Chris Monter
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Picking a Twin Cities All-Metro basketball team this season was a bit tougher with the loss of McDonald’s All-American Rashad Vaughn, who decided to play Findlay Prep for his senior campaign. The Class of 2014 might have been the strongest in the state’s history with three players among the country's top 30 if Vaughn had not transferred. However, there is still plenty of local talent as the four seniors and one talented junior are still playing in the postseason. The following is a look at the College Basketball News’ All-Metro team.
FIRST TEAM
Tyus Jones (College Basketball News' Metro Player of the Year)
The number one point guard in the Class of 2014 has helped lead Apple Valley to a 27-1 mark and number one ranking in Class AAAA. He is averaging 25.3 points per game and scored in double figures in all 28 games. The Duke signee had seven games of 30 or more points, including a season-best 41 points versus Lakeville North and 15 more games of more than 20 points. His numbers would have been even better if they had blown out most of their opponents. Apple Valley is the big favorite in Class AAAA and has just had two games when they won by less than double figures.
J.P. Macura
The Lakeville North scorer just missed making the College Basketball News’ first team last year as a first year starter. He increased his scoring to 32.8 points per game and had an amazing six games of more than 40 points, including a school record 55 versus Farmington. The Xavier signee helped lead the Panthers to a 23-5 mark and a second place finish in the South Suburban Conference. He scored in double figures in all 28 games and had 26 games of 20 or more points. Macura, who has unlimited shooting range, has helped lead the Panthers to the top seed in Section 1AAAA.
Sam Neumann
Neumann is one of the Metro’s top outside shooters. He demonstrated his range as he made nine three-pointers against Bettendorf in the Timberwolves Shootout in a 39-point effort. Neumann topped that with 45 points versus Roseville. He averaged 19.6 points per game and scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games. Neumann had twelve games of 20 or more, including four games of plus 30. The junior has helped lead the Raiders to a 22-6 mark this season and they face Apple Valley in the Section 3AAAA finals Thursday.
Wheeler Baker
The Albany signee has helped the Orioles to a 20-7 mark and a second seed in the Section 5AAAA playoffs. The record is a bit misleading as they lost four straight games by a combined nine points without center Ian Theisen. Baker is averaging 23.3 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but two contests. He has six games of more than 30 points, including a season-high 41 points versus Robbinsdale Armstrong.
Reid Travis
Travis was the last player I picked for my first team. That is not because of his talent level. The McDonald’s All-American is averaging 19.4 points per game and would have scored even more if his Islanders had not consistently blown out their opponents and had plenty of other talented scorers on their roster. However, he did miss nine games, three of which the Islanders lost. They have not lost a game with him in the lineup and are the prohibitive favorite to win a third straight Class AAA title. He scored in double figures in all but one game and had a season-high 28 points in their first round playoff win over St. Anthony Village. They face Spring lake Park Tuesday.
FIRST TEAM
Tyus Jones (College Basketball News' Metro Player of the Year)
The number one point guard in the Class of 2014 has helped lead Apple Valley to a 27-1 mark and number one ranking in Class AAAA. He is averaging 25.3 points per game and scored in double figures in all 28 games. The Duke signee had seven games of 30 or more points, including a season-best 41 points versus Lakeville North and 15 more games of more than 20 points. His numbers would have been even better if they had blown out most of their opponents. Apple Valley is the big favorite in Class AAAA and has just had two games when they won by less than double figures.
J.P. Macura
The Lakeville North scorer just missed making the College Basketball News’ first team last year as a first year starter. He increased his scoring to 32.8 points per game and had an amazing six games of more than 40 points, including a school record 55 versus Farmington. The Xavier signee helped lead the Panthers to a 23-5 mark and a second place finish in the South Suburban Conference. He scored in double figures in all 28 games and had 26 games of 20 or more points. Macura, who has unlimited shooting range, has helped lead the Panthers to the top seed in Section 1AAAA.
Sam Neumann
Neumann is one of the Metro’s top outside shooters. He demonstrated his range as he made nine three-pointers against Bettendorf in the Timberwolves Shootout in a 39-point effort. Neumann topped that with 45 points versus Roseville. He averaged 19.6 points per game and scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games. Neumann had twelve games of 20 or more, including four games of plus 30. The junior has helped lead the Raiders to a 22-6 mark this season and they face Apple Valley in the Section 3AAAA finals Thursday.
Wheeler Baker
The Albany signee has helped the Orioles to a 20-7 mark and a second seed in the Section 5AAAA playoffs. The record is a bit misleading as they lost four straight games by a combined nine points without center Ian Theisen. Baker is averaging 23.3 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but two contests. He has six games of more than 30 points, including a season-high 41 points versus Robbinsdale Armstrong.
Reid Travis
Travis was the last player I picked for my first team. That is not because of his talent level. The McDonald’s All-American is averaging 19.4 points per game and would have scored even more if his Islanders had not consistently blown out their opponents and had plenty of other talented scorers on their roster. However, he did miss nine games, three of which the Islanders lost. They have not lost a game with him in the lineup and are the prohibitive favorite to win a third straight Class AAA title. He scored in double figures in all but one game and had a season-high 28 points in their first round playoff win over St. Anthony Village. They face Spring lake Park Tuesday.
