Millers emerged from a tied game at halftime to win 66-55 led by 24 points for Blake Bergen and 20 for Kyle Jorgensen.
No. 11 Waconia (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: 11
This week’s games: Jan. 29 at Chaska (6-10), Feb. 1 at Chanhassen (6-9), Feb. 3 at Prior Lake (7-8)
Ranking rationale: A loss last week spoiled the Wildcats’ chances at cracking the top 10 for the first time this season. However, splitting a pair of tough games last week keeps Waconia safely at No. 11.
It extended its win streak to 11 games with an 87-73 win vs. No. 23 Orono (10-6). William Kirsch led with 32 points. In another game ripe with Metro West Conference title ramifications, the Wildcats fell 70-64 at No. 19 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (8-7).
It was Jackson Hayes’ turn to top 30 points, scoring 31 in the loss. Waconia led that one 29-28 at the break.
No. 12 Farmington (11-3)
Last week’s ranking: 12
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. No. 7 Shakopee (11-3), Feb. 2 at No. 16 Lakeville South (9-5)
Ranking rationale: Farmington responded well to a surprise loss to Apple Valley (9-6) a couple weeks ago by winning a pair of games by double digits. The Tigers cruised 65-45 at Rosemount (5-10) and 87-74 vs. Prior Lake (7-8). The latter opponent was coming off a 75-73 win vs. Lakeville South in its previous outing.
Ten Tigers scored vs. the Irish led by 12 points from Brandon Hrncir. He paced four in double figures with 19 against the Lakers.
No. 13 Osseo (12-6)
Last week’s ranking: 13
This week’s games: Feb. 1 at Rogers (14-4)
Ranking rationale: The Orioles are on a three-game skid, but there’s still plenty of reason for optimism. All three were to ranked foes with two coming by a mere point.
Last week started on a sour note with an 83-60 home loss to No. 2 Totino-Grace (12-3). Osseo couldn’t get much going outside of 23 points from Jaymeson Travis. The Orioles put forth a more spirited effort a few nights later in a 66-65 loss at home to No. 3 Park Center (18-1). Travis again led with 23. Osseo battled back from a 48-38 halftime deficit.
No. 14 Delano (14-3)
Last week’s ranking: 14
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Jordan (9-6), Feb. 2 at Holy Family (9-8)
Ranking rationale: Delano could have been on upset alert with a tricky non-conference game at Chanhassen (6-9), but the Tigers passed the test. They pulled out a 90-84 win at the Community Clash.
Big nights from Max Iversen (34 points) and Will Strandemo (28) helped Delano overcome a 33-31 halftime disadvantage. That was their fifth straight win. Earlier in the week featured a 90-66 win vs. Mound Westonka (6-9).
This was perhaps a little too close for comfort up just 41-34 at halftime, but 33-point nights by the law firm of Iversen and Strandemo helped the home team pull away. Delano has scored 90-plus in three straight and averages north of 80 on the season.
No. 15 Cretin-Derham Hall (13-2)
Last week’s ranking: 15
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Irondale (2-16), Feb. 1 at No. 24 East Ridge (10-7)
Ranking rationale: Make it nine straight wins for the Raiders. Cretin-Derham Hall is still unbeaten in Suburban East Conference play with wins last week 67-58 vs. Forest Lake (8-7) and 76-38 vs. Park of Cottage Grove (8-8).
If it can knock off East Ridge, which has two losses in conference, the title will be all but locked up. The rest of the conference all has four-plus defeats. That matchup will be a good test considering C-DH has not beaten a Power 25 team during its streak.
That’s a reason why the Raiders haven’t inched closer to the top 10. Joe Mitchell led with 22 and 23 points, respectively, in the last two wins. More impressive is C-DH’s defense. It’s held eight of its last nine opponents under 60.
No. 16 Lakeville South (10-6)
Last week’s ranking: 16
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Eastview (3-11), Feb. 2 vs. No. 12 Farmington (13-3)
Ranking rationale: Going 1-1 last week was a likely result for Lakeville South, but not in the way it occurred. It began with a 75-73 loss at Prior Lake (7-8), a team that was in consideration for a Power 25 spot this week by virtue of this win and a 5-3 mark in the South Suburban Conference.
Joe Hager led with 15 points in the loss, followed by 14 for DaMarcus Banks and Ryan Johnson. That damaged South’s SSC title hopes with a third loss in conference play.
The Cougars had the chance to play spoiler themselves when they recorded their far and away best win of the season, 77-76 at previous No. 6 Shakopee (11-3). Lauson Schmidt led with 22 points.
No. 17 Stewartville (13-3)
Last week’s ranking: 18
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa (11-6), Feb. 1 vs. Lake City (14-3), Feb. 3 vs. No. 19 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (8-7) at Kasson-Mantorville
Ranking rationale: After a bit of a rough patch around New Years, Stewartville is on a seven-game win streak. The Tigers cruised last week against two of their toughest competitors in the Hiawatha Valley League. They won 78-61 vs. Cannon Falls (12-4) and 68-55 at Byron (13-3).
A win vs. Lake City, which has one loss in the HVL, would all but lock up the title. That’s not the toughest test, though, as their matchup with a surging Benilde-St. Margart's will show if Stewartville has what it takes to make a state tournament run. Henry Tschetter led with 22 points vs. CF.
No. 18 DeLaSalle (9-6)
Last week’s ranking: 19
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Robbinsdale Cooper (6-8), Feb. 2 at St. Anthony Village (9-7), Feb. 3 vs. No. 1 Wayzata (15-1)
Ranking rationale: It seems counterintuitive to move up DeLaSalle after a middling 1-1 week, but it has wins over multiple teams right below it. Not to mention, that one loss wasn’t so bad.
The Islanders’ five-game win streak was snapped in a 71-70 loss vs. Richfield (9-8), which pops into the Power 25 this week at No. 25. A 9-6 record is probably the worst DLS could have, all things considered.
All six losses were by 10 points or fewer, including two by a single possession to Richfield. Two came by four points each to South Dakota squads. Earlier in the week, DLS handled a former Power 25 team, Fridley (10-4), 67-50 on the road. De’von Irvin had 29 in the win.
No. 19 Benilde-St. Margaret's (8-7)
Last week’s ranking: 20
This week’s games: Jan. 29 at No. 23 Orono (10-6), Feb. 1 at Chaska (6-10), Feb. 3 vs. No. 17 Stewartville (13-3) at Kasson-Mantorville
Ranking rationale: Benilde-St. Margaret’s was once on the verge of falling out of the Power 25 after a 3-6 start to the season. The Red Knights are now safely inside the top 20 as winners of five of their last six. They picked up their most impressive win in their last outing, a 70-64 result vs. No. 11 Waconia (11-3).
Jayden Daisy led with 22 points as B-SM erased a 29-28 halftime deficit. The Red Knights are 4-0 in the Metro West Conference thanks to that win, as well as a 63-58 victory at Chanhassen (6-9).
That’s a solid win over a Chan team that also pushed No. 14 Delano (14-3) last week. Daisy had 24. This time, B-SM overcame a 28-20 deficit at the break.
No. 20 Edina (10-7)
Last week’s ranking: 25
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Buffalo (10-6), Feb. 2 vs. Eden Prairie (7-11)
Ranking rationale: Edina football made a surprise run to the state championship game last fall. Will the boys basketball team follow suit? The resemblances are strikingly similar.
The football team opened with a 1-3 record, albeit against a tough schedule, before finishing 9-4. Basketball also started 1-3 with each loss coming to a Power 25 foe.
The battle-tested Hornets have responded on the court to win nine of their next 13, as well as their last four. Edina has victories over current No. 5 Minnetonka (12-2) and No. 6 Hopkins (12-3). It also pushed No. 1 Wayzata (15-1) in a four-point loss with a rematch coming soon.
Last week began with a 57-41 win vs. a St. Michael-Albertville (9-8) team that doesn’t get blown out often. Daniel Molhoek led with 20. Next was an 83-80 win at previous No. 4 Minnetonka.
Owen Kemper and Molhoek had 22. There was no letdown the next day as the Hornets beat previous No. 17 Orono (10-6), 72-60, at the Community Clash in Chanhassen.
No. 21 Columbia Heights (11-1)
Last week’s ranking: 21
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at St. Anthony Village (9-7), Feb. 1 at No. 4 Breck (18-0), Feb. 2 at Holy Angels (3-14)
Ranking rationale: Columbia Heights continued its impressive season with a pair of high-scoring victories. The Hylanders won 102-97 at Richfield (9-8), which cracks the Power 25 this week at No. 25 after a win vs. No. 18 DeLaSalle (9-6).
Randy McClendon has been a certified bucket-getter this season, as evidenced by a 41-point outing against the Spartans. Jency Davis chipped in 24 as they overcame a 53-48 halftime deficit.
Columbia Heights is in first place in the Tri-Metro Conference and stayed there by escaping with an 87-83 win vs. Robbinsdale Cooper (6-8). Davis had 25, Nigel Caldwell had 21 and McClendon added 20.
No. 22 Maple Grove (9-7)
Last week’s ranking: 22
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Minneapolis North (12-5), Feb. 1 at Spring Lake Park (8-7)
Ranking rationale: Going 1-1 last week was just what the Crimson needed to hold down their spot in the Power 25. Maple Grove fell 83-65 at No. 3 Park Center (18-1). Keegan Harney had 18 points, followed by 17 for Henry Stang. That wasn’t a terrible defensive effort by Maple Grove as that’s right at the season scoring average for the high-octane Pirates.
The Crimson had a good response by winning 63-60 vs. Rogers (14-4), which would have entered the Power 25 had that one gone the other way. Stang led with 25.
No. 23 Orono (10-6)
Last week’s ranking: 17
This week’s games: Jan. 29 vs. No. 19 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (8-7), Feb. 1 vs. St. Louis Park (8-8)
Ranking rationale: The Spartans make the biggest drop of any Power 25 team. They went 1-2 last week. The downside is both losses were by double digits. The upside is both came to ranked teams, as have five of their six total losses. It’s 2-5 vs. the Power 25 overall.
The week began with an 87-73 loss at No. 11 Waconia (11-3). It was a six-point ballgame at halftime before it got more out of hand. Nolan Groves led with 23 points. Orono was down five at the half at home against a bad Bloomington Jefferson (3-13) team before putting the clamps down and holding the Jaguars to 15 second-half points in a 56-44 win. Groves had 26.
The Spartans next faced Edina (10-7) in a matchup they wish they could have had in December instead of January. The two teams are going in opposite directions as the red-hot Hornets won their fifth straight and jumped five spots to No. 20 thanks in part to their 72-60 win vs. Orono at the Community Clash in Chanhassen.
No. 24 East Ridge (10-7)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Jan. 30 at Mounds View (12-5), Feb. 1 vs. No. 15 Cretin-Derham Hall (13-2)
Ranking rationale: Welcome back to the Power 25, East Ridge! The Raptors opened at No. 12 in early December, but quickly fell out after a 2-5 start. Turns out, four of those losses came to current top-20 teams. Three were by five points or fewer.
East Ridge still seeks a signature victory, but it’s been able to feast on a down Suburban East Conference this season to win six straight. All six wins have been by double digits, including a 68-57 victory over a perennially tough Wisconsin team, Onalaska (12-5).
With two losses in SEC play, the Raptors can hang around in hopes of repeating as conference champs by knocking off unbeaten Cretin-Derham Hall this week in a rematch of a 73-68 loss in December.
No. 25 Richfield (9-8)
Last week’s ranking: N/R
This week’s games: Jan. 30 vs. Fridley (10-4), Feb. 2 at Tartan (13-3)
Ranking rationale: Tartan was among a host of teams in consideration for the final spot in this week’s Power 25, so it’s nice that it will match up with Richfield this week.
For now, the Spartans get the nod after completing the unheard of season sweep over Tri-Metro Conference rival, No. 18 DeLaSalle (9-6). It was one thing for Richfield to steal an 80-77 win early in the season at home. It was another to go to Harriet Island and pick up a 71-70 victory. C.J. Armstrong’s Herculean 38-point performance led the way.
Richfield can be an up and down squad, as evidenced with a 70-69 win the next day at Mound Westonka (6-9).
Nonetheless, Richfield has won six of its last seven after seven straight losses. Two of those defeats were to schools from Milwaukee. Three more were by single-digit margins to current or former Power 25 teams.
