Andy Stafford returns to HHS after a year playing for Tonka

Last year, the HHS boys basketball team was down a player when Andy Stafford, senior, moved schools and decided to be a Minnetonka Skipper for a year.

After being at MHS for a year he decided to make his way back to HHS for his last year in high school.

“Tonka isn’t as lively as Hopkins is and the atmosphere isn’t as good. It’s not bad but Hopkins atmosphere is much better,” Stafford said.

According to the MSHSL rules, transfer students are eligible to play varsity if the students’ family moves to another district.

“My family moved over by MHS and I thought trying a new school would be interesting,” Stafford said.

Teammate for AAU, and the HHS Boys Basketball captain, Dane Zimmer, senior, said the team missed Stafford as a player.

“On the court he’s very vocal and is a great teammate and knows how to play the game. Off the court, I’ve known him since sixth grade and he is always working on what he can do better and he’s just a great guy to be around, ” Zimmer said.

Stafford’s growth since he got back from MHS has improved over the year.

“He’s just bigger and stronger, he was always a good player, he’s a good defensive player which is important to us, he can rebound. He’s really a solid player and when I say solid I mean that as a good thing,” said Mr. Kenny Novak Jr., varsity basketball coach.

With tryouts rounding the corner the boys are getting excited to start playing for HHS again.

“I want to be all conference but mainly I just want to win a state championship,” Stafford said.

Though Coach Novak would love a state championship, it isn’t his top goal.

“My number one goal is to try to win every possession, everytime we have to get the ball we have to score, everytime the other team gets the ball we wanna get a stop. You play the game in little segments, so I don’t worry about championships, I worry about each time on the floor and playing each possession,” Novak said.

What Stafford missed most about HHS was the people.

“I missed the friends I’ve known since elementary school, and I also missed the diversity of all types of people at HHS,” Stafford said.

Last year HHS lost some key senior players who moved on to college.

“Once practice starts the boys will start to feel each other out and start getting familiar to each other’s playing abilities,” Coach Novak said.