WATERLOO - Nick Larson took a pass the first time the Waterloo Black Hawks offered him a chance to play in the United States Hockey League.

It was a decision the Black Hawks could respect.

Still, the Waterloo coaching staff didn't forget about Larson, either.

The Black Hawks liked him so much, they took the 6-foot-2, 177-pound Apple Valley, Minn., native (via St. Thomas Academy) with their first pick in the 2006 United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

"He was good enough to make our roster two summers ago," Black Hawks head coach P.K. O'Handley said. "But he chose to go back to high school, which was OK. We were willing to wait."

Larson believed he needed another year of development in the high school ranks before he would be ready to play in the USHL. Plus, he was coming off a Class A Minnesota state championship with St. Thomas and wanted to help the Cadets make another title run.

St. Thomas finished third in 2007, but Larson doesn't regret his decision.

"I felt it was the best choice for me," he said. "I am glad the Black Hawks stuck with me. It felt good to know I would be coming to a place that has a great organization, great coaches and great fans."

Nabbing Larson, a power forward, with the fifth pick of the Futures Draft felt like a great grab for the Black Hawks. Admittedly, assistant coach Shane Fukushima, who is primarily in charge of Waterloo's scouting, said it probably wasn't a choice many other USHL teams were considering.

"When Nick was in high school, he put up good numbers, but they weren't staggering," Fukushima said. "But we were intrigued by his size, skating ability and his work ethic. He competed in every game.

"I don't think many people had him on their first-round board like we did," added Fukushima. "I think there were a lot of other players which were easier choices for other teams … felt like they were taking no-brainers."

Fukushima added that, if the Black Hawks hadn't taken Larson in the first round, they might not have gotten him by the time it was their turn to pick again in the second.

As it turned out, the choice was a wise one.

After a typically slow rookie start, Larson has developed exponentially over the last half of the USHL season.

Through 30 games, he had just five goals and 11 points. In his last 27 games, Larson has 14 goals and 13 assists, including an incredible six-point game last Friday in a 7-1 win over Green Bay, where he had a goal and five assists.

"The first half of the year was really about getting used to the talent level of the league and everything that was coming at me," Larson said. "This last half … I felt more relaxed mentally and have just started playing my game."

Simply put, Larson's game is to get in front of the net and cause havoc. And he's been successful at it after he added 15 pounds of muscle to his frame through the Black Hawks' strength and condition program, which was developed by Northern Iowa Exercise Science graduate student Blake Palmer.

"He is a big kid who skates really well. When he is playing physical, he is playing at his best," O'Handley said.

"After the break, he turned into a veteran," added Fukushima. "In turn, we started to feel more confident about him. He started to get more looks on the power play and he started to get more touches. Those touches turned into goals."

Needless to say, Larson is no longer being overlooked. Fukushima says he has become a hot commodity, not just among college programs, but NHL franchises.

Larson has already taken an official visit to Ohio State and says he will make more after the Clark Cup playoffs are finished.

For that matter, Larson hasn't ruled out a second season with the Black Hawks, either.

"I have some interest for next year and some for the following season," Larson said. "I'm really going to weigh my options after the season is over and see which (place) is the best fit."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com