Prep basketball expert Ken Lien is picking Henry Sibley to win the Class 4A state tournament title this week. State tournament games in all four classes start today (Wednesday) with the championships on Saturday. Lien, who tracks high school basketball as chair of the Mr. Basketball selection committee, is predicting Saint Thomas will be the Class 3A champ, with Saint Bernard’s School winning the Class 2A title, and Cass Lake-Bena taking the Class 1A championship.
Among the intriguing players to watch is Robbinsdale Cooper’s Rodney Williams. The 6-foot-5 junior forward can jump with or better than NBA players, according to Lien. Cooper is competing in the 4A tourney.
He also likes two other Division I prospects in the tournaments, senior guards Anthony Tucker of Minnetonka and Jordan Taylor of Benilde-St. Margaret’s. “Tucker is a fine passer and shooter,” Lien said. “Taylor is your ultimate point guard who is a great defender and is a fine offensive player as well.”
Tucker will play at Iowa next season, while Taylor is headed to Wisconsin. Minnetonka is Class 4A while Benilde-St. Margaret’s is in the Class 3A tourney.
Tucker and Taylor, Sports Headliners has learned, are two of the five finalists for the Mr. Basketball award. The three others are Princeton center Jared Berggren, Cretin-Derham Hall guard Michael Floyd and Ellsworth guard Cody Schilling. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 27 at the awards banquet at the Minneapolis Marriott West.
Bob McDonald’s Chisholm team is in the Class 1A tournament. He’s been coaching at Chisholm for over 40 years. His son, Mike, is coaching the Cambridge-Isanti team that is competing in the Class 4A tournament.
Another of McDonald’s sons, Joel, coaches the Hibbing team that lost in the sectional finals of Class 3A to Grand Rapids. Bob’s grandson, guard Bryce Tesdahl, plays for Crosby-Ironton competing in the Class 2A tournament. “Best passer in the state tourney,” Lien said.
Some state tournament games will be played at Mariucci Arena, the first basketball games ever at the University of Minnesota’s hockey facility. Williams Arena isn’t available so Mariucci will host games along with the main tournament site, Target Center.