Nathan Reuvers draws attention, and not just from opposing defenses.

With 14 scholarship offers to date and coaches from Clemson and Minnesota showing up for Lakeville North's tilt with Bloomington Jefferson Tuesday night, Reuvers is firmly in the spotlight as one of the state's rising talents.

One sequence in the Panthers' 73-51 win over the Jaguars justified the hype.

Midway through the second half, Reuvers brought the ball up the court, launched himself into the air just a step past the free throw line and slammed down a vicious dunk.

"I mean, that (sequence) is pretty impressive for a 6-foot-9 kid that's 16 years old," Lakeville North coach John Oxton said. "That's pretty good. So hopefully he'll just keep progressing and stay aggressive like he's been."

Reuvers is averaging 27.3 points per game after scoring 23 on Tuesday and finishing with 29 to lead the Panthers, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, past No. 5-4A Wayzata 81-73 at home Nov. 28.

But it was the way the junior forward scored against Jefferson that impressed Oxton the most.

Normally a better perimeter player, Reuvers was a force in the lane against the Jaguars, who bullied him down low early, with or without the ball.

"(Physical play) is obviously not his forte or his type of game," Oxton said. "But I'm very proud of his persistence. He keeps working at it and doesn't get too frustrated."

Reuvers' scoring flexibility is opening things up for the rest of the Panthers.

Cal Pesola (14.3 ppg), Carter Brooks (12.3 ppg) and Trevor Schermann (12.0 ppg) are the main beneficiaries of the extra attention teams focus on Reuvers.

That balance makes Lakeville North fun to watch, Oxton said.

"We've got a lot of good players, and one of our best players isn't even playing because he's hurt right now."

The player hurting is David Lindstrand, a senior guard who is the top returning scorer from last season's team that lost to Shakopee in the third-place game at the Class 4A state tournament.

Oxton said once Lindstand returns, things will really start to click for the Panthers.

But for now, opposing teams (and just about everybody else) will be focused on Lakeville North's main attraction, especially if he keeps dunking with authority (he had three Tuesday night).

"I like his ability to shoot the ball, and obviously he's very good. But I like his ability to do more," Oxton said. "He probably had more (three-pointers) in the first two games than tonight, but I was really pleased to see him do more ... he's playing very well and very, very aggressively."

Nathan Reuvers scored a game-high 23 points Tuesday night as Lakeville North recorded a 73-51 road victory over nonconference foe Bloomington Jefferson.

Trevor Schermann finished with 16 points and Calvin Pesola added 13 for the Panthers (3-0), ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News. 

Jake Murray scored 14 points to lead the Jaguars (3-1).

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