Big honors, new schools: Active summer for top prep athletes, coaches

Lakeville North's Regan Smith, recent world record setter in the 200 backstroke, on the podium at the 2015 girls' swimming and diving state meet, her only season as a high school swimmer.

Officially, high school sports take a breather during the summer months. But that doesn't mean things come to a halt.

With official practices for fall sports less than two weeks away, here's a brief look at some of the more newsworthy recent occurrences in the world of high school-age athletes.

SUMMER 2019

All will be seniors for the upcoming school year unless noted

World champs: Success on the international stage

Regan Smith after winning the 200 backstroke world championship (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Regan Smith, Lakeville North, World Swimming Championships, 200 backstroke (world record), 400 medley relay (world record)

Basketball

Paige Bueckers, Hopkins, FIBA Women's U19 world championships, gold medal, tournament MVP

Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy, 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup gold medal

Dawson Garcia, Prior Lake, FIBA 3X3 U18 World Championships, gold medal

Volleyball

Kennedi Orr, Eagan, jr., was named to the 12-member Team USA U18 team that will play in the FIVB Girls' U18 World Championship from Sept. 5-14 in Cairo, Egypt.

Faces in new places: Some high-profile prep stars who will be wearing a different uniform this season. (previous school in parentheses)

J'Vonne Hadley, basketball, G, Cretin-Derham Hall (Mahtomedi)

Terry Lockett, basketball/football, G/DB, Minnehaha Academy (Spire Academy, Cleveland, Ohio)

Kendal Kemp, volleyball, MB, soph., Eagan (Rogers)

Newly hired: Significant recent coaches and administrators hired

Cooper: Raheem Simmons replaces Kiara Buford as girls' basketball coach. Buford resigned last spring after two state tournament appearances and a state championship in 2018.

St. Thomas Academy: Football coach Dan O'Brien has been named interim athletic and activities director. Brian Kallman named soccer coach

Switched: Athletes who changed their college commitments