Two former Mr. Basketball winners Robert Mestas and Khalid El-Amin are working together for the second year, coaching boys’ basketball at Burnsville High School.
Mestas, the head coach, was the state’s top player as a point guard for Minneapolis Roosevelt in 1995 before moving on to play at Miami of Ohio.
El-Amin led Minneapolis North to three consecutive state championships before winning the NCAA title with the University of Connecticut, followed by a successful professional career overseas.
Here is an update on a few more former prep stars:
Ishmael El-Amin
The former Hopkins High School guard is starting for the Ball State University men’s basketball team, averaging 13.9 points per game as a sophomore guard. The Cardinals currently have a 4-3 record.
Zeke Nnaji
The former Hopkins forward who led them to the Class 4A title last year, is averaging a team leading 17.1 points per game for the 9-0 Arizona. The Wildcats are ranked No. 12 in the country.
McKinley Wright
The point guard, who won Mr. Basketball as a senior at Champlain Park high school, has led the No. 20-ranked University of Colorado to a 6-0 record this season. The junior is averaging 11.8 points per game for the Buffaloes.
Tamara Moore
The 1998 Ms. Basketball winner while at Minneapolis North is in her second year as head girls’ basketball coach at Minneapolis Edison. Moore went on to a Hall of Fame career at the University of Wisconsin before starring in the WNBA.
Makayla Hayes
The former Park Center star who led them to four-straight state tournament appearances—including two straight Class 3A crowns—is playing for the University of Clemson women’s team.
Suzanne Gilreath
The guard, who starred at Fridley High School, is currently doing the same at the University of Wisconsin. Her season-high is 21 points against Wofford.
Nia Hollie
Ms. Basketball in 2016 as senior at Hopkins is playing her final season for Michigan State University.
Marlon McCoy
The shooting guard who led St. Agnes to the Class A boys’ basketball crown in 1994, is in his second year as head girls’ coach at St. Paul Central.
Tyus Jones
Former Apple Valley superstar and former Minnesota Timberwolf, now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, scored 12 points leading to a victory over his old team. He led Duke University to an NCCA title in 2016 while being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.