Hill hopes to end with title

1 One more time for Tayler Hill

Tayler Hill, the top player in Minnesota, isn't expected to announce where she will go to college until after the state tournament, but the goal for Hill and her Minneapolis South teammates is to own a championship by then. Hill, an All-Metro first-team selection since her eighth-grade year, has led the Tigers to the past two Class 4A runner-up finishes.

2 A very deep Lake(ville North)

Lakeville North is deep. How deep? Coach Andy Berkvam listed seven players under the category of "returning starters" on a preseason information form. Under "team strength" he wrote, "We should have very good depth." And talent. Cassie Rochel, a 6-4 junior, already holds the career school record in blocked shots.

3 One more time for Jordan, too

Whether on the basketball court or volleyball floor, Brittany Chambers and Leah Dietel have been marquee players at Jordan for years now. Before they head off to college basketball careers, Chambers at Kansas State and Dietel at South Dakota State, they will try to improve on last year's 2A runner-up finish. They are coming off a state title in volleyball.

4 Unfinished business

Centennial knocked off powerful St. Paul Central early last season and assumed the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A, which continued through a perfect regular season. But the Cougars were upset by Osseo in the section playoffs and missed out on the anticipated trip to the state tournament. First-team All-Metro forward Megan Nipe leads the returnees for Centennial.

5 Who will go to the next level?

Teams on the rise always draw interest, and there are several strong candidates in that category as the season begins. Park was one game away from the Class 4A tournament last season and has a strong group back; Burnsville, Eden Prairie and Bloomington Kennedy are expected to make their presence known, and Richfield has lots of talent returning from a 24-4 team.

JOHN MILLEA

PRESEASON METRO TOP 10

(Class 4A unless noted)

1. Lakeville North Nine of the top 10 players return from an 18-10 team.

2. Minneapolis South Tayler Hill gets one more shot at a state championship.

3. Hopkins Two-year absence from state tourney is a rarity for the Royals.

4. Centennial Cougars were 27-1 last year but didn't make it to state.

5. Park Wolfpack came one victory short of first trip to state last season.

6. Eastview 29-3, third-place finish last year and talented players back.

7. St. Paul Central Iowa-bound Theairra Taylor leads two-time state champs.

8. New Prague (3A) Winners of 27 consecutive Missota games have everybody back.

9. Woodbury Two four-year starters for Royals, who were 21-8 last season.

10. Jordan (2A) The Jaguars, last year's runner-up, take one more shot.

20 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Name School Ht. Yr. Pos. College choice, if known

Annie Berner Forest Lake 6-4 Sr. C Rhode Island

Janae Burich Roseville 6-4 Sr C North Dakota State

Brittany Chambers Jordan 5-9 Sr. G Kansas State

Molly Duehn Burnsville 6-1 Jr. F

Kara Elofson Hopkins 5-9 Sr. F Binghamton

Tayler Hill Minneapolis South 5-11 Sr. G

Katya Leick Park 6-1 Sr. G Nebraska

Katie Loberg Princeton 6-4 Sr. C Gophers

Sam Mehr Eastview 5-9 Sr. G South Dakota

Lizzi Naumann Totino-Grace 6-2 Sr. C Drake

Megan Nipe Centennial 6-0 Sr. F George Washington

Jamie Noonan Richfield 5-9 Sr. F South Dakota

Sarah Peterson Minnehaha Academy 5-11 Sr. F

Cassie Rochel Lakeville North 6-4 Jr. C

Carly Rothfusz Eden Prairie 6-1 Sr. F

Theairra Taylor St. Paul Central 5-10 Sr. G Iowa

Kate Thompson Wayzata 6-2 Sr. G Michigan

Tempestt Wilson Elk River 5-10 Sr. G Northern Arizona

Taylor Young Edina 6-0 Jr. F

Brittany Zins Bloomington Kennedy 5-9 sr. F