Hi-Line Athlete Profile: K.J. Rech, Northern Basketball

In just one year, MSU-N's K.J. Rech has gone from one of the new guys to one of the Lights' senior leaders

Every time you move up a level in basketball, there’s a big adjustment period. From high school to college, and if you’re one of the few, to the pros.

Montana State University-Northern senior K.J. Rech has made several jumps up the basketball ladder, and he’s certainly adjusted well. Rech, who has played basketball in three states, is a two-year starting forward for the Lights, and one of its team leaders as Northern is 4-0 on the young season.

Rech started his basketball career at the high school level in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he was a three-time All-Conference performer, an All-State selection his senior year, and a part of back-to-back Class A state championship teams.

But then came the adjustment. Rech took his talents to Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and elite NJCAA program. There, he also flourished, and with his parent’s having moved to Big Timber following his high school career, he caught the eye of Northern head coach Shawn Huse. So again, the adjustment was needed as he transitioned from the junior college ranks to an NAIA power in Havre.

“It was a big change for sure,” Rech said of coming to Northern from Northwest College.

In his junior season at Northern, Rech cracked the starting lineup and wound up averaging four points and 5.3 rebounds per game as Northern’s starting center at 6-6. Admittedly, his junior year was an adjustment period, but Rech, who’s getting a degree in health promotions, seems to handle adjustments just fine.

And so far this season, he’s really settling in. Rech says he worked hard all summer to improve his shooting and ball handling, and it’s paying big dividends. He’s averaging almost eight points and five rebounds per game, and while he’s still Northern’s tallest starter, he’s knocking down 3-pointers at a successful rate, which is making him an even more dangerous offensive weapon for the Lights.

Rech is also using his maturity to his advantage. Even though this is just his second year at Northern, it’s his fourth in college basketball, and his veteran presence on a Northern team filled with newcomers is making a big difference, on and off the floor. It’s yet another adjustment he’s had to make, going from newcomer himself, to leader, and it’s one he’s making impressively.

So here are five questions with Northern’s senior leader as the Lights prepare to take on NAIA rival Dickinson State Saturday afternoon at the Armory

Gymnasium.

HDN: What was the biggest adjustment for you from JC to Northern?

Rech: “The biggest one was just the preparation that goes into playing at a four-year college. Here, you have scouting reports and things like that. You watch a lot of film and really get to know your opponents. There isn’t a lot of that at the junior college level. So just being prepared was a big one. I would say the other one was, how they play defense at this level. There’s a lot of great athletes. Possessions are much more difficult and you really have to take care of the ball. At the junior college level, it was just a lot more up and down the floor and getting shots up.”

HDN: You’re already a veteran on a new team this year. How is that going?

Rech: “It’s been different. In a year I went from being one of the new guys to being more of a leadership guy, especially being the only returning post player. So it’s been different, but it’s going well. I think this team has meshed together really well. We play together really well.”

HDN: I hear you love collecting shoes. Any favorites?

Rech: “That’s a tough one. I like all my shoes. But I have a pair of Air Jordan Fives that I really like and a pair of Lebron Fours that I like a lot, too.”

HDN: Where has your game improved the most since high school or even since you got to Northern?

Rech: “My confidence level offensively is probably the biggest thing. I’m not afraid to take shots. I worked really hard on that part of my game this summer. I got a lot of shots up over the summer and worked hard on my ball handling, too. So that’s probably the biggest improvement from high school to now. I’m just a lot more confident offensively.”

HDN: Last year you guys just came up a little short. What’s the long-term goals for this season, this team?

Rech: “It’s pretty early still. So the main goal is to just work as hard as we can every day in practice to get better. But, we want to be conference champions. I think you have to strive for that. After last season, I think people are probably underestimating us some this year. And I feel like this team is definitely out to prove something.”