Prep Scene
Minneapolis South boys basketball
Head Coach Joe Hyser led them to their first state tournament since 1992. The Tigers, led by Poet Davis, James Underwood, Jumarion Weh, Jamari Stewart-Scott, Kavaughn Fields, Eugene Brown and Maurice Hargrow, finished runner-up in the consolation bracket. South finished second in the Minneapolis City Conference. Hyser was named Class 3A Section 3 Coach of the Year.
Minneapolis Roosevelt girls basketball
Head Coach Tyisha Wright, who starred for the Teddies as a point guard before graduation in 2010, led the Southside team to a second consecutive conference and Twin Cities title, including Class 3A state tournament appearance. Led by Olivia Wren, Jaida Walker, Cady Davis, Tamara Behl and Jayla Bennett, they reached the consolation bracket in the tournament. Wright was named Class 3A Section 3 Coach of the Year.
Minneapolis Washburn boys basketball
Head Coach Myles Shepherd led them to the Minneapolis City Conference and Twin Cities boys basketball championships. The Millers, led by Kyle Jorgensen, Blake Bergren, Donnevan Okwor, Cooper Carlson, and Charlie Gustafson, led the Millers to an undefeated conference record and top 10 metro ranking in Class 4A. It was their best season since Sheppard led them to the Class 3A state runner up finish in 2012 as a player. Shepherd was named Class 4A Section 6 Coach of the Year.
St. Paul Central boys basketball
Led by Head Coach Scott Howell, who himself starred at the school in football and baseball before graduating in 1984, the Minutemen captured the City Conference championship. They were led by Allan Lankfard Jr., Vontae Lewis, Elijah Moseman, Finnegan Bloedel, James Kennedy, Kaiden Thiers and Etienne Reyes. Howell was named St. Paul City Conference Coach of the Year. Lankfard, a junior, won St. Paul City Conference Player of the Year honors.
St. Paul Como Park girls basketball
Head Coach Olanda England led them to the City Conference championship. Led by Makyia Kenney, Niajiona Shaw, Ahmani Crump, Say Say Hinton, Mariah Miller and Alice Wagner-Hensted, the Cougars captured their 11th consecutive conference title and Twin Cities championship appearance. England, who was selected St. Paul City Conference Player of the Year, led her team to the Class 3A Section 3 finals.
St. Paul Johnson’s boys basketball Head Coach Colin Moore was named Class 3A Section 4 Coach of the Year. Moore, who took over after Hall of Fame Coach Vern Simmon’s retirement in 2020, led the Governors to a second place finish in the City Conference and the section semifinals. They were led by Dhamani Tucker, Jalani Mays, Colin Moore Jr., Kenny Turner, Daejohn Thomas and Guarino Kamp.
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.