17U Preview – Minnesota Heat

<p>The Minnesota Heat is expected to be one of the best 17u teams in the state of Minnesota this year.  Here is the list of talent playing for Coach Jon Tauer and the Heat. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532560" first="Ryan" last="Dufault"]</strong> of Waseca (6’0 PG). Ryan averaged 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, and three steals a game leading the Jays to a sub-section title and a number two ranking in Class AA.  Dufault is one of the state’s toughest competitors and he led this Heat team to a 40-3 record last year at 16u.  </p> <p><strong>Max Hofschulte-Beck</strong> of Totino-Grace (6’3 SG).  Max spent much of his junior season on the JV while also being the 9th/10th man on varsity.  Max plays both wing spots and has been with this Heat group for a couple seasons.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532583" first="Trey" last="Longstreet"]</strong> of Delano (6’7 SF).  Longstreet’s versatility was shown heavily with Delano this winter leading the team to a 25-4 record playing the point guard role for a big team.  Trey has offers/interest from high major football teams but he’s also one of the top two wing prospects in the junior class.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532587" first="Andrew" last="Morgan"]</strong> of Waseca (6’8 PF). Andrew averaged 20.1 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game for the 2nd ranked team in Class AA.  Andrew is the 4th ranked prospect in Minnesota’s senior class and has offers from South Dakota State and North Dakota State.  One of the best rebounders in Minnesota and an agile player at his size. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774746" first="Joshua" last="Strong"]</strong> of Champlin Park (6’1 PG). Strong was recently offered by UMD and is one of the top three or four lead guard prospects that the Minnesota senior class has.  He’s also a quality football prospect and the the lead guard for a Champlin Park team that won 18 games.  Strong was the Rebels second leading scorer and leader in assists. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532602" first="Jack" last="Tauer"]</strong> of Cretin-Derham Hall (6’3 SF).  Jack was one of only two Raider non-seniors to play on varsity this season and he did it in his reserve, hard battling bench role.  Jack is often asked to defend the opposition’s best player both with the Raiders and with the Heat, and he takes pride in his role. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774754" first="Zac" last="Thomas"]</strong> of East Ridge (6’7 PF). Thomas played the reserve big role for the Raptors this year scoring twice a game often showing off his mid-range touch and defensive length. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"]</strong> of Stewartville (6’8 PF).  Tschetter has earned himself nine D1 offers to this point and is the state’s next talent in line to earn a high major offer.  Oregon State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Virginia Tech are in regular communication along with Colorado State, Northern Iowa, Wyoming, James Madison, and several others.  Will led the state in scoring this year at about 35 a game plus grabbed 13 boards a contest. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532607" first="Carter" last="Weierke"]</strong> of Totino-Grace (6’4 SF).  Carter swung between the starting wing role and 6th man.  He scored 3-4 baskets a contest knocking down shots at the arc and sprinting back the other direction to handle a strong defensive role.  Weierke started for the Heat last year. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567041" first="Kyreese" last="Willingham"]</strong> of Waseca (6’5 SF). One of the biggest stock risers of the winter and one of the state’s top candidates for a massive stock boost this 17u season is Kyreese.  He averaged 18.7 points a game and 6.3 rebounds a game this winter playing many roles including ball handler, wing scorer (inside and out), rebounding, and defending players at multiple spots. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/MinnesotaHeat/status/1250828702113574913[/embed]</p>