Depending on the status of injured stars, the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic at Minnetonka between Apple Valley and Waconia could feature as many as three high-level D1 recruits. 

Apple Valley (5-6), which lost freshman point guard Tyus Jones after just one game and recently saw senior Tom Schalk go down with an ankle sprain, has been handcuffed by injuries all year.  And now they drew Waconia with Vanderbilt-bound Shelby Moats.  

Jones (19.0 ppg) is being hyped as one of the best freshmen in the country and the hope is that he'll be back for this showdown, as may Schalk.  Because when they're in the lineup, Apple Valley has as good a one-two punch as any program in the state.

Six-foot-8 senior forward Schalk (27.9 ppg), who averaged a double-double and 6-foot-1 freshman point guard Jones, arguably the best eighth-grader in state history last winter, each was named All-State honorable mention last winter. 

Senior leader. Precocious freshman. It works in Apple Valley.

In addition to Schalk and Jones, 6-foot-5 senior forward Gavin Bronson (8.6 ppg) returns from the starting lineup, while 6-foot-7 senior forward Josh Johnson (7.4 ppg) played significant minutes off the bench last season. 

With Schalk, Bronson and Johnson, Apple Valley could have very good size on the front line. The Eagles will also have solid guard play with sophomores Harry Sonie (6.7 ppg) and Dustin Fronk (9.5 ppg), junior Mitch Heschel and seniors Jordan Crockett, Kent Egan and Evan Carlson competing for minutes alongside Jones. Fronk, a 6-footer, is an outstanding shooter who competes at a high level, while the 5-foot-9 Sonie is an outstanding defensive-minded guard who can put intense pressure on the ball.

Waconia (6-4) claimed the Wright County Conference title last winter and might be poised to do even more damage in the Section 6AAA race. Four starters off last year’s club return, including 6-foot-9 senior forward Shelby Moats (22.0 ppg), who has great touch coming off of outside screens. The big man averaged a double-double and was an All-State honorable mention choice as a junior.

He’ll have help in the front court from a trio of sophomore forwards who appear to be up-and-coming stars. Six-foot-4 Wylie Ferron (6.4 ppg) started 24 games as a freshman, while Austin Fuller and Alex Chandler both have good size at 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4, respectively.

In the backcourt, senior guards Ben Kortuem (9.1 ppg) and Bronson Scheff (11.2 ppg) lead the way. Scheff is a talented point guard, while Kortuem is a dangerous three-point shooter, hitting 42 percent in his career.  Alex Schmitt (9.8 ppg) adds scoring balance to the lineup, as well.

Moats, a Vanderbilt commit, is what you call a pick and pop three. Schools like Utah, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Rutgers, Butler, Creighton, Washington State, and Providence offered Moats because they wanted his size and outside touch off the high pick. He averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. 

Arguably the most precocious eighth-grader the state has ever seen, the 6-foot-1 Jones has an unbelievable feel for the game. An exceptional scorer and passer who runs the show as the Eagles' point guard. Had 16 points and nine assists per game as an All-State honorable mention choice. Tyus Jones is the next big thing in the state of Minnesota. The type of talent that only comes around so often. His ability to pass the basketball is light years beyond his age and he’s already being ranked as one of the top couple players in the nation for his class.