Then and Now: Apple Valley Eagles and Minnehaha Academy Redhawks Have Built a Boys Basketball Legacy Worth Remembering
Sports columnist Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald traces the legacy of Apple Valley Eagles and Minnehaha Academy Redhawks boys basketball, from the NBA-bound alumni of the 2010s to their standout 2026 state tournament runs.
The Apple Valley Eagles and the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks boys basketball teams had quite the seasons to remember.
Both programs made impressive runs this spring. The Eagles made a surprising Class 4A state tournament run with a runner-up finish and the Redhawks capturing the Class 2A crown last March.
Before going back in time, let’s take a quick look at the contributors to each team’s 2026 run.
Apple Valley, finishing with a 21-11 record under the leadership of former DeLaSalle and Augustana College standout David Collier, got outstanding play from guards Trey Parker, Kamar Sandifer-Howze and Jaiden Williams, and forwards Camare Young, Tyrese Hutton and Ryan Christiansen.
Minnehaha Academy, led by head coach Jadee Jones, a former DeLaSalle, Hopkins and Furman University standout, finished 26-5, paced by forwards Kellen Troup and Mekhi Abner and guards Ayden Green and Carter Cupito.
Not bad for a couple of programs that had experienced significant success during the 2010s.
During that earlier era, both teams produced McDonald All-Americans who went on to play in the NBA.
Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot center, and Jalen Suggs, a 6-5 guard, led Minnehaha Academy to Class 2A state championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
During that same stretch, brothers Tyus Jones and Tre Jones were putting Apple Valley on the map. They teamed together in 2013, when Tyus was a junior and Tre was in eighth grade, to win their first title. Tre Jones then led the Eagles to crowns in 2015 and 2017.
Holmgren went on to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title last season and his team is the favorite to repeat this year. Suggs starts for the Orlando Magic, Tyus Jones is currently on the Denver Nuggets roster and Tre Jones plays for the Chicago Bulls.
There is one more twist worth noting, Minnehaha Academy head coach Jadee Jones is the older brother of Tyus and Tre.
It was quite a run for the Eagles and the Hawks, then and now.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses at mcdeezy05@gmail.com.