Prep Scene
Former Minneapolis North basketball greats Khalid El-Amin and Tamara Moore squared off against one another leading their teams in a community college men’s basketball matchup.
El-Amin, 1997 Mr. Basketball after leading the Polars to three consecutive state championships from 1995-97, led Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Moore, Ms. Basketball in 1998 after leading the Polars to the Class AAA state girls title the same year, led Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range.
Point guard Ibrahim El-Amin (Minnetonka) led ARCC with 23 points and seven assists, leading the host Golden Rams to a 74-71 victory.
Guard Aron Whiteside led Mesabi Range with 19 points.
Holmgren of to a great start
Former Minnehaha Academy and Gonzaga University basketball star Chet Holmgren is making up for missing the 2022-23 NBA season, which would have been his first, averaging 17-points per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 7’1” center and No. 2 pick of last year’s draft scored 36 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Thunder to a 130-123 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Holmgren, the Class of 2021’s top high school prospect in the country, also hit the game-tying bucket to send the game into the extra period.
Holmgren’s father David Holmgren starred at Minneapolis Central and Prior Lake, graduating in 1983, and went on to play at the University of Minnesota.
Five coaches leading high school basketball teams in 2023-24
Colin Moore: Starting his fourth season at St. Paul Johnson High School. The Governors are the defending St. Paul City conference champions.
Brianna Edward: The former Minneapolis North and Provence University standout is in her second season as the girls’ basketball coach of her alma mater.
Faith Johnson Patterson: The former Marshall University High School and University of Wisconsin star Hall of Fame girls basketball coach is leading Maranatha this season.
Ricky Davis: The former NBA star is in his second season at Minneapolis North, where he led the Polars to the City Conference and Twin Cities championships last season.
James Ware: The former Hopkins boys basketball star is back to lead Park Center, who finished runner-up in the Class AAAA boys basketball competition last season after winning the crown in 2022.