THE BIG-10 CONFERENCE WILL PLAY FOOTBALL IN THE FALL AFTER ALL

According to multiple news organizations, the Big Ten Conference will start playing football on Oct. 23-24.

 

The start of the season was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Each team will play eight games in eight weeks. Players will be tested daily for COVID-19.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CUTS SPORTS DUE TO COVID-19

On Sept. 10, the University of Minnesota announced that due to the Covid-19 pandemic the University came out with a statement that said, “we will discontinue men's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, men's gymnastics and men's tennis at the completion of their 2020-21 competition season.

They will look to fund those sports after the 2020-21 season.

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES WIN THE 2020 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY

On Aug. 20, 2020, the NBA held the draft lottery. These 14 teams that did not make the 2020 postseason were eligible for the Lottery. According to NBA.com, Golden State, Cleveland, Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Washington, Phoenix, San Antonio, Sacramento, New Orleans and Memphis all took part in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Here is the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery Results.

1. Minnesota

2. Golden State

3. Charlotte

4. Chicago

5. Cleveland

6. Atlanta

7. Detroit

8. New York

9. Washington

10. Phoenix

11. San Antonio

12. Sacramento

13. New Orleans

14. Boston (from Memphis)

The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled to be held on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020.

CATCHING UP WITH JAYSON ANDERSON EDWARDS

I was able to email Jayson Anderson Edwards who played at Benilde St.Margaret's High School in St. Louis Park. I asked him where he is playing now? Are you playing now? He told me, “Currently living in Frankfurt, Germany. I have had the opportunity to try out with a few teams after a breakout game against TVO Biggesee. (22 pts, 7 reb)

He told me that after he graduated high school, “I played college basketball after finishing high school. I also had a son; Kayden was born May 17, 2019.”

He graduated from Robbinsdale Cooper in 2015 and played division one junior college at Lake Region State in North Dakota.

He is currently staying in Frankfurt, Germany.

I was able to ask him,” How has COVID-19 affected basketball where you are playing?” He told me “COVID never affected my season for basketball here but it did make it difficult to fly to Europe."

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he told me that, “I’ve had time to self-reflect on my goals and ambitions and creatively finding ways to stay healthy. Also, value the time with my family.

He wanted to let people know about his playing career that, “I’m a fearless guard that loves to compete. Some shocked how well I can score despite my height disadvantage.”

He said that his typical day looks like, “I wake up 7 am go on a run 2 for miles and jump rope. Eat breakfast at around 915 AM. Then individual workout from 945-1145 AM. I go to lunch. After lunch, I lift heavy weights from 2-4 PM. Go back to the hotel eat dinner then I will have practice with a team who calls me.”

Edwards looks to keep up with the Covid-19 pandemic and looks to get back to playing soon.

MINNESOTA HAS MOVED SOME FALL SPORTS TO THE SPRING DUE TO COVID-19

One Aug. 4, the Minnesota State High School League announced that high school football and volleyball have been moved to the spring due to Covid-19. 

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Starting Aug 17, is the first day of practice for boys’ and girls’ soccer and cross-country, girls’ tennis and girls’ swimming and giving, with 20 percent shorter in duration and with 30 percent fewer competitions, limited to one or two per week. Postseason plans to be determined later. Cross-country meets cannot exceed three teams; tennis and swimming can only hold dual competitions.”

Starting in mid-March: Football season of six-regular season games, no scrimmages. Volleyball season will be reduced by 20 percent in length and with 30 percent fewer games, no multiteam invitationals. For both sports, fall practice permitted, postseason plans are to be determined.” 

JD SPIELMAN HAS TRANSFERRED TO TCU

JD Spielman has transferred to TCU. Spielman played high school at Eden Prairie. Spielman started his college career at Nebraska.

He is the son of Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO GET UNDERWAY

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set to get underway. According to multiple reports the 2020 season will be 60 games.

 

According to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Teams will play 40 games against division foes and 20 against teams from the other league’s similar division. The Twins will play 40 against the AL Central and 20 against NL Central teams.” 
 

Spring training will start on July 1 while games will start on July 23 or 24. Spring training will be at the team’s home ballparks. 

If players are concerned about their health and safety due to Covid-19 they can sit out the season and will reportedly receive their pay and their service time. 

 

BOTH GACH HAS TRANSIFERED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Austin Minnesota native Both Gach has joined the University of Minnesota Men’s basketball team.

Gach started his college career at Utah. He will be a junior this season.

MINNESOTA AMERICA LEGION BASEBALL HAS CANCELED THE 2020 SEASON

The Minnesota America Legion Baseball Association has shut down the 2020 summer baseball season due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

There were 357 teams from Minnesota signed up for 2020, making Minnesota American Legion Baseball the largest among the 50 states. 

MINNEAPOLIS PATRICK HENRY BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYER GLENTRELL LA’VON CARTER HAS VERBALLY COMMITED TO MESABI RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Minneapolis Patrick Henry guard Glentrell La’Von Carter has verbally committed to play basketball at Mesabi Range Community College. 

The Mesabi Range Community College head coach is Tamara Tenell Moore. 

HOPKINS KERWIN WALTON VERBALLY COMMITS TO NORTH CAROLINA

Hopkins shooting guard Kerwin Walton who is listed at 6-4, 170-pounds and played the shooting guard passion at Hopkins High School has committed to North Carolina for basketball.

Walton also had offers from the Gophers, Arizona, Creighton, Georgetown and Vanderbilt.

He was considered one of the top recruits from Minnesota. 

2020 NFL DRAFT RECAP

The 2020 NFL Draft took place April 23-25. Because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) This year’s draft was done all online. The NFL went into social distancing mode with NFL prospects going virtual. 

NFL draft attendees had cameras and networking capabilities set up in their own houses as a form of social distancing measures.

 The Minnesota Vikings selected. 

No. 22: Wide receiver Justin Jefferson from LSU (6-foot-1, 202 pounds).

No. 31: Cornerback Jeff Gladney from TCU (5-10, 193).

No. 58: Tackle Ezra Cleveland from Boise State (6-6, 311).

No. 89: Cornerback Cameron Dantzler from Mississippi State (6-2, 185).

No. 117: Defensive end D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina (6-3, 258).

No. 130: Defensive tackle James Lynch from Baylor (6-4, 289).

No. 132: Inside linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon (6-3, 231).

No. 169: Cornerback Harrison Hand from Temple (5-11, 197).

No. 176: Wide receiver K.J. Osborn from Miami, Fla. (5-11, 203).

No. 203: Tackle Blake Brandel from Oregon State (6-7, 307).

No. 205: Safety Josh Metellus from Michigan (6-0, 218).

No. 225: Defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State (6-3, 264).

No. 244: Quarterback Nate Stanley from Iowa (6-4, 235).

No. 249: Safety Brian Cole II from Mississippi State (6-2, 213).

No. 253: Guard Kyle Hinton from Washburn (6-2, 295).

Former Minnesota North and Gopher football player Tyler Johnson was drafted 161 overall in the fifth round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is joining former teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. who was selected in the second round with the 45th pick overall. 

Also, tackle Ben Bartch who played at St. John’s became the first Division III player taken in the last five years in the NFL draft. Bartch was selected in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR

On April 23, Minnesota governor Tim Walz shut down all schools from in-school contact due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Instruction will continue online only. With this shutdown that means there will be no spring sports throughout the state of Minnesota. 

GET TO KNOW WILLIAM JOHN FORSYTHE

William John Forsythe was born on Dec. 16, 2002 in Centerville, Minn. Forsythe has one sister by the name of Lauren and a brother by the name of Bryce. He grew up in Hugo, Minn. 

He attends White Bear Lake Area High School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Forsythe will graduate in 2021.  

When asked what basketball means to him? He said that, “Basketball is especially important to me in many ways. For one, it is something that I use to push myself in any way possible. It helps build my confidence, my character, and my work ethic. The more I use basketball to my full potential and incorporate it into my everyday life, the more I grow as a person in many ways. Basketball is the one sport and activity I mostly want to surround myself with. I love the positive energy it gives me and, like I had mentioned, how it builds me up physically and mentally.”

He is on the basketball team and into strength and weight training. 

He said that, “This summer I will have a basketball in my hands every single day. I will constantly work on my shooting, my dribbling, and most importantly my moves, especially in the post. I will keep a consistent schedule along with a consistent work plan.

 Every morning I plan on waking myself up with a jog, heading on over to my coach’s house to train with him for about an hour, then head on over to the gym to lift weights. I plan on doing this same schedule even if we have our AAU season pushed into summertime.

I will have a basketball in my hands multiple times per day and each time I do, I will be working on anything that will improve my skills and is beneficial for me to become the best player I could become.”

Asked about how he would describe himself Forsyth said that, “I am someone who loves spending my time outside and around friends. I love playing games, such as spike ball in the summer with them. I also just enjoy chilling out on a boat and tubing or swimming. I surround myself with friends who have similar energy levels as I do, as well as people who are comfortable being themselves because that is who I am. I enjoy playing video games as well, but not as much as I enjoy being active. I know how to set my priorities straight. When I need to work hard, my mind goes into focus mode and I grind out whatever needs to be done. I have a great work ethic once I put my mind to it as well. When it comes to basketball or academics, I know how to get things done and work hard to accomplish and finish strong.”

 Forsythe will be an up and coming basketball player who will continue to get better as time goes on and has a strong outlook in the future. 

APPLE VALLEY HEAD BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH ZACH GORING RESIGNS

Apple Valley head boys’ basketball coach Zach Goring has stepped down.

Goring had a record of 251-79 in 11 seasons at Apple Valley. He won 30 games in one season four times during his time at Apple Valley. Goring also went 30-2 three consecutive times between 2015-17. 

Goring coached Duke’s Tyus and Tre Jones who are still playing basketball on the national level. 

GET TO KNOW KANYE LAMAR RAHEEM

Kanye Lamar Raheem was born in Burnsville, Minn. on May 4, 2003. He has one younger brother Korey MarSean Raheem. He is in the class of 2021. 

Raheem grew up in St. Paul. He will graduate in 2021 from White Bear South Campus High School. Raheem is involved in his high school’s basketball and track teams.

“Basketball means a lot to me,” he said. “I can always lean on basketball, during good times, bad times, and uncertain times. It has always been there. Basketball has an endless learning stream for me. It has been a huge bonding asset for me and my family.”

“My focus this summer is consistency in my confidence on the court,” he said this summer. “I want to just get better at all I can. With everything going on, just getting back in the gym again would be a dream come true right now.” 

Raheem has a passion for basketball and track. “Basketball and track have always been my two sports I love, as time has passed basketball has overshadowed my track passion,” he said. “I still love to run, and I am particularly good at it.”

He is African American, Irish, and Cherokee Indian. 

“I like to listen to music, get shots up alone or with my younger brother,” he said. “My personality is a mix of total chill mode, seriousness most of the time but can be funny in moments.”

Raheem will continue to look to get his basketball career on the move. 

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS’ MOTHER HAS PASSED AWAY FROM COVID-19

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns’ mother Jacqueline Cruz has passed away from COVID-19. Cruz has been in the hospital as of Wed., March 25.

TAMARA MOORE NAMED HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL AND SOFTBALL COACH AT MESABI RANGE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Tamara Moore has been named the head men’s basketball and women’s softball coach at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. MRCTC is in Virginia, Minn.

Moore played basketball at Minneapolis North High School and graduated in 1998. After playing at North, she went on to play four years at the University of Wisconsin. While at Wisconsin she averaged 13.4 points per game. 

After playing at Wisconsin Moore bounced around the WNBA, playing for seven different teams including the Minnesota Lynx. 

After playing in the WNBA, Moore played for five seasons overseas. 

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GUARD MARCUS CARR WILL DECLARE FOR THE 2020 NBA DRAFT

According to multiple reports, University of Minnesota sophomore guard Marcus Carr will declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. 

Carr will not lose any of his NCAA eligibility by not hiring an agent. 

Carr has until June 3, 2020 to change his mind and return to college. 

The 2020 NBA draft will be on June 25, 2020. The draft will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y..

THE 2020 GRANDMA'S MARATHON HAS BEEN CANCELED

This year’s 2020 Grandma’s Marathon events and marathon has been canceled because of coronavirus, COVID-19. Grandma’s Marathon weekend was supposed to be the weekend of June 20-21, 2020.