Duo of Gopher commits close in on Minnesota high school state championships

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Cretin Derham Hall's Daniel Oturu and DeLaSalle's Gabe Kalscheuer are two of the best high school basketball players in the state of Minnesota, which meant many of their friends and family were happy to hear they were staying close to home to play college ball at the University of Minnesota. 

Even before the duo looks ahead, however, they've got another chapter to close out--with both players still in the running to propel their teams to a state championship.

Kalscheuer and DeLaSalle beat Hermantown at Williams Arena Wednesday, sending his team to the state semifinals and giving the senior a taste of the arena he'll get to know very well over the next few years.

"It's just special," he said. "I've played here a lot over my years at DeLaSalle, but it's going to be special coming here for the next four years."

Oturu, on the other hand, wowed a Target Center crowd Wednesday with a win over Wayzata, in front of a crowd that included his future coach Richard Pitino.

"I saw him walking in during warmups," he said. "Nothing, [No nerves], I just tried to play my game."