The Prep Scene
There is plenty going on in local prep sports. Here are a few recent outstanding happenings.
Officials making history
When the University of Northwestern (St. Paul) played a women’s basketball game at the College of St. Benedict last weekend, Teron Buford, Azzairia Jackson, and James Patterson made history becoming the first all-Black officiating crew to work a game at a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) school.
North makes state playoffs
Charles Adams, the coach who led the Minneapolis North Polars football team to eight consecutive state playoff appearances (2014-2021)—winning the Class A title in 2016—before missing out last season, had his team back in the Class AAA playoffs last week before their 14-7 loss to Dassel-Cokato in the semifinals.
Coach in Hall of Fame
Charles Portis, the former boys basketball coach who led St. Paul Highland Park to the Class AAA state championship in 1999, was recently inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Coach at Anoka Ramsey
Kahlid El-Amin, the former Minneapolis North, University of Connecticut, NBA and overseas basketball star and former coach at St. Thomas Academy, recently completed his first game as head coach at Anoka Ramsey Community College.
Outstanding football prospect
St. Paul Central junior quarterback and defensive back Allan Lankfard Jr. has emerged as one of the state’s top football prospects for the Class of 2025.
Coaching and managing
Former St. Paul Central and University of Minnesota basketball standout Ashley Ellis-Milan is not only the head girls basketball coach at East Ridge High School, but she also serves as manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Academy.
Coach at Mesabi Range
Former Minneapolis North basketball star, former WNBA player, 1998 Minnesota Miss Basketball and University of Wisconsin Hall of Famer Tamara Moore is at the helm as head coach of the men’s basketball program at Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range.
From walk-on to starter
Former St. Paul Como Park girls basketball star Ronnie Porter has gone from freshman walk-on to sophomore starting point guard for the University of Wisconsin.