The Minnesota Metro Stars’ program is now in its 20th year, and the organization has stuck to a fairly simple philosophy through two decades.
“We just try to go out and maximize everyone’s potential,” said Coach Ellen Wiese, who is in her eighth season with the Metro Stars. “We want to get everyone playing their best basketball, and we will play very much as a team.
“We’ve got some Division I players, some Division III players, and maybe some who might not play basketball in college. That’s all fine with me. We are still going to come together and play as a team.
“I think this is going to be a great summer because we have a great group of kids. They have really bought into what we are trying to do.”
That “Team First” mentality will be on display when the Metro Stars return to the Deep South Classic. The 2017 Deep South Classic will be held in Raleigh, NC from April 20-23. The event, which will feature some of the finest travel teams in the nation, will be played at the Raleigh Convention Center. There will be 20 courts in the building, keeping the entire event under one roof in downtown Raleigh.
Wiese’s squad at the Deep South should have 11 players, including some who joined the Metro Stars after the 43 Hoops team disbanded when Coach Chris Carr moved. The new players gelled quickly with the returning Metro Stars.
“We went to a tournament in Ames, Iowa, back in September, and after just two practices it went great,” the coach said. “Everyone meshed quickly, so we’re very confident going into the summer. I think the key is that we are very clear about establishing our goals and establishing rolls.”
Although Wiese refused to name her top players (“You won’t hear me promoting one player over the others”), two of the Metro Stars have made the All Star Girls Report national rankings for the Class of 2018:
Zoe Hardwick is a 6-3 post player who is listed at No. 231. ASGR said Hardwick has “a strong, athletic body. She is a physical player with soft hands, but she is physical and scores well against contact.”
Haley Moore is a 6-1 wing player who is ranked at No. 532. “She is a long athlete who is versatile and intelligent,” said ASGR. “She shoots the three well, and she can put the ball on the floor.”