Minneapolis North stand out coaches at Anoka Ramsey Community College

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Many county basketball fans who have watched state boys high school basketball tournaments remember Khalid El-Amin who played for Minneapolis North. 

El-Amin led Minneapolis North to the state high school basketball title with a 1995 victory over Staples-Motley during a Sweet 16 format. El-Amin scored the winning basket in the final seconds, giving North a 54-52 win over the Cardinals.

Many fans attending the M State Spartan men’s basketball game on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 9, quickly recognized El-Amin who coached Anoka Ramsey Community College.

His team defeated the Spartans in Fergus Falls a year ago, but not this time. On Sunday M State won 94-71 over Anoka Ramsey to gain a state tournament berth. The Spartans are 22-2 and lead the Southern Division with an 8-1 record.

El-Amin, during his college days, helped lead the University of Connecticut to a national college title. He then played briefly for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA), followed by basketball participation in Europe.

“Those high school playing days were very special,” said El-Amin after the game in Fergus Falls. “Our state has a lot of basketball tradition, in both the high school and college ranks.”

El-Amin’s son, Ibrahim, played for Anoka Ramsey a year ago in Fergus Falls. He formerly played at Minnetonka High School.

In attendance at the game a year ago in Fergus Falls was Ron Larson who previously coached Anoka Ramsey and, prior to that, coached high school basketball in Underwood, Fergus Falls and St. Francis, northwest of the Twin Cities.

“This has been a fun day, with a good basketball game and going down memory lane,” said Kris Svingen who works at the scorer’s table during Spartan basketball home games. After the game on Sunday afternoon, Svingen and those in attendance headed home to watch the Super Bowl game.