What to Watch for at the Heartland Crossroads Invite
Saturday offers another opportunity to check in with a few Heartland Conference competitors. The HAC Crossroads Invitational regularly produces some elite early-season matchups, and that’s what we’re expecting again this weekend as Millard West takes its turn to host the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingSaturday offers another opportunity to check in with a few Heartland Conference competitors.
The HAC Crossroads Invitational regularly produces some elite early-season matchups, and that’s what we’re expecting again this weekend as Millard West takes its turn to host the event. In the immediate lead-up to this one, I wanted to hit a few storylines that I’ll be following throughout the tournament.
There’s something for everyone here.
Maintaining a Tournament Pedigree
Many teams in the HAC Crossroads field expect to reach the postseason regularly, and we’ll get an early glimpse at whether these squads are performing up to these high standards.
The event’s host, Millard West, certainly falls in this category. My first look at this year’s Wildcat team came last weekend at the Bellevue West Invite, where Millard West dueled with some of the state’s top talent from Class A and beyond. How will Millard West’s new faces continue to mesh with the steely veterans who led this program to a runner-up finish last year? We’ll keep addressing that question here, and the HAC Crossroads Invite provides an excellent venue for continued development.
But, let’s not forget about the other Class A team in this event that’s hoping to make a postseason return. Like Millard West, Fremont comes into 2022 with an intriguing medley of returning talent and impactful newcomers. I can guarantee that we’ll be discussing players from both ends of that spectrum as we cover the HAC Crossroads Invite. No matter the roster circumstances, though, Fremont is a Class A squad that always seems poised to bring some tournament representation from outside the big cities.
A Whole Lot of Newness
We’re going to be bringing up a lot of new names after this event.
Few teams in Nebraska are undergoing the kind of roster transition we’re seeing at Elkhorn South. The Storm boasted a decorated senior class last fall, and that inevitably leaves some big shoes to fill for the following season. Of course, Elkhorn South will not be lacking talent this year, and I’m anxious to follow the new leaders for this stout program.
Lincoln North Star will also feature some emerging stars when it makes the Saturday trip to Millard West. The Navigators have a strong core in the junior class, but a couple of underclassmen have already produced some highlight moments. This Saturday tournament is a chance to see all those pieces come together, and I’m ready to see it all unfold.
Then, there’s the pinnacle of newness at this event. We have another new high school to cover. Omaha Westview joins the ultra-competitive high school scene this fall and will show off its roster on the HAC Crossroads stage. I’m not ashamed to admit that the Wolverines will be completely unfamiliar to me, but that’s what makes these scouting opportunities so fun. We’re here to learn, and it starts Saturday!
Lineup Shuffles
Lastly, look out for some personnel changes as the day progresses at Millard West.
These jam-packed early-season tournaments usually allow us to see a variety of players on a given roster. So, not only are we seeing several teams in one place, but squads are inclined to rotate a significant portion of the roster during the day.
Ultimately, this contributes to our agenda of seeing as many athletes as possible during the high school season. I’d expect the HAC Crossroads Invite to deliver more of those opportunities. And, as always, stay up-to-date with our post-event coverage as we break down all of this weekend’s top performers.