First Look - St. Louis area boys basketball - Metro League Boys Basketball preview

Here's another First Look preview of St. Louis area boys basketball teams, this time, looking at the Metro League with Priory, Westminster, John Burroughs, Lutheran South, Lutheran North, MICDS and Principia.  The league has some exceptional talent and a strong presence on the Summer AAU circuit, and, except for Principia, any of these teams present problems to area opponents.  There is some good basketball played in this league.

Priory and Lutheran North tied for the League title last year but John Burroughs, Westminster, MICDS and Lutheran South were right on their heels.  All of these teams come back stronger than last year so I expect the team ratings will go up across the board.

Let's take a look at the teams and who is coming back:


Metro League 2018-2019 Record # % % Avg 2020 Avg 2019
Posted 10/03 2018-19 Rating Wins Losses  Returnees Return Scoring Hgt(") Hgt(")
Priory 107 17 9 11 85% 80% 72.6 72.8
Westminster 108 17 10 9 64% 50% 72.1 73
John Burroughs 106 16 11 11 73% 46% 73.10 73.60
Lutheran South 104 16 11 8 57% 35% 73.10 73.10
Lutheran North 104 14 12 16 80% 82% 72.80 73.30
MICDS 107 12 14 11 73% 76% 73.60 73.60
Principia 72 5 20 12 80% 62% 71.20 71.3
Metro League 101 14 12 11 73% 62% 72.6 73.0


Here's a breakdown of each team with returnees, graduations and their 2019-2020 outlook:

Priory

Returnees:
Charlie Ferrick, Harrison Wilmsen, Myles Kee, Michael Spencer
Graduations:
Nick Kurz (20% of scoring)
Outlook:
Returning junior Harrison Wilmsen, a Bradley Beal AAU stalwart and Prep Hoops ranked player (#38), leads the Rebels in defense of their Metro League title.  Ferrick, Kee and Spencer will provide strong support of Wilmsen and with 80% of the scoring back, Priory will be tough to upseat in the Metro League.  18 to 20 wins and a 112 rating look highly likely for this experienced group of returnees.



Westminster:
Returnee
Brennan Orf, Casen Lawrence, Matt George, EJ Williams
Graduations:
Jerram Adams, Luke Linam, Blake Jewell (50% of scoring)
Outlook:
Westminster is a sleeper this year with two thirds of the squad and 50% of the scoring returning.  In this returning group are some really excellent sophomores and freshman that weren't even on the radar last year.  The team is eating up opponents in the CNR fall league with strong three point shooting and aggressive defense.  Expect Orf, Lawrence, George and Williams to move this group up to the top of their league.  18 to 20 wins and a 112 rating are in the cards for the Wildcats.

John Burroughs

Returnees:
Brandon Miller, Chris Pittmann, Simeon Williams, Jordan Ryan, Tyson Ford
Graduations:
Drew Hardwick, DJ Miller (55% of scoring)
Outlook:
Talented, nationally ranked 800m runner, Brandon Miller, returns for his senior year as the top returning scorer, along with three quarters of the Bombers squad.  It will take a concerted effort by Prep Hoops ranked Jordan Ryan, Miller, Pittman, Williams and Ford but the Bombers have a good chance to win 15 gams and maintain a respectable 105 rating.  Five or six wins in the league could be a stretch.
Lutheran South

Returnees:
Jack Lawson, Austin Reis, Jonathan Prange
Graduations:
Nick Wagner, Jacob Reis, Josiah Yaeger, Evan Muhlhauser (65% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Lancers bounced back last year after a down year in 2017-2018 and look to build on that success on the shoulders of returnees Lawson, Reis and Prange.  The team lost two thirds of their scoring in Nick Wagner and company but have a good returning squad.  While the team might slip to 15 wins, they should maintain their 104 rating.  It will be tough, though, to stay above a 500 record in the league with all the talented opponents.

Lutheran North

Returnees:
Jordan Smith, Tahj Patterson, Isaiah Williams, Cleveland Washington
Graduations:
Jack Buford (18% of scoring)
Outlook:
While North tied with Priory for the league title, they didn't blanch at scheduling a strong non-conference schedule and played strong class 5 teams like Francis Howell and Fort Zumwalt South to ready themselves for the League schedule.  Sixteen returning players had some varsity experience, led by Prep Hoops ranked players like Tahj Patterson and Isaiah Williams.  Expect 16-20 wins and a 110 rating out of the Crusaders this season and another serious run at the Metro League title.



MICDS

Returnees:
Jack Pronger, Brandon Mitchell-Day, Hasani Spann, Nick Roper, Aaron Hendricks
Graduations:
Jack Brooks (24% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Rams had their first losing season since 2014-2015 last year but look for great things out of MICDS with Pronger, Spann, Mitchell-Day and Hendricks leading them back to a 18-20 win season.  Pronger is having a monster fall in the Ramey league, scoring 30+ points per game.  With three quarters of the team roster and scoring back, the Rams will rate at over 110 rating.  Look out Metro League.

Principia

Returnees:
Charley Hoffman, Howard James, Isaac Legard
Graduations:
Will Towle, Mikey Coyne (38% of scoring)
Outlook:
After reaching a high water mark of 13-13 two years ago, the Panthers slipped back into mediocrity this past season.  Hoffman, James and Legard lead a team that brings back 80% of the roster and 62% of the scoring.  Given the strong returning group, Principia could improve on last year's five wins but it is doubtful that they will get back to a 500 record, given the strength of the rest of the league.  7-9 wins and a rating in the mid 80's would be a successful progression for the Panthers this coming season.

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