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by Ryan James
bassgemrj@hotmail.com
 Five games into the season Minnetonka remains number one with a 5-0 record. Coach John Hedstrom has a senior packed squad who has led the Skippers to victories over Henry Sibley, DeLaSalle, and most recently Chaska 94-62 last Friday night.
In that game 6-foot-5 senior forward scored 13 points and was one of six seniors on the team to finish with double figure scoring totals. Down in Marshall at the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic, Latzke led the Skippers with 15 points earning the Player of the Game award. And on the season he's the fourth leading scorer on the team with 9.2 points per game, right behind Anthony Tucker, Tyler Schilling, and CJ Erickson. These are all players who have signed letters of intent for basketball scholarships.
By the end of the year Latzke will be amongst that group of signed scholarship players. At 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-6, Andrew has a dynamite shooting touch with good range and the ability to pull his shot effectively over the top of most defenders. He has one offer and is still looking at various options.
"My options are still wide open for where I am going next year," Latzke said. "I would love to play basketball where ever I go. As of now, Minnesota State-Moorhead is my one offer," said Latzke. "Iowa State and Valpo have some interest in me as a recruited walk-on. The University of Rider in New Jersey is also interested and talking to me right now."
Recently Valpo assistant Luke Gore was at a Minnetonka game when they beat Henry Sibley 78-74. Latzke still has plenty of time to impress D-1 walk-on suitors, D-1s who want to offer, or D-2s that want to give him a scholarship.
With all the talent at Tonka, practice can be more competitive then some games with the deepness of the Tonka talent pool. "Practice has gone well and we have high hopes for this season," Latzke explained. "Everyday is so intense in our gym, the coaches really push us. They try to get everything they can out of us and that's what has made me the player I am today."
That push has also led them to being the top ranked team and with that comes pressure although Latzke is handling it well. "Being ranked number 1 is just a number," said. "It doesn't mean anything. We will have to earn every win we get this season. Every team will bring there "A" game when they face us. The ranking will not affect us. It will make us work harder to prove that we are really number 1."
Tonka has seven seniors who will be playing college basketball someplace next season and five of them have been with Latzke for the long haul. Tucker, Schilling, Erickson, Andy Burns, and Latzke have been together for a long time making one another better.
"Playing with these guys has been such a privilege. I have been playing with most of them for three seasons on the varsity level and have learned a lot about each one not just on the court but off the court as well. This season should be a great one and will never be forgotten."
Tonka has fulfilled the expectations thus far with five victories in five games. But there is a long road ahead and the goal for this group is the state title. They will be challenged along the way as coach Hedstrom is focused on getting these players ready for the stretch drive.
They have upcoming games in January with nationally known Campbell Hall (CA) at the Target Center and Madison Memorial in Madison, Wisconsin at the Border Battle. Locally they face Benilde-St. Margaret's, Robinsdale Cooper, Eden Prairie, and Apple Valley before they start the Lake Conference schedule in February. And February 15th is the first of the two match-ups that everybody wants to see. That is the day the Hopkins-Minnetonka rivalry is renewed. |
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