There is a constant need for new leaders in high school basketball. Seniors graduate and teammates move, leaving holes that always need to be filled.
In some cases, leaders emerge at a young age and can help bring years of success for a program, as is the case with the both teams in this week's Top Game of the Week.
Wayzata is one of the few teams that ended with a win last season, taking third place in the Class 4A state tournament consolation game with a 70-66 victory over Maple Grove. Then-sophomore Jacob Beeninga played a pivotal role during that run, averaging the third most points per game during the regular season (12.9) and leading the team in points per game in the state tournament (16).
After the graduation of the Trojans' two leading scorers, the 5-foot-10 Minnesota State Moorhead recruit has started this season well, leading Wayzata (2-0) with 21 points per contest. Fellow guards, junior Luke Paulson and senior Drew Galinson, have also stepped into leading roles this season, averaging 17.5 and 17 points per game, respectively.
The Trojans, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, have already taken down a top-10 team, defeating Woodbury 88-64 on Dec. 9, but this week will be a real test, with No. 10-4A Lakeville North on Tuesday and then No. 3-4A Park Center on Friday.
The Pirates (1-1) return a veteran leader of their own in the form of North Dakota State University commit Jarius Cook. Cook led Park Center in points per game last season with 15.1. The Pirates did not get out of their section tournament last season, but with the return of Cook and the emergent duo of junior guard Emmanuel Tamba (12 ppg) and sophomore forward Dain Dainja (11.5 ppg), Park Center has the talent to make it to its first state tournament since the 2012-13 season.