Dylan Petersen
This article will go over the careers so far of Minnesota’s top four high school players from the 2018 recruiting class. Some of these players made it to the NBA and some of these players went on to be very successful college players. The top four players from this class were: Tre Jones (Apple Valley), Daniel Oturu (Cretin Derham Hall), Gabe Kalscheur (De La Salle), Jarvis Omersa (Orono). These rankings are referenced from 247 Sports.com
#1 Tre Jones
Tre Jones flat out dominated Minnesota high school basketball throughout his career. Jones helped put Minnesota high school basketball on the map. As a junior, Tre Jones led Apple Valley to a state championship win over an undefeated Champlin Park team led by current NBA player Mckinley Wright IV. In his senior year, Jones would go on to win Gatorade player of the year and he fell just short of a second straight state championship. Tre Jones flat out dominated Minnesota high school basketball throughout his career. Jones helped put Minnesota high school basketball on the map. As a junior, Tre Jones led Apple Valley to a state championship win over an undefeated Champlin Park team led by current NBA player Mckinley Wright IV. In his senior year, Jones would go on to win Gatorade player of the year and he fell just short of a second straight state championship.
In college, Tre Jones played for Duke University following his brother Tyus’ footsteps. Jones played on one of the most iconic Duke teams of all time. In his Freshman year he played alongside superstar Zion Williamson. Tre Jones played floor general for the Blue Devils in his freshman season and he averaged 9.4 points per game, 5.3 assists, and an impressive 2 steals per game. As a freshman, Jones was named to the ACC-all freshman team and ACC-all defensive team. In his sophomore year Jones took his game to a whole new level after all the NBA talent left from the year before. Jones would go on to average 16.2 points per game and this would help him earn ACC player of the year. After a very successful sophomore season Tre Jones decided to enter his name in the 2020 draft.
In the 2020 draft, Jones fell all the way to the second round of the draft. The San Antonio Spurs selected Jones with the 41st pick in the draft. In his rookie year he struggled mightily and he only averaged 2.5 points per game and only 1 assist. In his second year, his number rose a little bit but they were still below average. Now in the 2022-2023 season, Tre Jones has become one of the most pure point guards in the NBA. In his third season he averaged 12.9 points per game, 6.6 assists (15th in NBA), and 1.3 steals. Jones has become a solid starting point guard for a rebuilding Spurs team. It looks like Tre Jones is only going up from here and I expect him to be in the NBA for many more years.
#2 Daniel Oturu
Daniel Oturu could not be stopped in high school, he was a true paint beast. Oturu towered over his opponents standing at 6 ’10 and he also weighed around 220 pounds. He would go on to dominate his senior year with his amazing frame. As a senior, Oturu averaged 18.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and an unbelievable 6.1 blocks per game. Oturu would also go on to lead Cretin Derham Hall to a 4A state championship win over Apple Valley and Tre Jones in 2018. Oturu scored the game winning basket off an amazing alley oop pass from Ryan Larsen in that state championship game. Oturu’s Cretin Derham Hall team will probably go down as one of the most dominant basketball teams in Minnesota high school history. Oturu was ranked #50 in the country by 247 Sports.com and he would go on to commit to the Minnesota Gophers.
Minnesota Gophers fans were very excited to see Daniel Oturu suit up as a Gopher. Daniel Oturu picked the Gophers over powerhouse programs such as Kansas and Creighton. He would go on to have a very solid Freshman season for the Gophers. Oturu averaged 10.8 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He averaged the most rebounds and blocks amongst all Big Ten freshmen. Oturu also helped the Gophers make it to the Round of 32 in March Madness. Oturu’s potential was looking sky high after a great freshman year. In his sophomore year, he would go on to reach his maximum potential. He would go on to average a double-double scoring 20.1 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. Oturu also averaged 2.5 blocks per game which helped become a member of the Big Ten All-defensive team. He would also be named to the All-Big Ten second team. Daniel Oturu had an excellent college career and he was looking like a first round prospect. After his sophomore season he decided to declare for the 2020 NBA draft.
Daniel Oturu was selected 33rd overall in the 2020 draft. Oturu was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves but eventually was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers before the season started. Oturu’s career has not gone as planned so far as he has a career average of 1.9 points and he has only appeared in 33 NBA games in his career. Oturu struggled fitting in with the modern NBA and he was actually measured at 6 ‘8. 6’ 8 is pretty undersized to be a successful back to the basket big man in the NBA. Daniel Oturu has seen a lot more success while playing for the Windy City Bulls G league team. He has a career average of around 10 points and 5 rebounds per game in the G League. Oturu is still on the Windy City Bulls and he is still striving to make an NBA roster.
#3 Gabe Kalscheur
Gabe Kalscheur has always been known as a 3 point marksman, but in high school he was also a winner. While in high school, Gabe would go on to win three straight state championships. He was a key part in the De La Salle Islanders dynasty that went almost through the whole 2010’s. As a senior, Gabe averaged 23 points per game and he was selected on the all-metro team for Minnesota. As a junior, Gabe also helped Howard Pulley AAU become the number one team in the country. His stock boosted a lot after he averaged 17 points per game on the EYBL circuit. Gabe ended up becoming a 3 star and he was ranked #132 in the country by 247 Sports.com at the end of his high school career. Gabe decided that he would stay home for college and he also signed to play with the MInnesota Gophers.
Gabe had a very good freshman year with the Gophers. He averaged 10 points per game and he led the team in 3 point percentage and free throw percentage. Gabe also started in every game for the Gophers. He had a very memorable game in the first round of March Madness when he shot the lights out and scored 24 points for the Gophers. In his sophomore season he would go on to average 11 points and he led the BIg Ten in three pointers made. His sophomore year was cut short due to COVID which gave him another year of college legibility for the future. As a junior, Gabe struggled shooting consistently like he was known for. He only shot 24 percent from three and his points per game dropped down to 9 points. After a disappointing junior season and a coaching change, Gabe decided it was time to transfer. In 2021, he decided to transfer to Iowa State university. In Gabe’s senior season at Iowa State he averaged 9 points per game and he was second on the team in 3 point shooting percentage. Gabe also helped the Cyclones get all the way to the Sweet Sixteen round in March Madness. He had a huge game in the round of 32. In this game he scored 24 points and he helped the #11 ranked Iowa State upset #3 Wisconsin. After his senior season Gabe decided that he would come back for one more year for Iowa State. He had an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. Kalscheur had his best season yet statistically in his fifth season. He averaged 12.9 points per game and he shot 35 percent from three in the 2022-2023 season. He also started every game for the Cyclones. He was also selected to play in the 2023 Reese’s college all star game. Gabe Kalscheur had a rollercoaster career in college, but he was still always a very solid player. I could not find what Gabe’s plans were for after college.
#4 Jarvis Omersa
Jarvis Omersa was a human highlight film while playing for Orono. Omersa’s athleticism and leaping ability was unmatched. Omersa made in between the leg dunks look effortless. The 6’7 forward averaged 18.4 points and 11.4 rebounds during his senior season at Orono. During his senior season, he was also named to the all-state team. Omersa gained 9 division one offers while in high school and he received offers from majors schools like: Arizona State, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Marquette. 247 Sports.com ranked Jarvis as a 3 star recruit. Just like the other three players above him, he decided to stay home and he committed to the Minnesota Gophers.
Omersa’s high flying game from high school did not really translate into college. Omersa struggled finding ways to score throughout his career in college. While in college, he only averaged 1.5 points per game and his career high was only 6 points. Every now and then Omersa would make the wow plays that gave the Gophers a lot of momentum but he had a problem staying consistent. After he sat out due to COVID for most of the 2020-2021 season, he decided to enter the transfer portal. Omersa decided to transfer to St. Thomas but his career was already over before it even started after he would not get vaccinated for team procedures. After that, Omersa’s basketball career was done. However Omersa is trying to start up a new career as a football player. He still has a year of college eligibility left and he has been training to become a tight end. Omersa received multiple power five offers after posting a viral Twitter clip showing off his unique athleticism. Omersa has not chosen a school yet but it looks like he should have a new home this upcoming fall.
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