HVL/TRC Shootout Players to Watch

One of the best events of the year is Saturday in Rochester as the Hiawatha Valley League takes on the Three Rivers Conference in Rochester for the annual HVL/TRC Shootout. With many of the teams that figure to contend in Section 1A and 1AA playing Saturday, teams will get an up close look at some of the elite talent in Southeast Minnesota. Here are some of the top players to watch Nate Heise, Sr., Lake City Heise’s off to a fantastic start this year, showing off some newfound athleticism to go along with a continually improving skill package. The 6-foot-4 guard is one of the best players in the state regardless of class size and he’ll be the best player in this event. He’ll likely get matched up a lot against Eli King when the Tigers take on Caledonia, which is undoubtedly the game of the day. Will Tschetter, Jr., Stewartville One of the best forward prospects in the 2021 class, Tschetter has put up monster numbers early in the year as the Tigers have played two solid opponents. He put up 43 against Waseca and will be heavily featured all over the court all winter. Stewartville looks like a legitimate contender in Section 1AA and will take on Plainview-Elgin-Millville. Eli King, Soph., Caledonia King’s been a scoring machine for the Warriors, using his athleticism to get out in transition and to the rim while he gets his jumpshot rounded into form after a lengthy football season. The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard is one of the best two-way players in the state and will likely spend a lot of the evening defending Nate Heise in a top-five matchup with Lake City. Drew Maloney, Jr., St. Charles St. Charles plays a brutal schedule to start the year, facing off against just about all the contenders in the section within the first six games. The Saints take on Rochester Lourdes Saturday and will need junior forward Drew Maloney to be excellent. The 6-foot-5 combo forward averaged 16 points and eight rebounds as a sophomore, and will be put in position to put up huge numbers this season. Luke Schwartzhoff, Sr., LaCrescent La Crescent has one of the best frontcourts in the area and Schwartzhoff is the go-to guy. The 6-foot-7 center is excellent in the low post, showing a soft shooting touch and sound footwork. He can step out and knock down perimeter shots and with the Lancers graduating a significant chunk of their perimeter core, he’s got more on his plate this year driving the team’s offense. Sam Opsahl, Sr., Goodhue Goodhue hasn’t been tested a whole lot yet but the Wildcats are off to a 4-0 start and the go-to guy is senior guard Sam Opsahl. At 6-foot-3, Opsahl is a terrific two-way swingman. He can step out and knock down 3-pointers at a high rate, he’s at his best when he’s going downhill and putting pressure on the rim and he’s a solid shot-creator for his teammates. Reid Gastner, Sr., Lake City Gastner is coming into the game fresh off a career-high 35 points in a win over Kenyon-Wanamingo. He’s been the definition of rock-solid pretty much throughout his entire career and he’s been excellent early in this campaign. I’d expect he spends a fair amount of time matched up with Noah King in this one, which would make an already compelling matchup, that much more intriguing. Noah King, Sr., Caledonia The catalyst for state-contender Caledonia, Noah King makes everything go for the Warriors. He’s a gifted all-around scorer, using his strength and size to get into the paint where he’s a strong finisher despite lacking elite athleticism. He’s a cerebral passer who can get his teammates easy shots routinely and he’s a huge threat from beyond the 3-point line. Kooper Vaughn, Jr., St. Charles The top returning scorer for St. Charles, Vaughn is one of the elite shooters in the state regardless of class. Vaughn has more on his plate this year as a ball handler and shot-creator, but he’s at his best when he’s off the ball, using screens and threatening defenses from distance. He’s capable of putting up huge scoring numbers and the Saints will need him to be good against Rochester Lourdes. Blake Herber, Jr., Plainview-Elgin-Millville PEM is one of the consistently strong programs in Class AA and there shouldn’t be any dropoff this year. The Bulldogs’ best returning player, Blake Herber, is quietly one of the best guards in the area. The 6-foot guard averaged better than 15 points and nearly five assists last year and has the keys this year. Collin Meade, Sr., Rochester Lourdes The Eagles are off to an awesome start this year and Meade has been the catalyst. The 6-foot-5 forward put up 33 points in the team’s win over La Crescent and 29 in a win over Breck. He’s one of the toughest guys in the area to defend because of his ability to get to the rim, shoot from the perimeter and play in the paint. Zach Todd, Sr., LaCrescent The second stud forward for the Lancers, Todd is an athletic, physical forward who can score, rebound and defend at a high level. He’s at his best when he’s working from the mid and high post areas of the floor and his strength and tenacity on the glass allows him to be incredibly consistent. Zach Hutton, Sr., Zumbrota-Mazeppa One of the best two-way players in the HVL, Hutton is a do-it-all forward who impacts the game in a lot of ways. He’s a decent outside shooter, an excellent cutter and off-ball player, a strong slasher and a terrific all-around defender.