Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald looks back at the legacy of Apple Valley and Minnehaha Academy boys basketball, from NBA-bound alumni to their impressive 2026 state tournament runs.
Jalen Suggs
Posted inThe Prep Scene
From the metro to the NBA: Twin Cities products making their mark in 2025-26
Twin Cities NBA players 2025-26 season includes 11 former metro boys basketball standouts on NBA rosters from Hopkins, Minnehaha Academy, Apple Valley and more.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Brian Sandifer discusses the impact of Grassroots Basketball
Brian Sandifer, founder of Grassroots Basketball, joins Blacklight On Sports to discuss how his elite AAU program has helped over 400 student-athletes earn scholarships, including NBA talents like Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren.
Posted inSports
Former metro area prep stars on NBA playoff rosters
Former metro area players Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Zeke Nnaji, Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims, Kendall Brown, and Amir Coffey are involved in the NBA postseason.
Posted inSports
Former prep stars in the NBA
With NBA season upon us, this week’s column will feature a few former metro area high school players who are currently on league rosters.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Suggs showed talent early
A looks back at Jalen Suggs’ remarkable career.
Posted inSports
Exchange after title game joined past and present
A historic exchange took place between the past and the present of Minnesota’s finest.
Posted inSports
More college and high school prep updates
This week’s column highlights a former prep star leading his team to a tournament title and more.
Posted inSports
Walton chooses North Carolina
Kerwin Walton, one of the state’s top prep boys’ basketball players as a member of the Hopkins Royals and the Class of 2020, committed last week to play at the University of North Carolina this fall.
Posted inSports
Notable season’s-end achievements
Jalen Suggs, a Minnehaha Academy student-athlete, became the first Minnesota athlete to win Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball in the same scholastic season.
Posted inSports
Suggs will be one of the best ever
Minnehaha Academy phenom Jalen Suggs will go down as one of the best student-athletes in state history.
Posted inSports
Prep stars of the week
Last Saturday the junior, one of the top guards in the country, scored 30 points in leading defending Class AA boys’ basketball champion Minnehaha Academy to a season-opening victory over Perham.
Posted inSports
‘Fantastic Four’ prep photos of the week
Jalen Suggs, one of the top football and basketball prospects in the country, completed 11 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, leading undefeated St. Paul Academy/ Minnehaha Academy/ Blake to a victory over St. Paul Johnson last Friday.
Posted inSports
Three prep stars garner success
It’s been quite a summer for three of the state’s top prep basketball players. One made a verbal commitment to play in college while two others led the USA to gold while establishing themselves among the nations’ top prospects. Here is a quick recap of their accomplishments! Tre Jones Jones, the top-rated point guard in […]